Student Clinical Internships
Why Nemours
Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, sits on a scenic, 300-acre estate in Wilmington’s Brandywine Valley. As the largest pediatric training site in our system, it’s big enough to offer nearly every specialty yet close-knit enough that faculty know their learners well. You’ll learn alongside experts across a wide range of pediatric specialties while experiencing a culture built on collaboration, mentorship, and curiosity.
Hospital & Training Environment
Most of your training takes place at our children’s hospital in Wilmington, a nationally recognized destination for complex pediatric care. It’s the state’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and home to a Level IV NICU, so you’ll see the full range of high-acuity cases. Families come from across the region, giving you exposure to diverse conditions and hands-on learning in a true referral hub. Take a video tour of the hospital now.
Student Learning Experience
Our clinical instructors are committed to providing high-quality care while creating a supportive environment for learning. Through collaboration, observation, and hands-on experience, students have opportunities to build their skills across a wide range of pediatric settings and specialties. We encourage students to take ownership of their learning while building the knowledge and skills they’ll need as future clinicians.
As a student, you’ll receive guidance and tools to enhance your learning. Depending on your discipline and clinical placement, you may have opportunities to experience:
- Acute, inpatient, and outpatient rehabilitation services
- Specialty practice areas (varies by disciplines), including:
- ICU
- NICU
- Developmental evaluations
- Gait lab
- Aquatics
- Hospital-sponsored educational opportunities
- Vendor demonstrations
- Specialty clinics and interdisciplinary programs, such as Down syndrome, seating and mobility, NICU follow-up, concussion, prosthetics, and cleft lip and palate
- Surgical observation
Student Project
A final project is a required part of the Nemours student internship program. It’s an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and apply what you’ve learned to a specific area of service delivery.
You may choose how to present the evidence-based information you gather, including:
- PowerPoint presentations
- Caregiver handouts
- Resource documents
- Infographic posters
- Clinical application of equipment, outcome measures, and tools
- Poster presentations
- Video or pre-recorded presentations
- Literature review
Application and Selection
Nemours Children’s Hospital has a structured application and interview process designed to match students with clinical experiences that support their professional development.
Important Dates
- Applications released: Last Friday in January
- Applications due: Second Friday in March
- Schools notified and interviews completed: April
- Decisions announced: Second Friday in May
To receive an application, please speak with your clinical education coordinator so that they may contact us.
Eligibility
- All requests for clinical affiliations must come directly from your graduate school program coordinator.
- Placements are contingent upon an active educational affiliation agreement.
- Applicants must demonstrate a strong interest in pediatric care.
- For PT and OT, students must be in their terminal affiliation.
Recommended Experience
- Experience working with children and adolescents through employment or volunteer opportunities
- Exposure to pediatric service delivery
- Leadership experience
- Research experience as a research or teaching assistant
- Student membership in a discipline-specific professional organization
- Inpatient experience for acute care placements
Requirements and Clearances
General Requirements
- Delaware Child and Adult Abuse Registry checks
- Information Confidentiality and Information Use Agreement (ICAUA)
- Badge picture
- Criminal background check for your home state
- If the internship is in Pennsylvania:
- PA Child Abuse clearance
- FBI background clearance (fingerprinting)
- PA criminal background check
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support certification
- Completion of Nemours University web-based training and virtual student orientation prior to start date
- Required immunizations/health screenings as listed below:
- Seasonal flu vaccination, submitted by 11/30 each year
- Chicken pox/varicella (at least two doses) or positive titers
- Hepatitis B (three doses) or positive titers
- Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) (at least two doses) or positive titers
- Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) within the last ten years
- Tuberculosis (TB) skin testing (Quantiferon-TB Gold, T-Spot, or 2-step PPD) within 12 months of start date; if you have a history of positive TB testing, chest x-ray within the last 12 months
- 10-panel urine drug screen, completed within 60 days of start date
Frequently Asked Questions
Housing
Onsite housing is not available for students. Because the main hospital and satellite locations are near several colleges and universities, local housing may be available through individual schools or student housing and sublet services.
Meals
Food is available for purchase at the main hospital in Wilmington, with snacks and drinks available from kiosks and vending areas outside cafeteria hours. Most locations have refrigerators and microwaves for student and associate use, with additional food options nearby.
Dress code
Most therapists wear scrub pants or comfortable dress pants with a t-shirt or long sleeve shirt and sneakers. Please note:
- Identification badge must be worn at all times above waist level.
- Scrubs or professional attire are allowed.
- Clothing must be clean and in good condition.
- Clothing with graphics or logos must depict an appropriate pediatric theme.
- Closed-toed shoes are required. Socks must be worn if shoes are removed.
- Yoga pants and leggings are not allowed.
- Keep jewelry to a minimum. Avoid dangling earrings or necklaces that could be pulled by a patient.
- Maintain a neat, clean, and well-groomed appearance.
- Fingernail polish is permitted if not chipped. Artificial nails and enhancements are not permitted, and natural tips should be less than ¼ inch long (see the hand hygiene policy for details).
Location and Parking
A vehicle is recommended because public transportation options are limited. Parking is free. For specific addresses and directions, search by location using our location finder.
Hours
Site hours vary by location. Students typically are scheduled for approximately 30-40 hours per week, based on their education program’s guidelines and their clinical placement. Inpatient therapy (acute and inpatient rehabilitation) is provided on weekends, but students are not expected to provide weekend care unless make-up days or hours are required. Schedules may change based on staffing and patient care needs. Your clinical instructor will provide your individual schedule.
General department hours are:
- Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Some sites offer early morning (7:00 a.m.) or evening (6:00 p.m.) appointments.
Additional Resources
- A student manual with additional information is available to all accepted students.
- Program and discipline-specific resources will be shared before your start date.
Occupational Therapy Student
“There was a variety of diagnoses and ages. I also enjoyed observing the other disciplines — PT and Speech Language Therapy — to get different perspectives.”
Speech Language Therapy Student
“Being in a hospital, I was exposed to various areas of the big 9 that I hadn’t had much exposure to yet including feeding, vocal cord dysfunction, and participating in MBSS and FEES.”
Physical Therapy Student
“I appreciated how supportive and welcoming the entire staff was to me as a student.”
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