What Do Nurse Externs Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for nurse externs?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what nurse externs do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Nurse Externs Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about nurse externs by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Nurse Externs diagnose and coordinate all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. May provide well-woman gynecological care. Must have specialized, graduate nursing education.
Popular Job Titles For Nurse Externs
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Certified Nurse Midwives
- Nurse Midwives
- Dispensing Nurses
- Mother/Baby Postpartum Registered Nurses
- Postpartum Registered Nurses
- Captains
- Postpartum Doulas
- Postpartum/Mother Baby Registered Nurses
- Locums Tenens
- Maternal Fetal Medicine Physicians
- Mother Baby/Postpartum Registered Nurses
- OB/GYNs
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for nurse externs can be found.
Best Industries for Nurse Externs
Nurse Externs Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Physicians: 48.4%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 20.2%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 14.4%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 7.9%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 2.9%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 2%
- Other: 4.2%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of nurse externs can be found working in the Offices of Physicians sector. In 2022, about 48.4% of all jobs for nurse externs were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (20.2%), Outpatient Care Centers (14.4%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (7.9%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (2.9%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (2%).
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Degree Options for Nurse Externs
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your nursing knowledge and experiences with our online degree-completion program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: CCNE
Learn and practice the skills you need to play a pivotal role in creating progressive healthcare programs, systems and processes that result in high-quality, affordable care for everyone.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3-4
Unleash your potential by completing the online FNP Certificate program that readies you for an advanced role in nursing.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Expand your scope of practice as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, and become an expert in healthcare delivery for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Realize your potential to impact healthcare with an accredited degree that blends nursing theory, advanced practice concepts and research.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 18
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Broaden your knowledge and your practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner equipped to provide a holistic approach toward healthcare.
- Months To Complete: 28
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing with a streamlined path to the M.S. in Nursing.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16-30
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Nurse Externs Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what nurse externs do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work nurse externs do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that nurse externs tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for nurse externs, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Nurse Externs
Based on 2,461 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Nurse Externs
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Midwifery | 1,292 | 52% |
| Nursing | 1,010 | 41% |
| Postpartum Care | 988 | 40% |
| Obstetrics And Gynaecology | 984 | 40% |
| Gynecology | 918 | 37% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Nurse Externs
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 520 | 21% |
| Communications | 427 | 17% |
| Research | 261 | 11% |
| Teaching | 243 | 10% |
| Leadership | 188 | 8% |
Based on 2,461 job postings related to nurse externs, midwifery was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 52% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for nursing, postpartum care, obstetrics and gynaecology, gynecology and intrapartum were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for nurse externs, followed by communications, research, teaching, leadership and customer service.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Midwifery | 1,292 | 52% |
| Nursing | 1,010 | 41% |
| Postpartum Care | 988 | 40% |
| Obstetrics And Gynaecology | 984 | 40% |
| Gynecology | 918 | 37% |
| Intrapartum | 520 | 21% |
| Family Planning | 367 | 15% |
| Childbirth | 356 | 14% |
| Medical Records | 330 | 13% |
| Medical Ultrasonography | 282 | 11% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 215 | 9% |
| Cesarean Section | 211 | 9% |
| Triage | 188 | 8% |
| Primary Care | 158 | 6% |
| Cardiotocography | 149 | 6% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 143 | 6% |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine | 143 | 6% |
| Laboratory Testing | 136 | 6% |
| Clinical Experience | 133 | 5% |
| Prenatal Care | 120 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 520 | 21% |
| Communications | 427 | 17% |
| Research | 261 | 11% |
| Teaching | 243 | 10% |
| Leadership | 188 | 8% |
| Customer Service | 132 | 5% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 129 | 5% |
| Writing | 126 | 5% |
| Spanish Language | 118 | 5% |
| Planning | 111 | 5% |
| Detail Oriented | 106 | 4% |
| Decision Making | 104 | 4% |
| Self-Motivation | 99 | 4% |
| Coordinating | 95 | 4% |
| Positivity | 90 | 4% |
| Empathy | 89 | 4% |
| Operations | 84 | 3% |
| Problem Solving | 77 | 3% |
| Critical Thinking | 76 | 3% |
| Multilingualism | 76 | 3% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Nurse Externs
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Nurse Midwives | 4,445 | 69.4% |
| Nurse Midwives | 990 | 15.4% |
| Dispensing Nurses | 211 | 3.3% |
| Mother/Baby Postpartum Registered Nurses | 259 | 4% |
| Postpartum Registered Nurses | 142 | 2.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was certified nurse midwives, with 1,522 unique job postings. Nurse midwives were second, with 78 postings, followed by dispensing nurses, mother/baby postpartum registered nurses and postpartum registered nurses.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to nurse externs.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Nurse Midwives | 4,445 | 69.4% |
| Nurse Midwives | 990 | 15.4% |
| Dispensing Nurses | 211 | 3.3% |
| Mother/Baby Postpartum Registered Nurses | 259 | 4% |
| Postpartum Registered Nurses | 142 | 2.2% |
| Captains | 143 | 2.2% |
| Postpartum Doulas | 34 | 0.5% |
| Postpartum/Mother Baby Registered Nurses | 28 | 0.4% |
| Locums Tenens | 17 | 0.3% |
| Maternal Fetal Medicine Physicians | 19 | 0.3% |
| Mother Baby/Postpartum Registered Nurses | 17 | 0.3% |
| OB/GYNs | 18 | 0.3% |
| Airline Captains | 12 | 0.2% |
| Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses | 18 | 0.3% |
| Nursery Nurses | 9 | 0.1% |
| Directors of Health and Human Services | 10 | 0.2% |
| Catering Captains | 4 | 0.1% |
| Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists | 9 | 0.1% |
| Midwives | 17 | 0.3% |
| Nurses | 6 | 0.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for nurse externs? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for nurse externs.
How much do nurse externs make?
Nurse Externs: How do you become one?
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