Internship FAQs

A.: Yes. Being offered an internship with Baylor is a job offer and the beginning of your career with us. With the internship, you are eligible for full benefits beginning on Day 1.

Q.: What is a graduate nurse at Baylor?

A.: A graduate nurse at Baylor is one who has completed nurses training and has not yet taken the NCLEX to be licensed. The internship is a hands-on training period with some classroom time that allows you to smoothly transition into your career as an RN. Once you pass the NCLEX and are licensed, your title changes to RN.

Q.: After I complete my internship, will I need to apply again to be hired as an RN at Baylor?

A.: No. When you’re offered an internship, it is a job offer and the beginning of your career at Baylor. The internship is the on-the-job training period for your specialty. Once you pass the NCLEX and are licensed, you are an RN.

Q.: Do you offer visa sponsorship for GNs?

A.: We offer sponsorship on a case-by-case basis depending on our business needs.

Q.: I applied for an internship online. Now I’m getting e-mails about other internships. Did you receive my application? Why am I receiving these messages? Should I reapply?

A.: If you’re getting these e-mails, then we received your application. Our online application system sometimes generates e-mail about opportunities you might be interested in based on the profile you created in our system. This is just intended to be helpful to you. If you’re not interested in those positions, just ignore the messages. Or you can go back to your profile and uncheck any boxes about being notified about future openings.

Q.: Can I apply for more than one internship?

A.: Yes, but we recommend that you apply for no more than three specialties.

Q.: When should I apply for an internship?

A.: Internship opportunities are posted on our web site throughout the year, but they begin in January, June and August. You should check our web site around October and November for January opportunities; February and March for June openings; and July and August for September internships. The June 2012 internships will open on February 13 and close on February 24. You must apply during this timeframe to be considered for an internship.

Q.: When does the application process close?

A.: Each department determines how many RNs it can hire based on needs, so opportunities vary by hospital and unit. Some units can fill their jobs quickly, depending on their needs. We encourage you to start applying as soon as the jobs are posted to increase your chances.

Q.: When do internships begin?

A.: They typically start in January, June and September. However, occasionally there are some instances when an internship can begin at other times during the year. Check in with your recruiter or watch our web site to see if something is open at other times.

Q.: How long is an internship?

A.: It varies by specialty. Some last just six weeks, while others can last up to a year. They involve bedside care and classroom training to help you transition to your nursing career with confidence. Check out our internship descriptions to see what each specialty involves.

Q.: Does Baylor have opportunities for nursing students?

A.: Occasionally we have nurse tech positions available for nursing students. Also consider applying for a patient care technician (PCT) position, which is another opportunity for student nurses and certified nurse assistants (CNAs). Keep checking our web site for these opportunities.

Q.: Do you offer summer externships for students in nursing school?

A.: We do not offer summer externships, but we hope you’ll consider us for a full-time position when you graduate.

Q.: What do I have to do to be considered for a GN internship position?

A.: Mostly all you need to do is apply online. You must graduate from an accredited nursing school with an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor degree in nursing to qualify for our internships.

Q.: What should I include in my application?

A.: The internship application will require certain information. Beyond those requirements, you may attach your transcript, cover letter and letters of recommendation. These documents are not required to apply, but a recruiter may ask for them during the interview process so it’s best to have them on hand. You can always add to your application after you have submitted it. Be sure to keep your login information for the web site.

Q.: How do I decide what positions to apply for?

A.: Decide what is most important to you. If a particular specialty is most important to you, apply to all positions in that specialty and be flexible about what facility you want to work at. If location is most important to you, apply to several different specialties at your preferred facility. You should clearly state your preferences in your cover letter as this will help our recruiters match you with an opening. If you are contacted by a recruiter, be honest with them about your preferences. Our recruiters work together as a team and will try to find the best fit for each candidate.

Q.: Do you offer a sign-on bonus?

A.: No, we no longer offer a sign-on bonus, but we do offer $850 in NCLEX support, as well as paid time off to take the NCLEX. We pay the NCLEX cost whether you take the test before or after you begin working at Baylor.

Q.: Is there a contract associated with the internship?

A.: No, we do not require nursing interns to sign a contract.

Q.: Do you pay for existing student loans?

A.: No, we offer tuition reimbursement for continuing education once you begin working with us. We don’t reimburse you for existing student loans. However, there is a program from the federal government called the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program that could help you.

Q.: Is it true that Baylor Health Care System has a 3.0 GPA requirement for graduate nurses?

A.: Baylor is committed to education, and we do have a GPA guideline of 3.0. However, it’s a guideline, not a requirement. We will consider you based on all of your qualifications.

Q.: How do I find internship positions online?

A.: From any nursing specialty page, go to the bottom of the page to search for open positions. Use the Job Function pull-down menu and select Nursing if it’s not already selected, select GN-Intern and then any location you prefer. Then hit Search. You can apply to any position right from the web site.

Q.: How many different internship specialties do you offer?

A.: We offer 12 different internship specialties. Information on each specialty can be found on our web site. The specialties are not always hiring at the same time. If you do not see an opening for a particular specialty, it is not available. Check back for those openings at a later time.

Q.: Do you recruit for all Baylor facilities? How many facilities do you recruit for?

A.: We recruit for all Baylor Health Care System-owned facilities. We do not recruit for hospitals that we are affiliated with.

Q.: Are you affiliated with Baylor University?

A.: For about 75 years, we were affiliated with Baylor University. But that partnership ended in 1997. As a result, we are not affiliated with Baylor Medical Center in Houston, the medical facility associated with Baylor Medical School. We continue to house Baylor School of Nursing and Baylor School of Dentistry on our Dallas campus.

Q.: Do you compensate for bilingual ability?

A.: While having employees who speak other languages besides English is a big benefit in our ability to care for our patients and their families, we do not pay extra for that ability.

Q: I am a registered nurse with five years experience in oncology, but my passion is labor and delivery. Could I be considered for your perinatal internship?

A: Yes, our internships are designed for graduate nurses without experience or for RNs who are looking to switch specialties. If you are an RN with at least one year of experience in a specialty and you want to stay in that specialty, you should apply for an RN position.