Student Center

Meridian provides a number of programs to support student nurses as they grow in the nursing profession.

Extern Program
This 10 week Externship Program sponsored by Meridian Health offers nursing students an opportunity to earn while they learn.

Students will be oriented to the role of a patient care associate (PCA), including venipuncture and 12-lead EKG. Following orientation, externs will assume the work schedule of the nurse preceptor for 24 hours a week. For their role of PCA, externs will receive $13.56 an hour.

Working under the direction of a registered nurse preceptor, the externs will have the opportunity to practice selected professional skills and procedures. An additional two (2) hours per week will be scheduled for professional seminars and workshops to help prepare the extern for the process of transitioning from nursing student to professional practitioner.

OFFER Program
The OFFER Program encourages and assists team members to become registered nurses. OFFER means:
O: On going support through mentoring, coaching and tutoring
F: Financial assistance and tuition reimbursement
F: Flexible scheduling
E: Educational counseling
R: RN transition plan of action

Through the OFFER program you can go to school full time during the week, and work twelve hours on Saturday and Sunday. We will pay for your nursing program, and pay you as a full time team member (36 hours per week). In return, you agree to remain at Meridian Health and work full time as an RN for two years.

SAGE
The SAGE (Sharing and Guiding Experience) Program, is a formal mentoring initiative that assists nurses in developing the knowledge and skills needed to meet career goals. SAGE pairs skilled and experienced nurses with new, less experienced nurses and nursing students to foster professional development.

Clinical Affiliations
Meridian Health partners with many schools of nursing in the Monmouth and Ocean county areas and beyond. We hold clinical rotations on all shifts and on the weekend to accommodate the day, night or weekend student. Many of our own team members and leaders serve as clinical instructors for Brookdale Community College and Ocean County College.

We also have a wonderful collaboration with Georgian Court College and Seton Hall University. You can experience the same Seton Hall nursing program in your own backyard at the Georgian Court campus in Lakewood.

Clinical Rotations
Clinical rotations at Meridian Health provide an exciting opportunity for student nurses to experience our culture first hand. Our recruitment team personally contacts all student nurses during their clinical rotation and maintains an on-going relationship throughout the remainder of their educational experience. In addition to an exceptional clinical rotation experience, nursing students are encouraged to apply for part time positions as patient care associates.

CampusRN
Meridian Health also participates in CampusRN, an online tool to help nursing students find current job openings, research potential employers, and compare various career options within their field. With CampusRN, our recruitment team can reach out to students directly with current openings before they graduate. As long as students remain active in the CampusRN database, we have the ability to connect with them on a routine basis regardless of when they graduated or will graduate.

New Graduate Experience
The New Graduate Nurse Internship Program provides all new graduates with opportunities for professional growth and autonomy leading to active participation as a member of the Meridian nursing team. Graduates may be hired directly into nursing units or into the nursing orientation program. Specific new graduates may identify a particular specialty area of focus, but the actual placement into the specialty area occurs once the individual successfully meets the goals and objectives of the medical/surgical/telemetry unit. In this program, the new nurse is partnered with a nurse preceptor, and completes the core curriculum for all new graduates. Decisions for placement occurs between the 9th and 10th month, with actual placement occurring at 12 months.