London Health Sciences Centre’s clinical extern nursing program is part of a Ministry of Health funding initiative to help hospitals strengthen their health workforce by employing clinical learners as Externs in unregulated care provider roles under the supervision of regulated healthcare professionals.
Our Clinical Extern Program is designed to support your growth from student to professional, giving you the opportunity to develop clinical expertise, specialty knowledge, and self-confidence in a real-world healthcare environment. As a Clinical Extern, you will experience hands-on patient care, gain valuable insight into the bedside nursing environment, and deepen your exposure to the standards and practices at LHSC.
At LHSC, we recognize the unique talents, skills, and knowledge each Extern brings to our team. Through your commitment, compassion, and enthusiasm, you will contribute meaningfully to patient care while continuing to learn and grow within a supportive, dynamic environment.
Our Vision:
Cultivating the next generation of nurses by fostering a supportive learning environment where passion meets practice.
Our Program Objective:
Our program is dedicated to developing skilled, confident, and compassionate nursing professionals through hands-on experience, mentorship, and evidence-based learning. By prioritizing safe and high-quality care, we bridge the transition from student to professional, ensuring a strong foundation for future nursing excellence.
What are Clinical Externs?
Clinical Externs (CEs) are students currently enrolled in academic programs who are hired as employees outside of their academic curriculum. Unlike students on placement, CEs are not completing academic competencies or profession-specific requirements. They work as unregulated healthcare providers under supervision with a defined job description and scope of practice outlined by LHSC.
As a Nursing Clinical Extern, you will work alongside interprofessional care teams, contributing to high-quality, patient-centred care. This experience provides valuable exposure to the day-to-day realities of bedside nursing, team-based care, and the operational flow of a large academic health sciences centre.
CEs can work in various clinical areas, including inpatient units, outpatient clinics, procedural areas, and emergency departments.
What you will develop
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Collaboration
- Professional Identity
- Accountability
Hands-On Experience
Gain practical experience in an acute care hospital environment under the supervision of regulated healthcare professionals. Bridge the gap between classroom learning and patient care by putting theory into action at the bedside.
Professional Skill Development
While you will gain hands-on experience, the most significant growth often happens outside of technical skills. You will develop clinical communication, teamwork, professional accountability, time management, and the ability to build therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
Support, Supervision and Mentorship
As a Clinical Extern, you work as an unregulated healthcare provider in collaboration with experienced healthcare professionals.
In addition to unit-based supervision, one of the most significant strengths of this program is that you are supported by a program team consisting of dedicated Extern Mentors throughout your experience.
This team is not just overseeing logistics. We are here to support your professional growth. Your mentors provide opportunities for debriefing, feedback, skill development, and reflection. They help you navigate clinical culture, build confidence, and prepare for transition into professional practice.
Learning and Development Opportunities
The Extern Program continues to grow and evolve within LHSC. Our program is continuously strengthening partnerships with clinical teams and LHSC partners to identify learning opportunities that enhance your experience beyond the unit. Nursing Clinical Externs have supported initiatives such as seasonal Influenza Campaigns, LHSC’s annual pressure injury prevalence study, Paramedic Exam Simulations support, among others. These opportunities provide exposure to quality improvement, system-level initiatives, and collaborative partnerships that extend beyond bedside care.
Transition-to-Practice Supports
Many externs describe this experience as the point where they began to see themselves differently as future nurses. You will better understand how nurses contribute not just through tasks, but through judgment, anticipation, advocacy, and collaboration. This strengthens your transition-to-practice readiness and contributes to building a strong and sustainable nursing workforce. The program offers Transition to Practice Workshops to better prepare upcoming graduates for the move from student role to professional practice. Components include recruitment information from HR partners, resume-building support, interview preparation, and more. These workshops provide a more intentional connection between extern experience, career readiness, and internal workforce pathways.
How can I apply to the program?
There are intake sessions regularly throughout the year. You will find job postings on the LHSC Careers page and Indeed. We look forward to hearing from you!
For more information, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
