Lana Oconnell
Nursing internships are a great way for students to gain experience and further their education. While internships are not essential for completing a nursing degree, they provide valuable hands-on clinical training and the opportunity to work alongside registered nurses. Students can acquire experience, build connections, and even get paid. However, the topic of whether nursing intern students should be paid for clinicals has been a subject of discussion. Many nursing students juggle long shifts, studying for exams, and part-time jobs to make ends meet. While some argue that nursing students should receive compensation, a tuition discount, or a stipend to ease financial burdens, others believe that clinicals are primarily educational and are already a graduation requirement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of work | Nursing interns administer medications, help with patient care, and chart vital signs. |
| Remuneration | Nursing interns are generally not paid for clinicals. However, internships/externships or jobs as a CNA are usually paid, albeit not much. |
| Stipend/Tuition Discount | Some universities provide a stipend or tuition discount to nursing interns. |
| Work hours | Nursing interns may work long hours, with classes starting as early as 6:30 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m. |
| Credit Hours | Nursing interns receive three to five credit hours for 10-12 hour shifts. |
| Additional Costs | Nursing interns may have to pay for transportation, parking, and supplies at each clinical placement. |
| Part-time work | Due to the high costs of student living, some nursing interns may work part-time jobs in addition to their studies. |
| Similar roles | Similar roles to nursing interns include patient care technicians and nurse aides, which are paid positions. |
| Benefits | Internships provide valuable experience, education, and networking opportunities that can lead to future employment. |
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What You'll Learn
Nursing students typically don't get paid for clinicals
While clinicals are unpaid, students can receive academic credit for their work. For example, at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, nursing students receive three to five credit hours for 10-12 hour shifts. However, they must also pay for their transportation, parking, and supplies at each clinical placement, which adds to the financial burden of student living.
Some have argued that nursing students should be compensated for their clinical work, either through pay, reduced tuition fees, or a stipend. This could help ease the financial strain on students, allowing them to focus more on their studies and potentially improving their mental and physical health. Additionally, it could encourage more people to consider the nursing profession.
While nursing students in the United States are generally not paid for clinicals, there are some exceptions. For example, Mercy College of Ohio has implemented a paid student program in collaboration with Mercy Health, providing a stipend for a small group of students in exchange for future employment. Similarly, Australia has mandated that student nurses, teachers, midwives, and social workers be paid $320 a week to ensure their wellbeing, starting in July 2025. These initiatives represent steps towards recognizing and valuing the contributions of nursing students.
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Paid internships, externships, and CNA jobs are available
While nursing students typically don't get paid for clinicals, there are several paid internships, externships, and CNA jobs available. These opportunities allow students to gain valuable clinical skills and experience while earning an income. Here are some examples:
Paid Internships:
- Mayo Clinic Health System offers several paid student nurse internships in various locations, including Mankato, MN; La Crosse, WI; and Eau Claire, WI. These internships typically last 10 to 11 weeks and provide full-time opportunities for nursing students to develop clinical skills.
- Ballad Health's Nurse Fellowship Program prepares nursing students to enter the workforce as registered nurses. Fellows collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and develop critical thinking and specialized nursing skills.
Paid Externships:
Nursing externships, sometimes referred to as nurse externship or LNA/apprentice positions, are often paid opportunities. While the rate of pay may vary, one source mentions an externship that paid $16/hr.
Paid CNA Jobs:
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) jobs are typically paid positions. To qualify, individuals must complete an accredited CNA program and obtain the necessary certifications, such as Basic Life Support certification.
These paid opportunities offer nursing students financial support while gaining practical experience in the field. They provide a great way to build clinical skills and network with healthcare professionals.
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Clinicals are graduation requirements involving real patient care
Clinicals are a graduation requirement for nursing students, involving hands-on patient care under the supervision of registered nurses. While clinicals provide invaluable experience and are essential for career advancement, they are typically not paid. Nursing students are often expected to work long hours, juggling clinical requirements, exams, and part-time jobs to make ends meet.
At the University of Michigan School of Nursing, for instance, nursing students are required to complete clinicals as part of their graduation requirements. These clinicals primarily involve providing real patient care, including administering medications, charting vital signs, and assisting with other nursing duties. While this work provides valuable learning opportunities, it is argued that nursing students should be compensated, given that similar work in other fields, such as business and finance, is typically paid.
