Are you a nursing student looking to jump-start your career with practical, hands-on experience from a supportive and experienced team in the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Health System? Apply for the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center Nurse Extern Program!

Our Program

Our yearlong (June to May) Nurse Extern Program is a paid nursing student development program designed to help you build confidence while honing your clinical capabilities. Nurse externs provide clinical care to a team of patients in an assistant care position while practicing the critical skills of time management and prioritization.

After graduation, high-performing nurse externs will be offered a position in our ANCC PTAP Accredited Nurse Residency Program to begin their registered nursing career.

Your Experience

In addition to advancing your clinical skills through hands-on experiences, our Nurse Extern Program is uniquely crafted to fit your needs:

• Skill development. Externs provide clinical care to patients in an assistant care position and may have additional opportunities to practice nursing skills under the guidance of an experienced and supportive team.
• NCLEX preparation. Externs develop the critical-thinking skills necessary for success on the NCLEX and beyond during exclusive educational offerings.
• Shadow experiences. Externs explore nursing and interdisciplinary specialties during shadow days.
• Mentoring. Externs receive personalized mentoring from nursing leaders.
• Schedule flexibility. Externs work PRN (minimum three shifts in four weeks) to allow flexibility in scheduling around school commitments.

Join Our Team!

Qualified extern applicants are:

• Enrolled in their final year at an accredited school of nursing (fall semester graduates may be considered);
• Certified in CPR;
• Holding active CNA certification from the Maryland Board of Nursing;
• Available to work full time during four-week program orientation in early June and continue working a minimum of three shifts in four weeks during the program year;
• Excited to learn and grow in a hospital environment!

Nurse externs wear olive scrubs.

The Application

Once available, the online application can be found on our careers website by typing “extern” in the keyword box. One common application for all extern positions will be posted, typically in the fall. Once your application has been reviewed, a recruiter will be in touch to discuss your unit of interest. Possible unit placements change yearly and may include med-surg (stroke, oncology, orthopaedics), telemetry, special care unit, ICU, psychiatry, emergency department, observation unit, labor and delivery, maternal child unit, NICU, pediatrics, operating room, and PACU.