Location: Mercy Hospital Southeast, Cape Girardeau, MO
Department: Center of Nursing ExcellenceStatus: Temporary, 4-week session, 36 hours/weekShift: 12 Hour Days or NightsTwo sessions to choose from:
Session I: December 14th - January 8th
Session II: December 21st - January 15th
Our Mercy Nurse Externship is a unique hands‑on learning experience designed to help nursing students bridge the gap between the classroom and real‑world practice. This paid externship gives participants the opportunity to work approximately 36 hours per week, during a 4-week session while on school break. Nurse externs will rotate through a variety of units while learning directly at the elbow of a Mercy nurse.
Participating in a Mercy Externship will help you:
- Deepen your understanding of the nursing role within an acute care setting
- Build confidence in delivering both direct and indirect patient care in an acute care setting
- Enhance your clinical skills through dedicated preceptor time, including: IV therapy, Foley care, NG tube care, tube feeding, ostomy care, point-of-care testing, phlebotomy, specimen collection, simple dressing changes, trach care, and head‑to‑toe assessments.
You’ll gain meaningful exposure to diverse patient populations, strengthen your critical‑thinking skills, and work closely with experienced nurses who are committed to supporting your professional growth and learning opportunities.
Qualifications:
Nurse Externship Requirement: *Applicants must have completed at least 2 semesters of nursing school, including a minimum of one round of clinicals, prior to the start of the externship.
- Required Education: High school diploma, G.E.D. and enrolled in an approved or accredited nursing program. *Please see above. Applicants may be asked to provide a copy of student transcripts indicating they have completed Fundamentals of Nursing from an accredited school of nursing and provide competency skills list from their learning institution.
- Certifications: Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Other: Minimum Physical Requirements:
- Position requires individuals to push, pull, and/or lift 50 pounds on a regular basis.
- Position requires prolonged standing and walking each shift.
- Position requires the ability to grip, reach, bend, kneel, twist, and squat to perform duties.
Supportive teams, real hands‑on experience, and opportunities to grow in a welcoming environment are just a few of the highlights that set the Mercy Nurse Externship apart.
***Limited Opportunities Available***Please make sure to apply prior to the application deadline of November 14, 2026
For more information, please contact: [email protected]
Why Mercy?From day one, Mercy offers outstanding benefits - including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, tuition support, and matched retirement plans for team members working 32+ hours per pay period.
Join a caring, collaborative team where your voice matters. At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion. As we grow, you'll grow with us.
Skills Required
- Completion of at least two semesters of nursing school, including a minimum of one clinical rotation, before the externship begins
- High school diploma or GED
- Enrollment in an approved or accredited registered nurse or practical nurse program
- Completion of Fundamentals of Nursing from an accredited nursing school, demonstrated through transcripts if requested
- Basic Life Support certification
- Ability to push, pull, and lift 50 pounds regularly
- Ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods during each shift
- Ability to grip, reach, bend, kneel, twist, and squat
Mercy Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Mercy and has not been reviewed or approved by Mercy.
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Healthcare Strength — Day‑one medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy coverage is available for many benefit‑eligible roles, alongside options like disability, FSAs, EAP, wellness, and other add‑ons. Coverage breadth and immediate eligibility are highlighted across role postings and benefits guides.
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Retirement Support — Automatic enrollment in the MyRetirement 401(k) includes a per‑paycheck employer match and an additional annual service contribution for eligible co‑workers. This layered design provides ongoing support for long‑term savings.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — A combined PTO bank (holidays, vacation, short‑term illness) plus an Extended Sick Bank and Paid Parental Leave are standard components. Accruals start quickly and can increase with tenure, with some locations also offering Volunteer Time Off.
Mercy Insights
What We Do
Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems for four consecutive years by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy is one of the nation’s most highly integrated, multi-state health care systems, including more than 40 acute care, managed and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies. Mercy has 900 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 2,400 Mercy Clinic physicians and more than 40,000 co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Mercy’s Virtual Care Center is the world’s first such facility dedicated to care outside its own walls, monitoring patients 24/7/365 across the country, using high-speed data and video connections and medically intervening when and where patients need it with a comprehensive team approach. Mercy was among the first health care organizations in the U.S. to have an integrated electronic health record (EHR) connecting all points of care. Mercy Technology Services’ broad use of its EHR has been recognized at one of the highest possible levels by Epic.
