Are you a gifted BSN student who’s looking for a challenge that’s over and above the basic requirements for your degree? The Nursing Practice Interns Program provides opportunities for in-depth study and professional development, nurtures your development as a future nurse leader, and prepares you for graduate study in nursing. You get to choose a mentor in a specialty area that interests you.
Some students make decisions on what area of nursing they want to work in while they are in the program, such as recent graduate Aliceson Trimpe Stroub. "Hearing what Beth, a midwife at Saint Joseph East Hospital, had to say about her profession opened my eyes about midwifery. She showed me that midwifery actually exists in a hospital setting and not just in rural areas."
Carolyn Twehues, another recent BSN graduate, said, "Being a nursing practice intern was an amazing accession to my nursing career at UK. I met so many amazing people and had the opportunity to learn information about patients’ point of view, practices in advanced nursing, and exciting research happening in the college.”
Another intern said, “... It has opened my eyes to many different viewpoints about various nursing topics other than what I learn in the classroom.”
Eligibility criteria
- Enrollment in NUR 863
- 3.0 cumulative GPA
- 3.0 GPA in nursing major
- Demonstration of critical thinking and communication skills, creativity, self-direction, perseverance, and integrity.
To maintain nursing practice intern status, you must:
- maintain a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA
- successfully complete all nursing courses
- actively participate with your mentor and attend all seminars (as judged by mentors and seminar leader)
- uphold nursing professional standards
Application Procedure
Pick up an application packet from College of Nursing Student Services, 315 College of Nursing Bldg. You can also download and print packet materials. (Nursing Practice Interns Program application, Nursing Practice Interns Endorsement and Reference form; you will need TWO COPIES of the reference form. Pdf files require Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Submit the following with your application:
- a brief description of work experiences, extracurricular activities, community service (such as volunteer work), and other related experiences;
- two examples of work completed in sophomore-level courses that reflect evidence of leadership potential, critical thinking and communication skills, and creativity. Obtain two faculty references, using the Endorsement and Reference for the Undergraduate Nursing Practice Interns Program form, included in the application packet. Have these completed by sophomore nursing faculty.
Deadline for applications
October 17 is the deadline for applications for the spring semester. The deadline for fall will be posted on this page as soon as possible.
More information
For questions about the application process: Peg Teachey, (859) 323-8071 or
pcteac1@email.uky.edu.
For questions about program content:
Karen Stefaniak,, PhD, RN, assistant professor.