Are you interested in a career in the medical field, or possibly desiring to know a nurses job description, but don’t know where to begin? One of the easiest ways to get started is to apply for nursing or medical internships while you’re still in high school. With a nursing internship, you’ll get invaluable exposure, experience, and guidance on how to pursue a health care jobs from professionals already working in the field.
Nursing internships for high school students are designed so you get the chance to help provide care to patients. On top of that, internships can help you determine what type of nurse or medical professional you want to be, which will make your job easier when it comes to finding the right college. Internships look great on college applications, too, meaning you’ll have a better chance at getting accepted to your college of choice.
We know it can take some time to search all of the available high school student nursing internships, particularly when many nursing internships are only for college students, so we’ve done the research for you! Look for one in your state and get a head start on your future in nursing.
Nursing Internships for High School Students
Alabama
UAB Medicine is a network of hospitals and clinics in Birmingham, Alabama. The Department of Volunteer Services at UAB provides opportunities for volunteers to get to know various aspects of healthcare by being an important part of the UAB team. Teen volunteers can volunteer for two sessions in the summer and help patients and hospital staff. UAB recommends that you apply early, as volunteer opportunities are limited.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: June, July
- Duration: 1 month
Huntsville Hospital, located in Madison County, Alabama, is a 941-bed hospital that has been in operation since 1895. Huntsville Hospital’s Corporate University offers a job shadowing program where students can learn about the healthcare field by gaining first hand observation while shadowing a healthcare professional. They also offer a summer youth auxiliary program, which requires a minimum 7-week commitment in the summer.
- Internship Type: Job Shadowing or volunteering
- When: May, June, July, December
- Duration: 12-hour period for shadowing, minimum 7 weeks for summer youth auxiliary program
University of South Alabama Children’s and Women’s Hospital is dedicated to providing care specifically for women and children. Located in Mobile, Alabama, it offers year-around volunteer opportunities for teens, although first time volunteers must begin in the summer. Volunteers provide support to patients, family, and staff.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 3-months
Alaska
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium offers two opportunities for native Alaskan students to gain experience in the healthcare field, the Ethel Lund Village Health Occupation Program, and a summer internship program. The internship program pays a stipend and is a full-time summer program, requiring a commitment of 30 – 40 hours per week. To be eligible for either program, you must be a native tribal member, or be of tribal descent.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: June – September
- Duration: 3 months
The University of Alaska Anchorage hosts the Della Keats Health Sciences Summer Program, a month and a half long immersive program designed to build upon student interest in medical professions. Attendees stay in dormitories at the University of Alaska Anchorage and receive a small stipend to cover food and miscellaneous expenses.
- Internship Type: paid summer program
- When: June-July
- Duration: 4-6 weeks
Arizona
Phoenix Children’s Hospital is one of the largest children’s only hospitals in the country with a medical staff of almost 1,000 pediatric specialists. There are multiple volunteer programs available for high school students. Volunteers must be able to commit to at least 2 – 4 hours per week and a minimum of 100 hours per year. You can volunteer as a program volunteer, clerical volunteer, or team volunteer. There is also a summer program, but you must be 18 by the beginning of the program.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: 1 year
Arizona State University is home to a nursing and health innovation program that is ranked #24 in the country by U.S. News & World Report, but there’s no need to wait until college to get nursing experience at their state-of-the art campus. Arizona State University Summer Health Institute offers a residential program for high school students who have completed their junior year. Participants get experience with a variety of healthcare related activities, with three hours of simulation work at their medical campus, which includes practice with suturing, IVs, intubation, and scrubbing.
