Internship Spotlight Sereniti Catoe Huertas Nursing Major Nurse Extern, Maternity Services • Atlantic Health System • Chilton Medical Center At Chilton Medical Center, Sereniti is gaining hands-on experience across Labor and Delivery and Mother-Baby while building the clinical judgment, confidence and compassion needed for a career in maternal-newborn nursing. Sereniti’s Internship Experience What does a typical day look like? As a nurse extern, I work alongside registered nurses and other members of the maternity care team in both Labor and Delivery and Mother-Baby. My responsibilities have included assisting with postpartum and newborn vital signs, observing and participating in maternal and newborn assessments, supporting patient care, preparing and organizing supplies, and assisting with fetal heart rate monitoring. I have also helped prepare for cesarean sections and newborn circumcisions and learned how nurses respond to both routine care and emergency situations. Every day looks different, which has allowed me to strengthen my clinical judgment, communication and confidence in the hospital setting. I also created a nurse extern survival guide and unit resource based on what I learned throughout the experience, with the goal of helping future externs adjust to the units and make the most of their time there. What has been the highlight of your internship so far? The highlight has been experiencing both Labor and Delivery and Mother-Baby and seeing the full transition from childbirth to postpartum and newborn care. Being present during deliveries, supporting mothers during recovery and learning from nurses who are passionate about maternal-child health confirmed how much I enjoy this specialty. I will also never forget the nurses who took the time to teach me, explain their clinical decisions and allow me to become more involved in patient care. Their mentorship made a major difference in my experience. What is something you learned that surprised you? I was surprised by how quickly a routine situation can become an emergency in maternity care. Nurses must remain calm, observant and prepared to respond immediately, even when everything initially appears normal. I also learned that excellent nursing is not only about clinical skills. It is about anticipating needs, communicating clearly, advocating for patients and helping families feel safe during some of the most vulnerable and meaningful moments of their lives. How did William Paterson prepare you for this opportunity? William Paterson’s nursing program gave me the clinical foundation and confidence I needed to step into this experience. My nursing courses, simulations and clinical rotations helped me understand patient safety, assessment, communication, teamwork and evidence-based care. My professors also encouraged me to ask questions, take initiative and think beyond simply completing a task by always learning the reason behind an action. That preparation helped me enter the externship ready to learn, contribute and challenge myself in a fast-paced clinical environment. How did you find this externship? I found the opportunity through William Paterson’s campus nursing coordinator, Iryna Surmachevska, DNP. How will this experience help you achieve your career goals? This experience has helped bridge the gap between nursing school and professional nursing. I have become more comfortable communicating with patients and staff, navigating the hospital environment, recognizing changes in patient conditions and understanding the responsibilities of a registered nurse. It also confirmed my interest in maternal-newborn nursing and gave me a clearer understanding of the type of nurse I hope to become. I want to be someone who is clinically prepared, compassionate, observant, dependable and willing to continue learning. I am proud that my work during the externship also helped lead to a per diem patient care technician position within Atlantic Health System, allowing me to continue growing within the organization while completing my nursing degree.
