Patient Care Assistance Externship

Since 2008, Houston Methodist Hospital in collaboration with Communities in Schools has provided local at-risk high school youth with the opportunity to participate in an 8-week Patient Care Assistant (PCA) Summer Externship Program upon graduation. The program's externship requires a 40-hour per workweek commitment, in addition to attending evening school for Certified Nursing Assistant.

The Center for Nursing Research, Education, and Practice (CNREP) Program Manager selects the participants and assigns them to Houston Methodist Hospital nursing units where they function in the role of PCA. During the 8-week program, externs take a certified nursing assistant (CNA) course, and upon course completion, the students sit for the state of Texas CNA certification exam. Upon successful completion of the CNA certification exam, the program participants transition from students to Certified Nursing Assistants, named as PCA's in Houston Methodist Hospital.

For additional information about program requirements and submission of application, please contact Aerica T. Williams at atwilliams@houstonmethodist.org.