- Internship Type: summer enrichment program
- When: July
- Duration: 1 week
Maricopa Integrated Health Systems (MIHS) is a multi-facility healthcare provider that includes Maricopa Medical Center, Arizona Burn Center, Level I Trauma Center, and Arizona Children’s Center. MIHS relies on volunteers to serve its community, and they have a wide variety of opportunities for volunteers and will try to place you in a position of your interest. They seek volunteers who are energetic, compassionate, communicative, and at least 16 years old.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: minimum of 6 months
Arkansas
Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Arkansas Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric medical center in Arkansas, and one of the largest in the country. Their junior volunteer program offers both school-year and summer programs. The summer program gives high school students the opportunity to work four hours a day, five days a week, for a 2-week session, and gain valuable experience in the healthcare industry.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: June – July
- Duration: 2 weeks
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hosts HEALERS, a hands-on, interactive program for high school students entering their junior or senior year. Participants will learn first-aid, CPR, and gain experience in a clinical setting through volunteering. It is a two-week, full-time summer program where students work with one another and healthcare educators and professionals.
- Internship Type: summer enrichment program
- When: July
- Duration: 2 weeks
California
Kaiser Permanente is a long established health care provider that offers a Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) in both northern California and southern California. Established in 1968, SYEP is designed to create paid summer work internships for under-served high school students. It includes workshops for personal and professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities to meet with peers and senior leaders in work-based activities. It is a full-time internship and is only available to students in Kaiser Permanente designated service areas in California.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 8 weeks
Palomar Health is a system of healthcare facilities in the San Diego area that offers the Pathmaker Internship Program. The year-around program offers hands-on experience alongside healthcare professionals in various departments, including acute care, progressive care, imaging, rehabilitation, intensive care, and emergency departments. You must attend a 16-hour training/orientation, then commit to a minimum of 4 hours per week. It is an intensive, competitive program, meaning you might have to apply multiple times to get accepted.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: year around
- Duration: minimum of 6 months
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a children’s only hospital with a wide range of training and volunteer opportunities for those who want to work with children. They do not, however, offer a traditional high school internship program, since many of the conditions they treat are serious and require attendants to have medical training. High school students are eligible to participate in their short-term volunteer research program, which gives participants the opportunity to assist in hospital playrooms, playing board games, and reading to children.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: minimum of 8 weeks
If you are currently living in California, or would like to move to California to attend school, here are some of the nursing programs in California.
Colorado
Children’s Hospital Colorado, located in Aurora, offers a paid high school internship where students can work in various departments at the hospital, including orthopedics, radiology, inpatient units, the newborn center, and more. The program offers three sessions. The Fall and Spring sessions are 12 weeks long and students work approximately 10 hours per week. The summer session is 6 weeks long and students work 30 hours per week.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: fall, spring, summer
- Duration: 12 weeks (fall and spring), 6 weeks (summer)
Littleton Adventist Hospital, part of Centura Health, has a school-year internship program for high school students. The hospital works with your school to allow you to work at the hospital for 12 – 16 hours per week during a portion of your school day. You can earn credit for the internship, but you must be enrolled in an eligible class through your school.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship, eligible for school credit
- When: school year
- Duration: 1 semester
Connecticut
The Hospital of Central Connecticut is an acute-care community teaching hospital with two main campuses, one in Southington and the other in New Britain. The hospital offers two different types of volunteer opportunities for high school students, a patient aide program and a teen volunteer program. In the patient aide program, students get the opportunity to work with nurses on day-to-day operations in the hospital. The teen volunteer program is a two-month summer program.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 months
Stamford Hospital makes volunteers an important part of their healthcare mission. Volunteers are mentored by hospital staff and receive a range of perks for their commitment. Junior volunteers can apply to volunteer for three different sessions, and can work in a variety of capacities, including working in patient care units.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: fall, spring, summer
- Duration: minimum 50-hours
Delaware
Nemours is a nonprofit children’s health organization with a family-centered focus and multiple facilities, including one in Wilmington, Delaware. The Wilmington hospital offers a summer high school volunteer program where students can provide services to families, work in departmental offices, and assist in patient care areas.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 3 months
Christiana Care Health System is a private, not-for-profit regional healthcare system with student volunteer opportunities in Wilmington and Newark. The VolunTeen program is a 9-week summer program where students work two 4-hour shifts each week and get to discover what it’s like working in the healthcare field.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: June – August
- Duration: 9 weeks
District of Columbia
Children’s National Health System, based in Washington, DC, is ranked one of the top 10 pediatric hospitals in the national by U.S. News & Report. The summer student program at Children’s National Health System is for college students and advanced high school students. It offers a rigorous research experience in a pediatric hospital environment. Participants can shadow physicians and even observe various types of surgeries.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: June – July
- Duration: 2 months
Florida
University of Florida Health is the Southeast’s most comprehensive academic health center. High school students are eligible to participate in UFHealth’s summer VolunTEEN program, a three-week volunteer program. Students in the program can volunteer in a variety of areas throughout the hospital and gain invaluable experience working with staff and patients.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 3 weeks
University of South Florida hosts an annual health professions summer academy, a two-week residential program for high school students, with the goal of preparing them for college and a career in the healthcare industry. The program includes academic courses and field trips to local hospitals and academic institutions that offer medical programs.
