Philadelphia, PA – The role of a nurse today is very different than it was a decade ago. With the growing complexities of health care, nursing students must be ready for a wide variety of responsibilities including caregiver, teacher, investigator, and patient advocate.
To help nursing students prepare for this multifaceted role, The Independence Blue Cross Foundation hosts summer internships through its Nurses for Tomorrow Program. This week, 23 undergraduate nurse interns from 10 nursing schools across the region began a 10-week internship at Independence Blue Cross or at a Blue Safety Net community health center supported by the Foundation.
Now in its 12th year, the internship program helps nursing students gain skills that complement their nursing school education with real-world experience in health insurance and community and public health. As the next generation of nurse leaders, the interns also focus on professional development through “Leadership Labs’ and build on nursing competencies that are needed in an evolving, dynamic health care environment.