Summer Nurse Extern Program

Who may apply

Nursing students who are currently enrolled in an accredited School of Nursing, will graduate in December 2025 or May 2026 and have completed at least one clinical rotation.
We offer flexible summer scheduling! We recognize work happens inside the hospital, but life happens outside of it. 

• 320 hours to be completed between May 19th and August 8th, 2025.
  
  
• 72-80 hours a pay period working your preceptor’s schedule.
  
  
• No required holidays.
  
  
• Time off requests permitted.
  
  
• Mandatory orientation May 19th-23rd.
  
  
• Applicants selected for on-site interviews will be required to present a current transcript and a letter of recommendation from a nursing school clinical instructor.
  
  

Externships available in such areas as: 

• 4 Henson. A 38-bed, medical-surgical unit that cares for patients within hematology, oncology, and blood and marrow transplantation specialties.
  
  
• 4 Sutherland.  A 23-bed, medical-surgical unit that is passionate about the care of cardiac patients. Additional diagnoses include gastroenteritis/dehydration, failure to thrive, apparent or life-threatening event.
  
  
• 4 West. A 20-bed, medical-surgical unit which provides care for general surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, urology, trauma, burn, and ENT patients. Common diagnoses include appendectomy, cleft lip/palate repair, pectus repair, fundoplication, pyloric stenosis, VP shunt placement/malfunction repair, trauma, and burn.
  
  
• 5 Henson-Hall. A 28-bed, medical-surgical unit that specializes in orthopedics. Common diagnoses include all ortho, cystic fibrosis, spine surgeries and deformities, clubfoot, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, limb length discrepancy, Blount’s, developmental and congenital hip disorders, neuromuscular disorders, hand anomalies, trauma-related injuries, and joint infections.
  
  
• 5 Sutherland. A 20-bed, medical-surgical unit that cares for patients with liver/renal failure and transplant and rehabilitation specialties. Primary diagnostic groups include renal, rehabilitation, and liver and intestinal failure and transplant (LIFT).
  
  
• 6 Henson. A 25-bed, medical-surgical unit that cares for patients within the Endocrinology, Pulmonology and Neurology/seizure patient specialties.
  
  
• 6 Hall. A 16-bed, medical-surgical unit that specializes in infectious diseases, and common diagnoses include RSV, influenza, gastroenteritis, febrile illness, and asthma exacerbation.
  
  
• Emergency Department (ED). Children’s Mercy provides the highest level of complex emergency care to children across the area through two emergency rooms and the region’s only Level I pediatric trauma center. We treat over 65,000 patients per year.
  
  
• Intensive Care Nursery (ICN)/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The ICN/NICU is a regional referral center providing Level IV infant care — the highest level of neonatal care. Every day, our ICN/NICU team cares for up to 84 fragile newborns from the Kansas City area and beyond.
  
  
• Operating Room (OR)/Same day Surgery (SDS)/Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). We have 18 operating rooms and two cardiac cath labs at the Adele Hall campus and four operation rooms at Children’s Mercy Kansas. Procedures range from ear tubes to complex congenital cardiac anomalies, solid organ transplantation, and video assisted minimally invasive operations.
  
  
• Cardiovascular Operating Room (CVOR). Children’s Mercy Kansas City is the premier high-volume pediatric heart programs in the Midwest. Our focused, interdisciplinary care of children with complex congenital and acquired heart disease brings to bear the expertise of board-certified pediatric cardiologists, congenital cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac intensivists, anesthesiologists, and advanced practice pediatric critical care nurses. Our facilities comprise the most advanced technology available for diagnosis, treatment and translational research for our patients, who range in age from fetal to young adult.
  
  
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)/Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). In October 2021, our PICU separated into two specialized ICUs: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). Our PICU has 41 beds, and CICU has 24 beds. Our nursing staff can cross-train for both units.
  
  
• Urgent Care Clinics (UCC). Children's Mercy urgent care locations are conveniently located throughout the Kansas City area and are staffed by board-certified general pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners. Our providers care for children with minor injuries or illnesses that are not considered life threatening but require prompt attention.
  
  
• Ambulatory Clinics. Children’s Mercy has a vast variety of outpatient clinics to provide care for all types of pediatric conditions.

Application deadline

The application is now open. Please apply here. All applications will be reviewed upon submission and will remain open until all spots are filled.