- Internship Type: unpaid residential program
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 weeks
The prestigious Mayo Clinic is ranked #1 in more medical specialty areas than any other hospital in the country. The Mayo Clinic has facilities in Arizona, Minnesota, and Florida, and local Florida high school students can participate in their summer volunteer program.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 3 months
Georgia
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based out of Atlanta, offer a variety of educational and internship opportunities through the Pathways Programs, including paid internships for high school students. The internships are designed to obtain developmental work experience in the field of public health, and to allow students to explore Federal careers.
- Internship Type: Paid internship
- When: Varies
- Duration: Varies
Christian City is a ministry organization with both a full-care senior care facility and a refuge for abused and abandoned children. Christian City offers a variety of internship opportunities, including high school internships. For more information, you need to contact Christian City directly.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: Varies
- Duration: Varies
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is a pediatric care center and the teaching site for Emory University School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta offers a summer VolunTEEN program, where high school students are placed in various areas of the hospital to gain experience, including direct patient and family interaction. To participate, you must commit to volunteering at least one day a week for five hours.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: June – July
- Duration: 8 weeks
Hawaii
Hawaii Pacific Health is a not-for-profit network of hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers. Hawaii Pacific Health has a summer internship program with opportunities to work at several facilities, including Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, Pali Momi Medical Center, Straub Clinic & Hospital, Wilcox Memorial Hospital, and Kauai Medical Clinic.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 – 3 months
Idaho
St. Luke’s is the only Idaho-based not-for-profit health system. St. Luke’s has a Junior Volunteers program where high school students are cross-trained in a variety of service areas, including the children’s hospital playroom and surgery waiting room. Once students have completed training and gained experience as a volunteer, additional volunteer positions may be available.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: varies
- Duration: varies
Illinois
Advocate Lutheran General Hospital has a high school internship program for high school juniors and seniors. It is a five-week summer program where students are immersed in one of several areas, including the ambulatory surgery center, adult nursing unit, adult or pediatric physical therapy, and administrative office. Students who are selected work for 20 hours per week or more during a five-week period, and are paid a $500 stipend.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 5 weeks
Southern Illinois Health Care offers a summer internship program where high school students can gain experience in a variety of healthcare fields, including nursing. The program includes a kick-off celebration and a recognition dinner, and while it is an unpaid internship, students earn college credit for completed the full 80 hours.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 8 weeks
Indiana
Indiana University, home of Indiana University School of Medicine, offers a variety of internship programs for high school students, including two summer internship programs. The CTSI Summer Internship Program is a two-month program where students assist faculty members in clinical and laboratory research. Past participants have been published in medical journals and have gone on to careers in the healthcare field.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 months
Parkview Health is a not-for-profit health system based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Parkview Health offers internships and externships for high school students that are intended to be completed in conjunction with a high school class for credit. The internships pair students with healthcare professionals, and require a time commitment of 40 – 200 hours.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: school year
- Duration: 1 semester
Iowa
Located in Ames, Iowa, Mary Greely Medical Center is a regional hospital that was founded in 1916. Mary Greely Medical Center offers a variety of opportunities for high school students, including volunteer, job shadowing, and an internship/preceptor program. The internship/preceptor program allow you to work one-on-one with an experienced healthcare practitioner. Requests are only accepted based on department availability.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: varies
- Duration: varies
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics was named the #1 healthcare employer in the country by Forbes magazine. Located in Iowa City, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics offers an eight-week junior volunteer program for high school students. Attendees rotate through clinics on weekly three-hour shift and attend one career seminar each week. It is an unpaid program, but scholarships are available for select students.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 8 weeks
Kansas
Salina Regional Health Center is a medical facility that is highly awarded for its patient safety. Salina Regional Health Center offers internship opportunities for high school seniors enrolled in a healthcare related course at their school. The program allows students to gain observational experience in a healthcare setting.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: school year
- Duration: 1 semester
Via Christi Health has been serving residents of Kansas and the surrounding areas for more than 100 years. Via Christi Health offers a variety of volunteer opportunities at their Wichita hospitals, including roles as nursing unit volunteers, radiology escorts, patient ambassadors, and “Angels in the ER.” Being a volunteer comes with several benefits, including complimentary meals on the days you work and free flu vaccinations.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: varies
- Duration: varies
Kentucky
St. Elizabeth Healthcare has an internship program for high school seniors. The program is designed to give students the opportunity to explore healthcare and the various departments that work together to provide sound patient care. St. Elizabeth Healthcare is comprised of six major healthcare facilities and is part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: school year
- Duration: 1 semester
KentuckyOne Health is the largest health network in the Commonwealth, with more than 200 locations. KentuckyOne Health offers a job shadowing program for students who are 16 or older. The job shadowing allows you to shadow a medical professional for up to 8 hours during a single shift. After shadowing a professional, you can contact volunteer services to arrange additional shadowing or volunteering opportunities if you want.
- Internship Type: job shadowing
- When: year around
- Duration: 8 hours
Louisiana
Baton Rouge General is comprised of two hospitals that aim to redefine quality healthcare. Baton Rouge General offers two volunteer opportunities for high school students: a school-year internship and a summer youth program. Both programs require a minimum time commitment of 25 hours, either over the course of a semester or during the summer.
- Internship Type: volunteer/unpaid internship
- When: year around
- Duration: minimum 25 hours
At Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, volunteers play a vital role in providing quality care to children and their families. The hospital has a year-around program and a summer program for volunteers, with opportunities to entertain and assist patients. Children’s Hospital is a 247-bed, not-for-profit pediatric medical center that treats a high volume of young patients.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: minimum 50 hours
Maine
Located in Bangor, Eastern Maine Medical Center has an educational student volunteer program for students between the ages of 14 and 17. The summer program is designed to give students exposure to the hospital setting, gain work experience, hone their decision making skills, and give back to the community. Participants are expected to commit to at least one day per week.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 8 – 9 weeks
Maine Medical Center is ranked one of the best regional hospitals by U.S. News & Report. Located in Portland, Maine, the medical center hosts a junior volunteer program where students can work in various capacities, including in admitting, hospital elder life, and volunteer services. Participants need to commit to at least one full day per week and a total of 45 service hours.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 months
Maryland
Located in Leonardtown, Maryland, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital is a 91-bed full service hospital. MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital offers two different internship opportunities for high school students, a Student Intern program that deals with non-patient care related work and a CNA student intern program. The CNA program is a paid internship that allows students to practice basic nursing techniques under the supervision of a licensed professional.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 – 3 months
Massachusetts
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, located in Boston, Massachusetts, offers a variety of internship opportunities, including a student success jobs program and a summer internship program for high school students. The student success jobs program is an unpaid, year-around program that matches you with a professional mentor, whereas the summer program is a paid employment opportunity that includes training seminars and job shadowing opportunities.
- Internship Type: paid and unpaid internships
- When: varies
- Duration: varies
Boston Children’s Hospital offers two different internship programs for high school students. The Student Career Opportunity Outreach Program (SCOOP) is a summer mentoring program where students get the opportunity to intern alongside mentors in patient service areas. The Community Opportunities Advancement at Children’s Hospital (COACH) is a paid summer employment program that helps students explore healthcare careers.
