Traditionally, an externship gives you the opportunity to briefly shadow a professional in the field. While this is a great way to network and explore career paths, it doesn't always allow for hands-on experience. One Mason senior had a much different adventure during her 6-week externship at Inova Health System.
Last summer, nursing student Tamanna Kazi was able to gain crucial experience in a fast-paced hospital environment in a short time. Read below to get her take on what it was like and how it benefited her career.
Name: Tamanna Kazi
Class: 2020
Industry: Healthcare
Major: Nursing
Class: 2020
Industry: Healthcare
Major: Nursing
Q: Describe your position:
A: During the summer of 2019, I did my nurse externship at INOVA Fairfax Medical Campus. I learned a lot of technical skills. I was able to shadow a nurse for my internship and gain skills I wouldn't get in school or a lab. I worked on the labor & delivery floor and found myself in a very fast-paced situation which helped me learn a lot. I also gained operating room (OR) experience. It was a great experience!
Q: What did you like about the position and what skills did you attain?
A: I liked how we were trained for a full week with the essential skill sets needed to do our respective extern jobs and got PAID to do it! I felt very welcomed by the staff members and was given a variety of opportunities to work on my nursing skills.
- I was able to network with various healthcare professionals like the charge nurse, doctors, and techs.
- I was able to understand the work culture at INOVA and the various benefits given to the employees.
- I was also able to gain a new skill set that I couldn't learn in school such as professional time management and how to do orientation for patients.
Q: How did you make yourself stand out during your position/job search process?
A: I really put myself out there and was always there to help.
Q: What is your long term career goal?
A: I always wanted to experience working on the Labor & Delivery floor.
Q: Do you have any tips or advice to share with other students about your experience?
A:
- My one piece of advice that I wrote on Handshake reviews would be to be open-minded to all the experiences that will come to you. It's a hospital, meaning there will be good and bad, but don't let that deter you from growing as a health care professional. You will be awed by the expertise of some of your co-workers and will also deal with some challenging and sometimes uncomfortable situations. It's about being an adult and making it work so the patient is happy in the end!
- Don't be afraid! Go out there and showcase your passion in your work!
Need to quickly build your resume, portfolio, or network? Consider externships for network-building and micro-internships for resume-building. Externships provide a direct connection and preview into a job type or industry. Micro-internships are often paid, project-based opportunities that allow you to demonstrate and strengthen your skills.
It's also a great way to try out different industries and find your fit in the professional world. In our rapidly-changing world, healthcare jobs continue to be in-demand. Throughout the year we host Industry Week events to give you the chance to quickly peek into many different careers.
This week we are in the midst of our very first virtual Health & Science Industry Week. Check out the schedule and consider joining us for our final event!
It's also a great way to try out different industries and find your fit in the professional world. In our rapidly-changing world, healthcare jobs continue to be in-demand. Throughout the year we host Industry Week events to give you the chance to quickly peek into many different careers.
This week we are in the midst of our very first virtual Health & Science Industry Week. Check out the schedule and consider joining us for our final event!
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