Caralie Basuel: Children's National Hospital Internship
My name is Caralie Basuel, and I am a rising senior at University of Rhode Island pursuing a Bachelor in Science in Nursing! This summer I was given the opportunity to work at Children’s National Hospital (CNH) in Washington, DC, one of the nation’s top ranked pediatric hospitals. I worked in the Surgical Care Unit, where I assist with all preoperative and postoperative care for those undergoing a variety of medical procedures. Over a 12 week internship, I had the privilege of learning and working alongside nurses whose dedication and expertise inspired me every day.
CNH offers a highly competitive summer internship for nursing students to gain clinical experience in pediatrics. Since the majority of my clinicals at URI have focused on adult patients, I was thrilled for this opportunity! The program consisted of three 12 hour shifts each week and monthly learning seminars. During my time on the unit, I had the opportunity to work closely with my RN preceptors, Caroline and Becca, whose mentorship greatly strengthened my confidence and knowledge.
As a nurse trainee, I was responsible for obtaining patients vital signs, assisting patients with daily activities, and providing hygiene care. Under supervision of Caroline and Becca, I even gained experience in wound care, medication administration, removing IV’s, patient assessments, and much more! Each day presented with new learning opportunities, as our unit cares for a range of complex conditions like trauma accidents, burns, orthopedic procedures and colorectal surgeries. There was never a shift that wasn’t action packed which turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the job!
Additionally, I attended learning seminars where I collaborated with other interns in simulation sessions and lectures. For example, we spent a day simulating a code blue which is when a patient is drastically declining and it’s our job to quickly act in order to save the patient. Another day, we completed training to recognize, understand, and respond to signs of mental health challenges in youth.
During my time at CNH, the most memorable experiences have been getting to know my patients and seeing how our interactions can make their hospitalization less overwhelming. One memory that has stayed with me is sitting with a patient while their mom had to step out of the room. We talked about their favorite TV shows and all the countries they dreamed of visiting. Watching her momentarily relax and smile reminded me how meaningful a conversation can be.
Building these connections helped me see how nursing is just as much about human connection as it is about clinical skill. This internship has reinforced my passion for pediatric nursing and confirmed that my decision to pursue nursing at URI was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. This is all thanks to Caroline, Becca, and all the staff at CNH for making my experience so special!