- Internship Type: paid and unpaid internships
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 – 3 months
Massachusetts General Hospital, a Harvard Medical School Teaching Hospital, runs a summer jobs program for students who attend a select number of high schools. If you’re admitted into the program, you will join a cohort of students, attend five workshops, and work in a variety of departments including nursing, pharmacy, patient transport, and research labs.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 – 3 months
Michigan
St. Mary’s of Michigan Standish Hospital offers a variety of internship and volunteer opportunities for young adults, including internships, a school-to-work program, and volunteer opportunities. The school-to-work program is designed to give high school seniors the opportunity to work in a hospital setting and rotate through various departments at the hospital. To get started, contact the community relations department.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship, school-to-work
- When: varies
- Duration: varies
The outreach program at University of Michigan is home to the Exploring Nursing as a Career for Tomorrow (ENACT) program. It is a two-week residential experience at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor aimed towards teens gaining exposure to the field of nursing.
- Internship Type: residential program
- When: June
- Duration: two weeks
Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system with 12 hospitals in west Michigan. Spectrum Health offers a range of opportunities for students, including paid internships, unpaid internships associated with schools, and job shadow experiences. The paid internships are intermittent—to search for them, check the career page at Spectrum Health and search for “internship”.
- Internship Type: paid and unpaid internships
- When: intermittent
- Duration: varies
Minnesota
The Minnesota Hospital Association, on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Health, offers a summer health care internship program. The program connects students with healthcare employers to participate in paid internship jobs. To participate you must have completed your junior year of high school. The program lasts between six and twelve weeks, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, depending on which employer you are placed with.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 6 – 12 weeks
Tri-County Health Care is a not-for-profit healthcare organization with multiple facilities serving the Wadena region. The organization offers paid internships for high school students, as well as job shadowing opportunities. To be an intern, you must commit to two days a week, either Mondays and Tuesdays, or Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 – 3 months
Mississippi
Baptist Memorial Health Care offers a “Crash Course Nursing Camp,” a summer internship for high school students. The program allows students to work alongside experienced nurses at one of three facilities, providing a real hospital experience. The camp is free, thanks to a grant from Baptist Memorial Health Care.
- Internship Type: residency internship
- When: June
- Duration: 1 week
North Mississippi Medical Center is a diversified healthcare organization that serves 24 counties in north Mississippi and northwest Alabama. The organization hosts a week-long summer health academy for students interested in pursuing a health career. Participants get to spend four hours each day working one-on-one with nurses, physicians, physical therapists, and more. In addition, students tour several nursing units. Enrollment is limited to only 25 students each year.
- Internship Type: summer program
- When: June
- Duration: 1 week
Missouri
Missouri Baptist Medical Center is ranked one of the best regional hospitals in the St. Louis area by U.S. News & Report. The medical center has a student volunteer program to provide insight and experience for students interested in a career in the healthcare field. If selected, you’ll be assigned to a specific area of your interest, depending upon availability. Volunteers can work during the school year for one to three weeks, or during the summer for eight weeks.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: 1 – 8 weeks
Children’s Mercy Kansas City is a pediatric hospital with a high school volunteer program. The program offers students the opportunity to work in various roles, including in the waiting room, as a reach out and read volunteer, or as an art cart volunteer. The hospital does not allow students to volunteer directly with patients. Programs are available both during the school year and in the summer.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: minimum 30 – 100 hours
Montana
The Western Montana Area Health Education Center, part of the University of Montana, offers a variety of educational opportunities for students, including a job shadowing program, the Research and Explore Awesome Careers in Healthcare (REACH) program, and the MedStart program. The REACH program is a day-long camp for high school students at a healthcare facility with hands-on activities. As part of the program, students learn how to draw blood, take vital signs, utilize sterilization procedures in the emergency room, and even perform X-rays. The MedStart program is a week-long program for low income students to learn about the healthcare field.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: minimum 1 – 7 days
The Billings Clinic, a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, offers a summer student volunteer program. The program gives students the opportunity to work one four-hour shift per week for two months during the summer.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 months
Nebraska
The University of Nebraska Medical Center, located in Omaha, offers a high school alliance program as part of its health sciences enrichment program. The program allows students to observe and shadow healthcare professionals and take college level classes on topics such as anatomy, biomedical research, and medical decision-making. The program is conducted during the school year, from 1 – 3 pm daily.
