title: Empowered learning on the inside: an externship experience.
abstract: The purpose of this multiphasic qualitative research study was to obtain an in-depth understanding of how students experience a nonterminal summer externship program. Baccalaureate and associate degree nursing students participated in the six-week externship developed through a partnership between a regional hospital and a school of nursing in the southeastern United States. Data were collected before, during, immediately following, and six months after the externship experience using a combination of focus groups and interviews with student-preceptor dyads. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using constant comparative methodology. Findings from the study indicated that the core process characterizing the experience was "empowered learning on the inside." In contrast to traditional instructor-led experiences, students were positioned on the inside and acculturated to the world of nursing. As insiders, students related to others and experienced nursing in new ways. Implications of the findings for nursing education are addressed.
authors.affiliation: Mary Black School of Nursing, University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, USA. krush@uscs.edu
authors.forename: Kathy L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McCracken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004507:Education, Nursing, Associate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012951:Socialization; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires