Internships provide experience for health career

If the Bureau of Labor forecasts on the fastest-growing occupations in the United States is any indication, those interested in joining the health care industry are in for some good news.

Of the 30 professions noted by the U.S. Department of Labor projected to grow through 2020, 11 are directly associated to the health care industry and five others are related careers in education, dentistry, counseling and veterinary medicine. Given the current state of the economy, the health care industry might be one of the best places to find a job.

"There are so many fields in health care and most people are not aware of all the opportunities," said Prabha Iyengar-Cox, personnel services manager and volunteer coordinator for University Medical Center of Southern Nevada.

Las Vegas, like other cities around the nation, is in need of professionals who hope to help others with their medical needs. But health care isn't just another career. Those interested in working in the industry generally have a related educational background and have undergone some sort of hands-on work.

For those getting ready to graduate from college, a number of partnerships across the Las Vegas Valley have been created between higher education institutions and medical facilities to provide comprehensive internship programs that ensure students receive relevant professional experience. And for those hoping to change careers or add a little variety to their lives, many medical and health care institutions in Las Vegas have created robust volunteer experiences.

Most internship and all volunteer programs are unpaid, but adding the experience to a resume can be invaluable in the job hunt. And, in some cases, offering up time with a health care organization can lead to a career if the right opportunities become available at the right time.

In general, internships are set up through partnerships to ensure that students studying in health care-related professions are adequately trained to enter the workforce. These programs require a specific number of on-site hours and shown proficiency in particular skills.

Students in the School of Nursing and School of Allied Health Sciences at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas must complete clinical work (what could be considered the internship portion of the program), which has set objectives. After classroom work and time spent in a simulation center, students are given permission to enter the medical workplace for clinical practice. In addition to being able to complete the medical objectives outlined in their coursework, successful interns are also well-prepared to perform the duties expected of them and have read up on the patients with whom they'll be interacting.

"When our students are out in their clinical programs, they are guests in those areas. They should be helpful, and participate and assist where needed," said Carolyn Yucha, dean of the School of Nursing and School of Allied Health Sciences.

"Internships have objectives. You have to have prerequisites. You have to be enrolled in a program," she said. "We're not just throwing students out there. They've been in the classroom, they've practiced the skills and then they go out into the community, and they're supervised."

At St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, there are formal clinical rotations for medical students, but Linda Gerstenberger, director of human resources operations, fields phone calls from students interested in becoming interns in business and administrative roles.

"It's a matter of them reaching out to us," she said.

Gerstenberger talks with these students to find out what they want to learn and in which sectors they want to focus. Then they are matched with departments looking for people to fill those needs.

People hiring interns are interested in their educational background.

"We're really looking at what kind of work experience they have and what type of program area they're currently studying in," Gerstenberger said.

Volunteer programs, however, tend to be a bit broader in scope and more flexible. They generally focus on customer service aspects of the health care facilities, and they provide coverage throughout the company doing both behind-the-scenes tasks like filing and front-facing duties such as staffing information desks and gift shops.

In some places, such as University Medical Center, volunteers' interests are matched with managers' needs to ensure a mutually good fit. People who are unsure what they want to do with their volunteer time are welcome to try a position to see if it's a good fit.

"If they come back and say, 'This is not for me. Can I switch out?' we'll see what else is available and give them something different," Iyengar-Cox said.

At St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, volunteers are generally placed at the front desk first to give them a comprehensive overview of the entire property.

"Our biggest goal with our volunteers is we don't just want them to smile and say hi. They should be getting up and escorting people to where they need to go," said Jamie Olsen, director of volunteer services and gift shops. "Customer service is key."

Volunteers also interact with patients during the discharge process. Once they have a good overview of the hospital and have shown they are responsible, and if they have specific interests to work in other departments, Olsen works with volunteers to try out new duties elsewhere in the hospital. But, she said, "We don't want to take any work away from employees."

Jessica Mullen, volunteer coordinator at CompassionCare Hospice, said that volunteers primarily socialize with patients and act as a source of comfort and emotional support. They talk with patients, play cards, watch movies, bake cookies - basically anything that involves social interaction.

"For our organization, if you're not enjoying what you're doing, patients and their families can sense that and it doesn't make anyone feel good," Mullen said. "I want patients and volunteers to enjoy their time together."

Given that volunteers are carefully vetted like employees, most institutions in Las Vegas have similar expectations for them. In general, the ability to volunteer four hours a week for 100 hours or six months is fairly standard.

Whether positions are internships or volunteer opportunities, every institution takes the roles seriously. Job descriptions clearly identify what interns and volunteers can and cannot do; interviews are common for all roles; background checks, drug tests and tuberculosis skin screenings are mandatory; and on-the-job training and attendance at new-employee orientation is the norm. Those who will be handling money may also have to complete a credit check.

At CompassionCare Hospice, a proof of auto insurance is required. Most volunteers must also go through a yearly compliance refresher course. People in these temporary positions are expected to abide by all facility rules and federal laws, and anyone who doesn't fit well with the organization is often screened out at the interview process or asked to leave if there is a conflict.

Obviously living up to the expectations as laid out by a particular organization is important in determining the success of an internship or volunteer stint, but it's not just a background in health care or the ability to simply follow a predefined job description that determines those who are most successful in these roles.

"A well-rounded person to me is someone who is flexible, willing to learn, a team player and has a sense of curiosity," Iyengar-Cox said.

Olsen said that many junior volunteers in particular (those who are 14 to 18 years old) have grown and matured throughout middle and high school as a result of the volunteer program at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals.

"Those who are eager to learn and enthusiastic will go far," she said. "Our volunteers have that selfless gift that they want to give up their time. They want to give back to the community."

Mullen echoed that sentiment.

"What I personally look for in a volunteer is an open heart and an open mind," she said. "I look for people who are caring, compassionate and sincere."

Gerstenberger emphasized the importance of fine-tuning communication skills, both writing and speaking, especially in the business side of the industry. Presentation skills and knowledge of basic computer programs are also important.

"When they're here, it really is no different than being an employee," she said. Nonetheless, she said, showing motivation and interest and asking questions provides the foundation for a positive win-win situation for both interns and St. Rose Dominican Hospitals.

"For all of these professions, they need to be able to communicate with people," Yucha said. "The student's comfort level in the setting is critical. They need to be calm in these settings. Every day is different and you have to be able to deal with what comes your way. You don't always know what to expect. That's why we practice these things."

These characteristics make up the ideal intern or volunteer candidate - not the desire to find a job in the industry. Most coordinators warn against signing up for unpaid work as a means to achieve a paid career.

"I want volunteers who want to help the patients first," Iyengar-Cox said.

"So many people think that they can get on board and that this is going to guarantee them a job by volunteering, but that is not necessarily the case," Olsen said. "It may provide them the experience, but it's not going to guarantee them a job."

Though clinical rotations and internships for students through UNLV and other universities are required for graduation, students should realize there also are opportunities to advance their careers.

"The minute they're on that unit, they're potentially interviewing for that job," Yucha said.

Students who have completed an internship and graduate from college with a health care-related degree must still complete a licensing exam before starting a hands-on medical job, but students who are successful on their clinical rotations have been known to become full-time employees in the same facilities.

Certainly internships and volunteer work can lead to full-time work - there are plenty of success stories of people who started out as interns or volunteers who are now working for the organizations with which they had unpaid work - but it shouldn't be the sole reason to dedicate time in the health care industry.

"This is an opportunity for people to get their feet wet to see if this is what they really want to do," Gerstenberger said. "If a full-time position opens, interns certainly can apply, but there are certain criteria and job description requirements for all of our positions, so it all might depend if they're a traditional or nontraditional student with the right background. The same thing is true with the volunteers who are here with us."

Nonetheless, opportunities do arise in an industry that employs a lot of people. Within appropriate professional boundaries, don't hesitate to let others know that you're looking for a job. Learning from mentors and networking with colleagues in the field are both relevant ways to get a foot in the health care industry door.

"There is always going to be a need for health care personnel," Iyengar-Cox said. "It is not a difficult field to penetrate. It's just a difficult field in general because you need to have a lot of dedication and the willingness to spend time learning, observing, studying and volunteering to be a health care worker."