Nursing Student Work-Study Internship Program: An Academic Partnership

Abstract

A large northern California-based integrated health system and five universities partnered to conduct an innovative work-study internship program designed to address the education-to-practice gap for nursing students. The nursing student work-study intern-ship program provides prelicensure nursing students with a paid internship in the health system. Interns are exposed to the realities of clinical practice and master learned skills working under the supervision of an RN preceptor. Work-study interns reported that participation in the program exposed them to new clinical situations, helped them integrate clinical knowledge and critical thinking skills, improved prioritization and time management skills, and expanded their communication skills within the interprofessional team. Interns cited feeling better equipped to safely and effectively transition into the new graduate role. The nursing student work-study program shows how an academic practice partnership can address the education-to-practice gap in an innovative manner. [J Nurs Educ. 2016;55(6):357-359.].