What Are Hospital-Based Training Programs?

A hospital is a place of healing but it can also be a place of learning. Through a hospital-based training program, you can complete your health care studies in a real-life environment. Continue reading to learn more about a few such options.

<h3 id="section---HospitalBasedTrainingPrograms">Hospital-Based Training Programs</h3> <p>Many hospitals are affiliated with universities and can offer a variety of educational and training options for undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate or doctoral studies. In addition to degree programs, you might also find educational programs that are related to specialty residencies and fellowships. Through these programs, you might gain the hands-on experience necessary to start or advance your career or to prepare for additional study. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisAreaOfStudy"> Important Facts about This Area of Study</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Common Courses </td><td> Patient care, professionalism and advocacy, clinical practice</td></tr> <tr><td> Degree Levels</td><td> Associate's through professional degrees, depending on the field of study</td></tr> <tr><td> Possible Careers </td><td> Doctor, surgeon, nurse, advanced practice nurse</td></tr> <tr><td>Continuing Education </td><td> Required to maintain medical or nursing licensure</td></tr> <tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$77,600 <i>(registered nurses)</i>*</td></tr> <tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>6% <i>(registered nurses)</i>*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---MedicalSchoolProgram">Medical School Program</h3> <p>Medical schools that are affiliated with hospitals generally offer a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program, which can take four years to complete. The hospital will become the main setting during clinical training, which can also focus on specialty areas such as family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics or surgery. During the final years of your M.D. program, you will utilize the hospital setting as you work with residents and take the lead in examinations and diagnostics. </p> <h3 id="section---ResidencyAndFellowshipPrograms">Residency and Fellowship Programs</h3> <p>Once you have graduated from medical school and passed the licensing examination, you will be eligible to apply for a residency program so as to prepare for board certification. Residencies are hospital-based and combine lecture programs with professional instruction. </p> <p>You could be able to participate in rounds as well as patient examinations and evaluations. Following your residency program, you might continue your hospital-based training through a fellowship, which generally lasts a year and allows you to focus on physician sub-specialties. </p> <h3 id="section---NursingPrograms">Nursing Programs</h3> <p>You might find hospital-based nursing programs at a variety of degree levels, including the associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral. You could be able to take the theoretical and clinical nursing courses that are offered at community colleges, technical schools and universities while working in a hospital setting. You may also have the opportunity to learn more about the nursing profession from your instructors as well as hospital nursing staff.</p>