- Internship Type: enrichment program
- When: school year
- Duration: 1 year
CHI Health is a regional health network comprised of 15 hospitals and various other medical facilities in Nebraska and southwestern Iowa. CHI Health hosts the Healthcare Career Exploration Camp, a week-long, free day camp for 30 students in Nebraska and Iowa. Participants explore a range of healthcare professions.
- Internship Type: summer camp
- When: June
- Duration: 1 week
Nevada
The Valley Health System is a network of five hospitals in the southern Nevada region. The Valley Health System has a volunteer program that allows teens to work in a variety of departments, including nursing floors, pediatrics, radiology, pharmacy, and surgical services. The program allows you to earn school credit and comes with a meal allowance for each four-hour shift.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: varies
- Duration: varies
The University of Nevada School of Medicine has several outreach and recruitment programs, including a week-long summer camp called Summer of Discovery. The program is designed for teens who are in grades 8 – 10. The focus for the camp is a broad-based science curriculum.
- Internship Type: summer camp
- When: summer
- Duration: 1 week
New Hampshire
Yale-New Haven Hospital was established in 1933 and has one of the oldest organized hospital volunteer programs in the country. The hospital offers an academic year high school program where volunteers work a minimum of four hours a week in a variety of roles.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: school year
- Duration: 6-month minimum
Southern New Hampshire Health is comprised of Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and various smaller facilities. It has a volunteer program with opportunities for teens to volunteer in the summer and during evenings and weekends during the school year. There are opportunities to work in a variety of departments and the medical center will try to place you in an area of interest to you.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: varies
New Jersey
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey hosts an intensive Clinical Research Experience for High School Students (CREHST) program for students from underrepresented populations. The program is specifically designed to give students a look into the world of cancer research, and includes actual clinical activities. The program also includes lectures and workshops. Participants must commit to four hours per week during the school year and 40 hours per week during the summer, for one year.
- Internship Type: enrichment program
- When: year around
- Duration: 1 year
Cooper University Health Care is the clinical campus for Rowan University and a leading healthcare provider in southern New Jersey. Cooper University Health Care offers a summer student volunteer program where students get the opportunity to provide patient care and get experience with various important task, including clerical, transport, radiology, and concierge.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 3 months
Jersey Shore University Medical Center, part of the Meridian Health Family, offers a Medical Explorers program. The program, which is associated with the Boy Scouts of America, allows participants to learn from physicians and other healthcare workers, tour hospitals, and get hands-on experience through a series of monthly meetings throughout the school year.
- Internship Type: enrichment program
- When: school year
- Duration: 9 months
New Mexico
The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center offers several opportunities for high school students to gain experience in the healthcare field through the High School Pipeline Program. The program has three components: Dream Makers, Health Careers Academy, and UHSEP. The Health Careers Academy is six-week, non-residential summer program that prepares students for a career in the healthcare field.
