Summer of Excellence Program

Program Details

If Nursing is Your Calling, Sanford is Your Place. The Sanford Summer E program provides the nursing extern an opportunity to gain experience and skill within actual patient care situations in partnership with an RN preceptor, who will serve as your personal clinical coach. This partnership supports the extern in the development of interpersonal, critical thinking, and technical nursing skills, including medication administration. This relationship fosters the extern’s level of competence and confidence. The program provides opportunities for networking with peers from other colleges and universities regionally and nationally.

Sanford Health Information

Sanford USD Medical Center is the largest facility in the Sanford Health System, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with Centers of Excellence in Heart & Vascular, Trauma, Neuroscience, Orthopedics, Women’s and Children’s Services. We believe that patients and their families deserve quality, compassionate care provided by expert healthcare professionals. Our Summer of Excellence (Summer E) program is an opportunity for highly-motivated, caring students to focus their transition from theory-based practice to application-based skill. Summer E externs will learn the rewards and challenges that registered nurses experience every day, and will be offered multiple opportunities to interact in direct patient care with your assigned one-on-one RN preceptor.

Program Qualifications

The ten-week program will begin in June 2009. To participate, you must:

1. Be currently enrolled and within one year of graduating from an accredited nursing program and meet Sanford Health job-related health requirements. 
2. Provide proof of Current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers certification from the American Heart Association. 
3. Receive satisfactory references.

Application Process - Closed 10/20/2008

1. Complete Sanford Health employee on-line application form
    
2. Complete Interest Inventory
    
3. Complete Questionnaire 
    
4. Provide name and email address of two references. (this will be done in the above questionnaire).  Once the questionnaire is completed an on-line document will be sent to the reference for completion. Verify with your references to anticipate and accept an email from Sanford Health for this step to be completed.
   Reference Options:
   • Student with prior healthcare employment: 1 reference from current faculty member and 1 from current supervisor.
   • Student never employed in healthcare: 2 references from nursing faculty (one from a current instructor).
    
5. Submit a current official transcript from the college or university in which you are currently enrolled. Obtain from your school registrar with official seal. Send documents to:
    

   Sanford USD Medical Center 1305 West 18th Street Sioux Falls, SD 57117

Printable Checklist

Program Acceptance

Applications will be accepted through Monday October 20, 2008. Interviews will be conducted through the first week of November 2008. Phone offers will be made to those selected for the program once interviews have concluded, followed by an offer confirmation letter.

Orientation

The program will begin with an orientation week in June to acclimate you to Sanford Health or Health Network and your specific assigned unit. The week will include clinical simulation and classroom education to prepare you for the clinical area.

Work Schedule

Extern’s will work full-time, including nights, weekends, holidays and 12-hour shifts at Sanford Health or a Network affiliated hospital or clinic for 10 consecutive weeks. You are given the option for 1 week of vacation during the program (Friday July 3-Thursday July 9). Additional opportunities to observe in areas outside your assigned department are provided during the program. Participation in weekly classroom sessions is required . Optional college credit is available through a partnership with a local university for program participation.  Optional college credit is available through a partnership with a local university for program participation.  

Work Department

Upon selection into the program, you will be notified of your work unit/department assignment.

Preceptor Assignment

You will receive your preceptor contact information in late March or early April.

Uniforms

Uniforms vary depending upon unit assignment. Sanford scrubs are provided for some areas and a laundering fee is assessed for their use.

Salary/Benefits

Summer E employees will be paid $13.75/hour along with differentials for night, weekend, and holiday shifts.

Program participation provides you:

• Sanford 401K retirement as a PRN employee
• Worker's compensation insurance coverage
• Sanford email
• Wegner Library resources
• Sanford Perks (Discounted tickets to local merchants and activities in Sioux Falls and surrounding area)
• Sanford Summer E Program T-shirt

Housing

Housing is not provided. If you should require assistance securing housing, please contact local colleges or universities, as they often rent space to students over the summer.

Application deadline is October 20, 2008.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all application materials are received by the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

For more information, please contact:

Ann Massey, RN, MSN
Center for Learning & Innovation Sanford Health
Phone: 605-328-6364
Email: masseya@sanfordhealth.org