Biology 348--Health Professions Internship

SCRIPPS MERCY HOSPITAL INTERNSHIP

Scripps Mercy Hospital and SDSU work in partnership to provide a one to two semester internship. Students may also volunteer directly with the hospital for no credit.

Requirements:

Internship candidates are required to be CPR certified (Scripps Mercy will provide you with an American Heart Savers course free of charge).

Internship candidates must have the following vaccinations/tests:

2.    If you are born in 1956 or after you must show proof of an MMR, or separate rubella, rubeola and mumps vaccination
        in or after 1980. If you need this shot please make sure your TB Testing is completed first.
        The MMR will interfere with the reading of the TB Test.

        3.    If you are placed in a critical care areas you will be asked if you have had the hepatitis B, series of shots. If you haven’t we
               will ask you to either get them or sign a form declining them. We can provide them free of charge. However, a six-month
               commitment is necessary in order to complete the series of three shots. The shots are administered as follows: one the first
               month, the second the one month later and the third shot six months from the first one.

Accepted students must complete a 2-hour training session scheduled by Scripps Mercy Hospital and a personal interview with the volunteer manager.

Students must document a minimum of 60 hours but are encouraged to serve at least 100. (Hours over 60 may be done during vacations before or after the semester).

Students must submit a 10 page, double spaced paper (with references and citations) on a subject that interests them as a result of the internship. (See Guidelines.)

Students must submit a one-page evaluation of the experience itself.

This is a graded course for one unit per semester. Interns are expected to dress and behave professionally at all times.

Applications may be submitted up until December 1 for the spring semester and May 1 for the fall semester. Copies of applications will be submitted to Scripps Mercy Hospital for their review and they reserve the right to interview and accept candidates based on their own criteria.

Scripps Mercy Hospital offers several areas of interest for first hand observation experience into the world of medicine.

The Mercy Clinic: SDSU Interns assist the staff by preparing exams rooms, escorting patients to rooms, running errands to laboratory and x-ray, preparing charts and other light clerical duties. There are four clinics within the clinic including Ob/Gyn, Primary Care, Pediatrics, and Medical Surgical. Scripps Mercy is a teaching hospital our own interns and residents work out of the clinic.

Emergency Department: SDSU Interns perform a variety of tasks including readying patients for exams, stocking rooms with supplies, running errands and working in the triage area.

Nursing Units: SDSU Interns work on one of eight patient care units and help the nursing staff. Volunteers provide companionship to patients, help patients at mealtime, assist staff with charts, call buttons, and errands. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience patients in a hospital setting.

PACU Unit (Post anesthesia care): SDSU Interns assist with computer input, telephones, running errands, etc. This is great first-hand experience being around surgery patients; watching and helping the staff perform their duties.

Intensive Care Units: The Surgical and Medical Intensive Care units are sophisticated, specially equipped units for patients who need constant observation, nursing and monitoring. Volunteers work closely with staff performing tasks such as transporting patients, stocking rooms with supplies, running errands, answering phones, and light clerical tasks.