- Internship Type: enrichment program
- When: summer
- Duration: 6 weeks
Albuquerque Public Schools runs a career exploration program known as Running Start for Careers. The program pairs a credited high school class with vocational study in various fields, including healthcare. The healthcare careers pathway is partnered with Presbyterian Healthcare Services, and participants can earn a spot in the coveted Nurse Tech Summer Program.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: school year
- Duration: 1 semester
New York
Mount Sinai Health System is comprised of seven hospitals and a medical school. Volunteers play a vital role at Mount Sinai Hospital, and students can volunteer in a variety of capacities, either working with patients or in a student research capacity. The Student Research program offers the choice of performing basic laboratory research or clinical research. The volunteer program is a year around program that includes full-time hours in the summer.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: year around
- Duration: 1 year
Rochester Regional Health includes eight facilities in the greater Rochester areas. Rochester Regional Health offers a summer internship program where students can get an in-depth look at nursing, nursing education, nursing administration, and several other healthcare fields. Participants volunteer four hours a day over three weeks in the summer.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 3 weeks
North Carolina
Wake Forest School of Medicine hosts a Medicine Camp Med program. The summer program provides 20 – 25 contact hours that include presentations, tours, observations, and clinical experiences. Wake Forest School of Medicine can also arrange volunteer opportunities and internships on a case by case scenario during the summer months.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 1 week
Carolinas HealthCare System began as a community hospital in 1940, and is now comprised of 900 care locations in North and South Carolina. Carolinas HealthCare System offers a comprehensive summer teen volunteer program. The program combines education with experience in a hospital setting.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 – 3 months
North Dakota
The North Dakota Center for Nursing sponsors a paid nursing program where students can earn $3,000 per term interning with private companies. The program is administered by Operation Intern, which offers internships in various fields and are on a first come, first served basis.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: school year
- Duration: 1 – 2 semesters
Sanford Health provides internship opportunities for high school students in Fargo, North Dakota through the Youth Medical Experience program and HOPE program. The Youth Medical program is a competitive program for juniors and seniors to gain healthcare experience under the tutelage of Sanford Health professionals.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 – 3 months
Ohio
The Cleveland Clinic Office of Government and Community Relations’ Civic Education Department works to educate students in the greater Cleveland area. Cleveland Clinic offers various clinic-based programs for high school students, including twelve different internships. The healthcare related internships allow you to get experience working with clinical professionals in the Cleveland area. The different internships vary in length and whether they are paid or not.
- Internship Type: paid and unpaid internships
- When: varies
- Duration: varies
Cincinnati Children’s is a nonprofit academic pediatric medical center. Cincinnati Children’s offers a high school senior internship program. The eight-week program provides participants with a mentor in one of sixteen different pediatric clinical specialties. It is a paid internship with a minimum time commitment of 20 hours per week, and it is very competitive.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 8 weeks
Oklahoma
The Stillwater Medical Center Foundation offers three summer high school internships each year. If chosen, you get to spend six weeks rotating through several departments at Stillwater Medical Center and meet with ambassadors from the medical schools at Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. It is a paid internship, and the application process is highly competitive.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 6 weeks
The Children’s Center Rehabilitation Hospital, located in Bethany Oklahoma, hosts Volume, a summer program for high school students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. Participants gain insight into medical, rehabilitive, and educational services, and will get experience in nursing, medicine, special education, hospital administration, and more.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 months
Oregon
Kaiser Permanente offers paid internships to high school students in the northwest region, including Oregon and Washington. The program is a ten-week summer program and is focused on various components of healthcare, including pharmacy, research, and management.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 10 weeks
PeaceHealth, based in Eugene, Oregon, offers internship opportunities for college students and job shadowing opportunities for high school students. The job shadowing program allows students to spend up to two days shadowing a healthcare professional and gain a close up look as to what the profession entails.
- Internship Type: job shadowing
- When: year around
- Duration: 1 – 2 days
Pennsylvania
Jefferson University Hospital is ranked the #2 hospital in the Philadelphia metro area by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital has a volunteer high school program where students can volunteer during the months of July and August and work in a variety of departments, including clinical areas such as radiology, oncology, and university health services.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 months
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania offers a summer teen program where students learn about the healthcare field at a world-class medical center and earn a certificate of service. Participants must commit to volunteering for at least 15 shifts through the course of the summer.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: minimum 60 hours of service
Rhode Island
Lifespan is Rhode Island’s first health system, and is comprised of multiple hospitals. Lifespan offers a summer youth employment program designed to help students learn about careers in the healthcare industry. As a student employee, you get the opportunity to work in a variety of departments, including nursing, radiology, cardiology, food and nutrition, and more. The program is an eight-week commitment.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 8 weeks
South Carolina
Carolinas HealthCare System began as a community hospital in 1940, and is now comprised of 900 care locations in North and South Carolina. Carolinas HealthCare System offers a comprehensive summer teen volunteer program. The program combines education with experience in a hospital setting.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 2 – 3 months
Pee Dee Area Health Care Educational Center is an organization that works to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare to residents in the Pee Dee region. Pee Dee AHEC offers a summer internship program for underrepresented and disadvantaged high school students. Students are placed into an area of their interest and must commit to four to six weeks of work.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 4 – 6 weeks
South Dakota
Sanford Health provides internship opportunities for high school students in Sioux Falls, South Dakota through the Youth Medical Explorers program and HOPE program. The Youth Medical Explorers program meets once a month throughout the school year and then for three consecutive days in the summer.
