Cleveland Clinic - East Offers
Graduate Nurse Internship Program

 

Making the Transition

As a recent nursing school graduate, you’ve learned all the medical theory, terminology, and practical information you need to know. Thanks to your clinical experience, you’ve had hands-on experience. As soon as you pass the boards, you’re ready to jump right into a job. Or are you?

How easily will you make the transition from student to professional nurse? Will you be able to mesh with the workplace culture, to understand all the unique policies, or to obtain the resources you need to do a good job? How will you handle the responsibilities of suddenly being in charge of patients, whose very lives may depend on you?

Smooth your way into your professional nursing career by participating in the Graduate Internship Program offered by Euclid, Hillcrest, Huron and South Pointe hospitals. As an intern with this program, you will:

• acquire new skills and fine-tune old ones
• be partnered with a mentor
• receive invaluable, additional hands-on experience
• learn to function independently in clinical settings
• benefit from a support group composed of peers
• assimilate into the hospital culture
• become familiar with hospital policy and resources

 

Entry Requirements

In order for you to be eligible to participate in this program, the following criteria is required:

• Evidence of official graduation from an accredited school of nursing
• Show evidence of ATT
• NCLEX testing date scheduled on or before August 31
• The ability to attend all classes (planned absences will need prior approval and will be determined on an individual basis in collaboration with the VP of Nursing)

 

Program Structure

The internship program consists of 40-hour work weeks. The program’s four progressive phases include:

PHASE I:
Entry phase
The entry phase introduces you to the hospital’s policies resources and culture.

 

PHASE II:
Didactic Education/Intern phase
Phase II gradually exposes you to essentials of the unit to which you’re assigned, including environment, equipment, routines, basic nursing skills and concepts. In addition, it teaches you basic, common pathophysiological processes as they relate to the nursing care of patients in the unit to which you are assigned. This phase prepares you to function interdependently with your preceptor in the clinical setting

PHASE III:
Clinical Integration phase
Phase III exposes you to in-depth examination of the nursing care of patients and families in your unit. It prepares you to function independently in the clinical setting

PHASE IV:
Mentor/Transition phase
The final phase provides you with a mentor who helps you further develop and assimilate into your role as a professional registered nurse

Support Group

Program participants will be involved in a weekly peer support group session that will provide opportunities to share problems and/or issues with other new graduate nurses. Leaders will also give brief presentations on helpful topics.

A past participant commented, “It gave me a head start to the floor, staff and charting that made the transition from GI to RN easier.”

Materials Provided

• Reference notebook that includes articles, case studies, and descriptions of common medications.
• Detailed schedule of supplemental materials for classes.
• Your First Year as a Nurse: Making the Transition from Total Novice to Successful Professional by Donna Wilk Cardillo, RN.
• Additional educational material as needed.

 

Evaluation

At regular intervals, you will be evaluated in the following areas:

• Critical thinking skills and clinical decision-making skills
• Documentation
• Nursing procedures and technical skills
• Safe practice standards
• Appropriate delegation
• Organization
• Medication administration
• Teamwork
• Patient/family interactions

 

Cleveland Clinic - East

Members of the 2004 Graduate Intern Class

We welcome you to create your career with us!

A solid, comprehensive start in healthcare can make all the difference in the future of your career. Where better to get a head-start than with Euclid, Hillcrest, Huron and South Pointe Hospitals. Graduates from the our healthcare education programs have recorded a tradition of excellence and achievement that mirrors our health system's unwavering commitment to quality.

As with any worthy undertaking, the learning process takes time and effort. Our educators are there to support you every step of the way. With a broad curriculum and a variety of hands-on experiences with the latest technology, we can ensure you a top education and the chance to meet and exceed your career expectations.

Participants considered for the program will be asked to sign an agreement.

 

View the Agreement