Tampa General Hospital Internship Programs: A Comprehensive Overview
Tampa General Hospital (TGH) offers a variety of internship programs designed to provide valuable learning experiences and career development opportunities in the healthcare field. These programs are aimed at students and recent graduates seeking to gain practical skills and knowledge in a hospital setting. TGH is recognized as a top employer and is committed to developing its team members through various initiatives. This article provides a detailed look at the internship programs available at Tampa General Hospital, including the Medical Laboratory Science Internship Program and general career opportunities.
Medical Laboratory Science Internship Program
The Medical Laboratory Science Internship Program at Tampa General Hospital is a comprehensive 51-week program designed to provide students with practical and theoretical knowledge in medical laboratory science. This intensive program is structured to equip students with the skills necessary to excel in a clinical laboratory environment.
Program Structure and Duration
The internship spans 51 weeks, requiring approximately 35-40 hours per week, typically from Monday through Friday. The majority of rotation times are between 6:00 AM and 4:30 PM. While most rotations occur during the day, there are a few second-shift rotations for which students receive advanced notice. The program commences in July and aligns with official hospital holidays, ensuring students receive the same holiday benefits as laboratory personnel. A maximum of six students are accepted each year.
Learning Experiences
The internship program encompasses a wide range of learning experiences, including clinical rotations, lectures, and various hands-on activities. Clinical placement is guaranteed for all students, providing them with the opportunity to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting. The program emphasizes one-on-one practical and theoretical instruction delivered by qualified medical laboratory scientists. With a maximum student-to-instructor ratio of 1:10 during lectures, students receive personalized attention and guidance.
Curriculum Overview
The curriculum is designed to provide a thorough understanding of medical laboratory science, covering various disciplines within the field. Students navigate pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical aspects of the laboratory, gaining experience in collecting, processing, and analyzing specimens. The core areas of study include:
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- Introduction to Medical Laboratory Science: An overview of the clinical laboratory, hospital policies and procedures, basic laboratory techniques, quality control, phlebotomy, and laboratory safety procedures.
- Clinical Urinalysis and Body Fluids: Theoretical and practical analysis of urine and body fluids, including specimen collection, processing, macro and micro techniques, qualitative/quantitative analysis, and examination for normal and abnormal elements.
- Clinical Immunology / Molecular: Theoretical and practical immunology, focusing on specimen collection, processing, and tests to detect serum antibodies and other substances related to disease states. Students also rotate through esoteric testing and flow cytometry.
- Clinical Hematology / Hemostasis: Theoretical and practical hematology and coagulation, beginning with specimen collection and processing.
- Clinical Microbiology: Theoretical and practical clinical microbiology, parasitology, mycology, and virology. This includes techniques for identifying normal and pathogenic organisms from various body sites, virology procedures for isolating and identifying viruses, and analysis of fecal material for ova and parasites.
- Clinical Chemistry: Theoretical and practical clinical chemistry, starting with specimen collection and processing.
- Clinical Immunohematology: Theoretical and practical immunohematology for preparation of blood and blood components for transfusion therapy. Students learn grouping, typing, and cross-matching of blood for transfusions, as well as recognizing and identifying antibodies or other causes of incompatible blood.
- Clinical Laboratory Management and Education: Theoretical and practical knowledge of laboratory management, including quality management, laboratory administration, supervision, safety, problem-solving, ethics, laboratory information systems, professional conduct, clinical education, and research methodologies.
Rotations and Assessments
Students rotate through different areas of the laboratory based on a personalized schedule. Each rotation is self-contained, and students receive a rotation syllabus that includes objectives, checklists of required skills, and a schedule of assignments and assessments. Practical and written assessments are conducted for each laboratory area, along with an evaluation of the affective domain. Most lectures, learning experiences, and clinical rotations take place at Tampa General Hospital’s main campus.
Daily Schedule and Syllabus
The average day consists of eight hours, Monday through Friday. Students break for lunch at 12:30 PM and attend lectures or lecture exams from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. A master syllabus is provided at the beginning of the program, detailing lectures, learning experiences, assessments, dates, and times.
Performance Expectations
To be eligible for certification as a medical laboratory scientist at the end of the internship, students must maintain a minimum passing score of 70% (C). They are assessed on cognitive, psychomotor, and affective domains throughout the program.
Practical Experience
Throughout the clinical rotations, students perform testing, learn testing methodologies, and develop troubleshooting and problem-solving techniques. They also gain experience in the interpretation and statistical analysis of results and quality control procedures. Students assist with reporting results, calling critical results, and performing other post-analytical tasks. Under the supervision of qualified team members, students are permitted to perform procedures after demonstrating competency.
