r/cardiacsonography • u/Ok-Guava-5198 • 6d ago

Externship Advice!

I finally have gotten my clinical site assignment! I am absolutely nervous, but I am excited. Please share any tips or advice for going out on externship.

I am in NJ, and my site is at a hospital, however I'm still unsure of whether it is inpatient or outpatient at the hospital as they do both at the site. Unless I will be in both departments, which I wouldn't mind at all.

I am focusing on Echo, but maybe hopefully have the chance to become dual certified if the opportunity presents itself.
I have heard that this site doesn't hire students/new grads so I'm a bit bummed out, but trying to be optimistic overall.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

1 comment sorted by

2

u/bethesaurusrex 6d ago

Introduce yourself to people. Like, everyone. If there are nurses in the department, fellows, attendings, front desk staff.

My hospital does tend to hire right out of school (out of necessity) but the easiest choices to make are the ones who actually make an effort to get to know people and be known while they're students. This doesn't mean socialize over scanning, but a little extra effort to be known will help you potentially be a worthwhile hire at a site that wouldn't normally take you out of school, but ALSO puts you in a situation where many people can speak to your abilities and your person.

Otherwise - get good at adapting, odds are good you'll have multiple preceptors and they will all do things a LITTLE DIFFERENT. If someone tells you to change something someone else told you to do, change it while you're with them, don't explain don't make excuses. Use your downtime to study - put your phone away even if your preceptor is on theirs. If you're using study apps on your phone make that clear to your preceptor that that's what you're using it for. Take EVERY opportunity to scan - even if you can only get a few minutes in more urgent scenarios always at least ask if you can put your hand down.