- Internship Type: unpaid internship
- When: year around
- Duration: 1 year
Tennessee
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital is a pediatric hospital in Knoxville with a long running volunteer program, including a VolunTeen program. VolunTeens must be at least fourteen and able to commit to working one four-hour shift per week.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: varies
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center hosts a Medical Explorations Program. The four-day summer program allows students to shadow physicians and includes lectures on the healthcare field.
- Internship Type: enrichment program
- When: summer
- Duration: 4 days
Texas
Houston Methodist only offers internships to college students, but the hospital does have a high school volunteer program that allows students to work at the Research Institute. It is a competitive program with only a few availabilities.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: varies
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas offers a high school volunteer program. The summer program gives participants the opportunity to perform a variety of volunteer activities, including assisting staff on patient care floors.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: summer
- Duration: varies
If you are currently living in Texas, or would like to move to Texas to attend school, here are some of the nursing schools in Texas.
Utah
Intermountain Healthcare is a not-for-profit medical system that includes 22 hospitals and 185 clinics. Intermountain Healthcare’s volunteer program allows volunteers fourteen and older to work in a variety of ways, including providing service in hospitals.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: varies
Vermont
The University of Vermont College of Medicine offers a wide variety of opportunities for high school students as part of its Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) program. The AHEC program offers job shadowing, summer learning, classroom presentations, and two summer programs, including the MedQuest program. The MedQuest program takes place on the college campus and is a one-week program dedicated to exploring healthcare careers.
- Internship Type: enrichment program
- When: summer
- Duration: 1 week
Virginia
Virginia Hospital Center has over 40 different areas where volunteers can work, including inpatient and outpatient facilities, and specialized services. Volunteers must commit at least four hours per week on a regular basis for a minimum of six months.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: 6 months
Inova is a not-for-profit healthcare system based out of Northern Virginia. Inova hosts multiple student educational opportunities, including the Medical Explorers Club for high school students interested in a career in healthcare. The club meets twice a month.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: varies
Washington
Kaiser Permanente offers paid internships to high school students in the northwest region, including Washington and Oregon. The program is a ten-week summer program and is focused on various components of healthcare, including pharmacy, research, and management.
- Internship Type: paid internship
- When: summer
- Duration: 10 weeks
West Virginia
West Virginia Medicine is West Virginia’s largest healthcare provider. West Virginia Medicine offers a job shadowing program where high school students can shadow a medical professional and learn about the various options for a medical career.
- Internship Type: job shadowing
- When: year around
- Duration: 1 day
Wisconsin
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin offers various opportunities for high school students, including a job shadowing program and a volunteer program. The volunteer program offers multiple opportunities at the Milwaukee campus. Participants must commit to at least two hours per week for six months.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: 6 months
Wyoming
Wyoming Medical Center is an acute care hospital in the center of Wyoming. Wyoming Medical Center offers a junior volunteer program, where students who are at least sixteen years old can work in more than 20 service areas.
- Internship Type: volunteer
- When: year around
- Duration: 6 months
Additional internships in nursing for HS students
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a student volunteer program, where students can gain experience and training in various healthcare fields, including nursing. Student volunteers are eligible to qualify for the James H. Park Memorial Youth Scholarship Award. With a number of VA medical centers around the country, this opportunity is great, particularly for students who want to work with veterans.
Projects Abroad – Volunteer Nursing Internships Abroad
Get Started
There are tons of opportunities to get started learning about your future in the healthcare field. If our list doesn’t have an opportunity near you, simply contact your local healthcare provider and see if they have internship or volunteer opportunities.
Before starting with any internship, you will probably need to undergo a health screening and update all your vaccinations. Some internships might also require CPR/First aid certification.