The argument for paying nursing students during their clinicals is gaining momentum. Some have suggested that universities should either compensate students directly, reduce tuition fees, or provide stipends to support nursing students financially. This could help ease the financial burden on students, allowing them to focus more on their studies and improving their mental and physical health. Additionally, paid clinicals could attract more people to the nursing profession, helping to meet the high demand for qualified nurses.
While some universities in the United States, such as Mercy College of Ohio, have implemented paid student programs in collaboration with hospitals, these initiatives are still relatively rare. In Australia, there is a mandate requiring student nurses, teachers, midwives, and social workers to be paid a weekly stipend to ensure their wellbeing, starting in July 2025. This approach ensures that students can dedicate more time to their studies and gain valuable experience without the same level of financial strain.
Overall, while clinicals are a crucial aspect of nursing education and graduation requirements, the lack of compensation for nursing students during these placements creates a financial strain and may deter potential candidates from pursuing a career in nursing. As a result, there is a growing call for change, with some institutions leading the way in providing financial support for nursing students during their clinical placements.
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Paid clinicals are possible in some countries and universities
Clinical internships are a requirement for nursing students to graduate and gain registration as a qualified nurse. While clinicals are often unpaid, some countries and universities have started to implement paid clinical internship programs for nursing students.
In Australia, for example, it has been mandated that student nurses, teachers, midwives, and social workers must receive $320 per week as a stipend, starting in July 2025. This initiative recognizes the importance of supporting student wellbeing and reducing financial strain.
In the United States, Mercy College of Ohio, in collaboration with Mercy Health, has introduced a paid student program. While this particular program only sponsors a limited number of students in exchange for future employment, it sets a precedent and encourages the development of similar initiatives.
Additionally, some hospitals offer paid training programs for new graduates in specialized areas such as ICU. These programs provide an opportunity for recent graduates to gain experience and earn a stipend or salary while further specializing in their field.
The University of Michigan School of Nursing has also been advocating for compensating nursing students for their clinical work. Students argue that they provide real patient care, which, outside of the educational context, would be paid work. They suggest that either a stipend or a tuition discount would significantly benefit nursing students, alleviating financial burdens and positively impacting their mental and physical health.
While it is encouraging to see progress towards paid clinical internships in some countries and universities, there is still work to be done to ensure that nursing students worldwide receive fair compensation for their valuable contributions to the healthcare system.
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Nursing internships are not essential for a nursing degree
While nursing internships are a great way to gain real-world experience and can lead to connections and recommendations for jobs after graduation, they are not essential for a nursing degree. Many nursing programs have both a classroom and a clinical component, but the clinical component is not necessarily an internship. For example, a candidate pursuing an LPN program will complete general education courses, health courses, and a clinical component that involves hands-on training, but no internship is required.
Nursing internships are typically independent of school requirements and not supervised by faculty. Internship hours do not usually count toward clinical requirements for Bachelor of Science in Nursing students, which can total 800-1,000 hours. Instead, interns are generally paid and considered employees of the healthcare practice. The amount they earn varies based on their state and employer, but the average pay for a nurse intern is around $15 per hour.
Since not all nursing degrees require an internship, students can choose a program that best fits their goals. Online nursing students, in particular, may find it challenging to complete an internship. Instead, they can focus on the clinical component of their degree, which will provide them with practical experience in a hospital or healthcare setting.
Overall, while nursing internships can be valuable, they are not a requirement for completing a nursing degree and becoming a registered nurse.
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Frequently asked questions
Nursing students are not paid for clinicals, which are part of their graduation requirements. However, internships or externships are paid, though not very highly.
Clinicals are a rotation that gives nursing students experience in many areas of the hospital. Students spend most of their time observing and learning.
A nursing internship is much more hands-on than a clinical. It provides clinical training that will thrust the student into the nursing experience.
A nursing internship can expedite your education and teach you things you would otherwise overlook. It can also help you make connections with supervisors, doctors, and other staff members.
No, an internship is not essential for completing a nursing degree and becoming a registered nurse.
