For nursing students wondering how to bridge the gap between the classroom and the bedside, WellSpan Health is offering a pathway designed to turn early interest into long-term careers. Through its nurse extern program and related early-career opportunities, WellSpan aims to support students as they grow from learners into confident registered nurses.
The nurse extern program allows students to step directly into patient care roles during the summer or winter, working alongside experienced nurses and clinical teams. Rather than observing from the sidelines, externs contribute meaningfully to daily care while learning how hospital units function in real time. Many students also work for WellSpan as nursing assistants, medical assistants, or physician office technicians, with schedules structured to balance work, school, and personal commitments.
For Gage Wildasin, now a registered nurse at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital, the externship experience played a central role in shaping his career choice. Wildasin said the teamwork he encountered during his externship left a lasting impression and ultimately convinced him to pursue a nursing career within the WellSpan system.
He described receiving a warm welcome at Gettysburg Hospital and quickly seeing opportunities for growth, from continuing education to earning additional qualifications. Strong preceptors, he said, helped him build the foundation of his nursing practice, and that culture of support continued after he transitioned into a graduate nurse role.
Wildasin also credited WellSpan’s structured orientation process, including its TSAM model, with helping him feel prepared once formal orientation ended. He said the consistent encouragement from peers and mentors helped him gain confidence as he moved into full professional responsibilities.
As Wildasin looks ahead, he plans to take advantage of WellSpan’s tuition reimbursement program to continue his education. He is also interested in expanding his role through additional certifications, allowing him to advance the level of care he provides. Just as important to him, he said, is the opportunity to support future colleagues in the same way he was supported as a student and new graduate.
That emphasis on transition continues through WellSpan’s Nurse Residency Program, a 12-month, nationally accredited program recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Designed for new graduate nurses, the residency provides clinical guidance from experienced nurses, hands-on practice and simulation, and focused training on real-world skills. New nurses move through the program as part of a cohort, offering peer support during what can otherwise be an overwhelming first year.
Once nurses complete their first year, WellSpan encourages them to explore a wide range of career paths. Opportunities span inpatient hospitals, outpatient centers, home care and hospice. Nurses can pursue advanced degrees and specialized training with financial assistance through WellSpan’s education benefits, allowing them to build long-term careers within the system.
WellSpan leaders say the goal is to create a culture where nurses feel supported from their earliest days as students through years of professional growth. By combining hands-on experience, structured mentoring and education support, the system aims to strengthen both its workforce and the communities it serves.
For students interested in getting started, the nurse extern program for this upcoming summer still has openings at Chambersburg and York. Details can be found here: https://www.joinwellspan.org/nursing-students/
Source: WellSpan Health