Nearly 600 nursing students spent their summer caring for patients, building clinical skills, and taking the first steps toward careers that will strengthen Mississippi's healthcare workforce. Through the 2026 Mississippi Summer Student Nurse Externship Program, 592 nursing students were hired by hospitals across the state, gaining invaluable hands-on experience while helping address one of Mississippi's most pressing healthcare needs—a strong, sustainable nursing workforce.
The Mississippi Summer Student Nurse Externship Program is a collaborative initiative of the Mississippi Council of Deans and Directors and the Mississippi Hospital Association Organization for Nursing Leadership. For many years, this highly competitive program has connected nursing students with hospitals where they work alongside experienced nurses, apply classroom learning in real-world settings, and begin building lasting relationships with future employers. Year after year, the program continues to generate enthusiasm among students, schools of nursing, and healthcare organizations alike.
The program operates under established guidelines, including approved clinical skills, practice parameters, and program requirements developed by the Externship Committee. These standards ensure a consistent, high-quality experience for every participating student, school, and hospital.
Each year, Schools of Nursing and hospitals apply to participate and work together to support each extern's success. Students complete 320 hours of supervised clinical experience while earning three hours of college credit. More importantly, the program creates a direct pathway into Mississippi's nursing workforce. Program data consistently show that many externs return to the same hospitals after graduation to begin full-time nursing careers, helping hospitals recruit and retain talented nurses while strengthening healthcare across the state.
The Mississippi Center for Quality and Workforce (MCQW) coordinates and supports this statewide partnership. In 2026, 26 Schools of Nursing and 52 hospitals were approved to participate, with 44 hospitals ultimately employing nurse externs. The following pages highlight just a few of the remarkable students who participated this summer.
Thank you to Mississippi's nurse externs, Schools of Nursing, hospital partners, and dedicated nurse leaders for investing in the future of healthcare. Mississippi's patients—and its future nursing workforce—are stronger because of you.
To learn more about the Mississippi Summer Student Nurse Externship Program, visit https://mhanet.org/Online/MCQW/Workforce.aspx or contact [email protected].