5 Things I Learned from My Nursing Internship
How can I get an internship in college? What career skills can you gain from an internship?
Meet Meryam Belhassad '26, a nursing and women's and gender studies major, who was one of two UNH College of Health and Human Services students selected to take part in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (iSURF) at Dartmouth. Meryam spent the summer wroking with a physician assistant, gaining mentorship and clarifying her path ahead for after UNH. Read more about five things Meryam learned from the experience.
1. Growth happens unexpectedly.
I spent my summer working alongside Jamie Plimpton, PA-C, a physician assistant, on a project focused on creating efficient and sustainable provider practice systems in primary care. Specifically, we explored Physician-Advanced Practice Provider Dyads — a model designed to improve continuity of care for patients, reduce provider burnout, and enhance overall provider satisfaction. My role involved conducting an extensive literature review, which gave me a solid foundation in understanding how research translates into real-world healthcare improvements.
I started the internship hoping to work in women's health, but when that mentor wasn't available, it opened up new opportunities for me. While working in primary care, I got clinical exposure to women's health topics — observing patient conversations about menopause, hormone replacement therapy, and other crucial issues. Additionally, I had the opportunity to shadow in the Birthing Pavilion at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, which solidified my passion for labor and delivery nursing.
"I had the opportunity to shadow in the Birthing Pavilion at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, which solidified my passion for labor and delivery nursing."
2. Mentorship matters.
I can't talk about this experience without highlighting Dr. Bridget Linehan, who led the iSURF Nursing program. She met with us twice a week, guiding us through everything from quality improvement and ethics committees to Institutional Review Board processes and hospital grand rounds. Beyond the structured learning, she offered something even more valuable: genuine support.
Whenever I felt overwhelmed, her door was always open. She had this incredible ability to break down complex processes and make them feel manageable. Thanks to her mentorship, I'm now connected with new research mentors, and I'm preparing to attend the Eastern Nursing Research Society Conference this April!
"Beyond the structured learning, my mentor offered something even more valuable: genuine support. Whenever I felt overwhelmed, her door was always open."
3. Nursing research is critical.
This internship showed me that nursing research isn't just academic — it's critical to expanding culturally competent, evidence-based care. Research shapes how nurses are trained, how healthcare teams collaborate, and how health systems respond to changing patient needs. It's about making sure the care we provide is safe, effective, and grounded in the best available evidence.
"This internship showed me that nursing research isn't just academic — it's critical to expanding culturally competent, evidence-based care."
4. Internships can inspire you.
During my time at Dartmouth Hitchcock, I built connections with unit managers and staff on the Birthing Pavilion, NICU, and OB/GYN floors. These relationships gave me a well-rounded view of women's health and reinforced exactly where I want my career to go. I'd like to pursue a new graduate position at Dartmouth Hitchcock in labor and delivery.
This experience also sparked a new long-term goal — pursuing a Ph.D. As I enter my senior year, I'm already working on a new research project with Lisa Lamadriz, MPH, and Daisy Goodman, DNP, MPH, CARN-AP, APRN, CNM. We're examining breastfeeding behaviors among birthing individuals with substance use disorders in rural communities. This work aligns with my passion for advocating for underrepresented populations and ensuring their voices are heard in the healthcare sector.
"During my time at Dartmouth Hitchcock, I built connections with unit managers and staff on the Birthing Pavilion, NICU, and OB/GYN floors. These relationships gave me a well-rounded view of women's health and reinforced exactly where I want my career to go."
5. You can tackle the unknown.
Coming into this internship, I had limited exposure to research. I'll be honest — it felt intimidating at first. However, my mentors and guides supported me every step of the way, helping me develop not only skills but genuine confidence in myself as a future nurse and researcher.