Despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) will continue its decade-long tradition of paid nursing internships. On June 16, the Foundation welcomed its largest cohort of 30 students — representing 10 nursing programs — to the Nursing Internship Program.
Over eight weeks, the student nurses will learn about the unique role nurses play outside the hospital in health care administration at Independence Blue Cross and in regional health centers in underserved communities. With COVID-19, several of the internship positions have been modified for remote learning.
The internship placements are coupled with enriching competency-building experiences, including Leadership Labs, volunteering, and a research project to help better prepare the next generation of nurses to become leaders in nursing and health care.
Since 2005, Independence Blue Cross and the Foundation (beginning in 2011) have provided internships for more than 300 students from 20 nursing schools across the region.