Nursing

Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Careers
at Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Does Mayo offer any type of internship or externship for nursing students?

Mayo Clinic offers a summer employment opportunity – called Summer III – for nursing students. While it is not an internship or externship, it provides a learning experience for students between their junior and senior year in a bachelor's degree nursing program. See Summer III for more details.

What job opportunities are available for new graduate nurses at Mayo Clinic in Rochester?

Individuals who have graduated from a National League of Nursing (NLN) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited bachelors or associate degree nursing program within the last two years may apply for positions in one of more than 60 patient care units or surgical service nursing positions in our hospitals.

New graduates are not considered for Labor/Delivery/OB or the Emergency Department.

New graduates who meet the criteria may be considered for the specialized critical care training program called "Essentials in Progressive and Intensive Care" (EPIC). See orientation for more details.

To learn more, see nursing specialties in Rochester.

What qualities does Mayo Clinic look for in a new graduate nurse?

Seven categories are focused on when reviewing applicants' resumes and conducting interviews for nursing positions:

1. The ability of the nurse to build a trusting relationship with their patients and co-workers.
2. The ability to be decisive even in urgent situations.
3. The ability to communicate clearly in a professional and personable manner with patients, their significant others and co-workers.
4. Skills in managing multiple tasks by prioritizing and delegating as necessary.
5. Successful participation in a teamwork environment.
6. Making sound judgements using education, experience and available resources to care for patients.
7. Providing care to all patients, respecting the diversity of each patient we have the privilege to care for.

What can a new hire expect for orientation? What additional orientation/training does a new graduate nurse receive if a job offer is accepted for an intensive care unit or an intermediate care area position?

See information on orientation/training

What kind of training does a new graduate nurse receive if a job offer is accepted for an intensive care unit or an intermediate care area position?

See information on orientation.

What staff development programs are available for nurses at Mayo?

See information on staff development

What will I be paid as a new graduate registered nurse?

Mayo Clinic offers a competitive salary that is based on market survey data and is reviewed on a regular basis. Currently an Associate-degree-prepared new graduate would start at $27.57 per hour and a Bachelor's-degree-prepared new graduate would start at $28.40 per hour. Mayo Clinic offers shift differentials that are paid in addition to the hourly rate and are the following:

• Weekday Evening rate
  $1.90/hour
• Weekday Night rate
  $2.50/hour
• Weekend Day rate
  $2.00/hour
• Weekend Evening rate
  $3.90/hour
• Weekend Night rate
  $4.50/hour

What types of benefits are offered to Mayo employees?

Mayo offers a wide variety of benefits for employees. They include paid time off, tuition assistance, relocation assistance and excellent health care coverage. Read more about benefits on the Jobs in Rochester section.

What opportunities are there for continued education at Mayo Clinic for a registered nurse?

See educational opportunities for more details.

How involved can a staff nurse be in making important decisions?

Decisions are made by nurses who are closest and most affected by specific decisions. Nurses are asked for their opinions and ideas and encouraged to participate in decision making that will affect their clinical area. An important avenue by which nurses can participate in decision making is through participation in departmental and unit committees. Committee involvement provides an opportunity to affect patient care, education and research.

Who can I contact at Mayo Clinic to learn more about nursing careers?

You may e-mail your questions to rchnursingwebteam@mayo.edu.

Where can I find more information on the Internet that will help me decide if nursing is the right career for me?

• www.myfirstday.org
• www.mayoclinic.org/careerawareness/
• www.discovernursing.com
• www.choosenursing.com

Where can I find information about nursing careers and loan information aimed at freshmen and sophmores?

• www.nsna.org
• www.ncsbn.org
• www.nursesource.org
• www.nurseweek.com

Where can I learn about Rochester?

• www.rochestermn.com
• www.rochestervisitor.com
• www.roch.edu
• www.postbulletin.com
• www.kttc.com
• rochestermn.areaconnect.com
• www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org
• www.rochesterhonkers.com

I did not find the answer to my question on this page – who can I ask?

If you have a question that was not answered on this page or Web site, we would like to hear from you! On the Contact Nursing page you will find many ways by which you can contact Mayo Clinic for questions related to employment, application processes and educational opportunities.