Phlebotomy Training
As part of the initial training, students receive instruction on the proper methodology of phlebotomy, including universal precautions, proper labeling, and proper collection tubes. Each student practices both syringe and vacutainer phlebotomy techniques.
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Career Opportunities at Tampa General Hospital
Tampa General Hospital offers a wide array of career opportunities across various departments, reflecting its commitment to providing world-class patient care through a dedicated and skilled team. These opportunities span clinical, research, operational, and administrative roles, catering to a diverse range of skills and experiences.
Diverse Career Paths
TGH provides numerous paths for career advancement and specialization. Whether one's interest lies in direct patient care, cutting-edge research, or efficient hospital operations, TGH offers positions that align with individual career goals. The hospital's structure as an academic health system emphasizes continuous learning and professional growth for all team members.
Eligibility and Qualifications
The qualifications for positions at TGH vary depending on the specific role. Some positions require specific skills, experience, education, licensure, and/or certification. Entry-level opportunities are also available, requiring minimal work experience. Detailed qualifications for each position are listed in the respective job postings on the TGH careers page.
Remote Work Opportunities
Recognizing the benefits of remote work, TGH offers remote positions in functions such as patient intake, medical records management, claims administration, community relations, and certain corporate roles. Remote work options provide team members with increased independence, flexibility, and a better work-life balance, contributing to job satisfaction and overall well-being.
Nursing Opportunities
TGH offers a variety of nursing positions, including full-time, part-time, and pool/PRN opportunities in all nursing specialties. These positions come with different work commitments and flat hourly rates. Float-pool nurses play a crucial role in supporting various nursing units, sharing insights across teams, and advancing nursing practices at the unit, divisional, and organizational levels. Contract RN positions are also available, offering 12-week contracts with a 36-hour per week schedule, a flat hourly rate, shift differentials, and eligibility for benefits.
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Interview Process
Tampa General Hospital employs a structured interview process to identify qualified candidates. Interviews are conducted in various formats, including virtually and over the telephone. The process typically involves an initial behavioral and competency-based interview with the hiring leader. The timeline for the interview process can vary depending on the nature of the role and the necessary qualifications.
Qualities Sought in Candidates
Interviewers at TGH look for candidates who possess the skills, experience, education, licensure, and/or certification required for the specific position. They also assess candidates for key qualities such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and a commitment to patient care.
Onboarding and Support
Each new hire at TGH is welcomed by their leader on their first day of employment. The hospital offers a full-day New Team Member Orientation program to familiarize new employees with the organization. TGH solicits feedback from new hires after 30 days and 90 days in their new roles to understand what is going well with the hiring process and identify areas for improvement.
Compensation and Benefits
Tampa General Hospital is committed to providing competitive compensation, benefits, and total rewards to its team members. The hospital continually evaluates its offerings to ensure they foster a culture of safety and team member engagement. Comprehensive benefits vary among the different entities of the TGH Health System.
Professional Development
TGH places a strong emphasis on professional growth and offers various resources to support team members' career aspirations. The People Development Institute, a joint initiative between TGH and USF, equips team members with the skills necessary for development. Clinical and career ladders provide a structured way for team members to map out their career paths and meet their professional goals.
Talent Acquisition and Hiring Events
TGH has a dedicated team of talent acquisition consultants who are passionate about pairing great talent with great teams. The team regularly hosts in-person and virtual hiring events and community job fairs. Prospective employees can stay informed about new job opportunities by visiting the Careers page at www.tgh.org/careers and registering for automated job alerts.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers play a significant role at Tampa General Hospital, contributing their time and talents to enhance the experience of patients and families. TGH appreciates the dedicated, compassionate, and conscientious service of its volunteers.
Application Process
To become a TGH Volunteer, applicants must complete the online TGH Volunteer application. Volunteer applications are reviewed twice each year. Due to the high volume of applicants, TGH is unable to accept every applicant and is only recruiting new volunteers for areas listed on the online application.
Community Engagement
Tampa General Hospital actively engages with the community through various programs and initiatives. One such program is the Medical Explorers Club and the Junior White Coats Program, which aims to spark an interest in medical professions among high school students.
Medical Explorers Club
TGH collaborates with the Medical Explorers Club, bringing speakers to meet with students based on their interests. The Medical Explorers Club is the first of its kind, and the students who are a part of it will be the first to join TGH's new Junior White Coats Program.
Junior White Coats Program
The goal of the Junior White Coats Program is to work with high school students in the area and spark an interest in a variety of medical professions. Through this program, students have the opportunity to learn from healthcare professionals and gain insights into different medical specialties.
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