12 Nursing Internships for High School Students in NYC
Nursing internships provide high school students with an excellent opportunity to explore careers in healthcare while helping them strengthen their college applications and resumes. These programs improve future employability by providing students hands-on exposure to patient care, clinical environments, medical research, and healthcare systems before they begin college. For students interested in pursuing a career in nursing or healthcare, internships offer practical experience, develop professional skills, and connect with healthcare professionals. With so many opportunities available, choosing the right program can be challenging.
For other healthcare-related internships, check out a list of summer-specific internships here, and find a list of virtual healthcare internships here.
What Nursing internships are available for high school students in NYC?
New York City offers a wide range of nursing and healthcare-related internships for high school students through leading hospitals, medical schools, nonprofit organizations, and research institutions. Students can explore opportunities focused on clinical shadowing, public health, biomedical research, patient advocacy, and healthcare leadership, depending on their interests and experience level.
Many NYC-based programs allow students to work alongside nurses, physicians, and healthcare researchers, giving them valuable insight into the realities of patient care and hospital operations. Whether students are looking for summer opportunities, volunteer-based experiences, or structured healthcare internships, NYC provides access to a variety of healthcare learning opportunities available to high school students.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 12 nursing internships for high school students in NYC.
Key takeaways
This list gathers 12 nursing and healthcare-focused internships and volunteer opportunities for NYC high schoolers, spanning major hospital systems, medical schools, and healthcare-focused mentorship programs, with standout hosts including Mount Sinai, NYU Langone, and Maimonides Medical Center.
Most of these are free, and a few offer a stipend or paid placement, so cost is rarely a barrier here, though hands-on clinical exposure is generally observational rather than direct patient care due to hospital policies for minors.
A few of these are broader hospital volunteer programs rather than structured internships with dedicated nursing mentorship, so it's worth checking each program's specific focus if a nursing-specific experience is your main goal.
Most of these are based across NYC's hospital systems, with Ladder remaining the only fully virtual option on the list.
A few of the earliest deadlines fall in December and April for two of the most structured mentorship programs, so it's worth starting applications well before spring.
1. Mount Sinai Nursing Pathway Program
Location: Mount Sinai Health System, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipend support available for some participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Over 100 students
Dates: July - August (tentative)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising NYC high school juniors and seniors interested in nursing careers
This six-week summer pathway program introduces high school students to the nursing profession through hospital-based observation and guided exposure to patient care settings. Students spend approximately 25 hours each week participating in activities such as shadowing nurses, attending interdisciplinary team meetings, and learning about clinical workflows. Rotations through different nursing units allow students to understand how nurses operate across specialties and patient populations. Participants are paired with nurse managers who provide mentorship and supervision throughout the program. Networking events and collaborative projects help students engage with healthcare professionals and peers who share an interest in medicine and nursing. The program is specifically designed for NYC high school students and focuses on increasing awareness of nursing careers early on. Clinical exposure is observational and educational rather than hands-on due to hospital regulations for minors.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote (you can work from anywhere in the world).
Cost/Stipend: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, small cohorts
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November)
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 - 12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week,
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up virtual internship program for ambitious high school students. In this program, you work with high-growth start-ups across a variety of industries including tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies raising over a million dollars on average. Interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company at the end of the internship. Here is the application form.
3. SPARKED Summer Internship Program - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Location: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 - August 20
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
SPARKED is a biomedical and healthcare research internship designed for high school students interested in medicine, nursing, and clinical sciences. The program combines summer laboratory experience with academic-year mentorship and enrichment activities. Students participate in research projects while learning how healthcare professionals apply scientific methods to patient care and medical innovation. Exposure to translational medicine and biomedical research can help students interested in nursing understand the research aspect of healthcare systems. No prior research experience is required, making the internship accessible to students exploring healthcare for the first time. Participants work alongside faculty, researchers, and healthcare professionals on the Mount Sinai campus. The program also includes workshops and educational sessions that introduce students to healthcare career pathways.
4. Mount Sinai Morningside High School Volunteer Program
Location: Mount Sinai Morningside, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 years and above
This volunteer program gives high school students exposure to hospital operations and patient support services. Volunteers assist with non-clinical tasks that help improve patient comfort and support hospital staff. Responsibilities may include greeting patients, delivering items, assisting with administrative work, and helping visitors navigate the hospital. Students commit to weekly volunteer shifts and gain familiarity with healthcare settings over an extended period. While the role does not involve direct medical procedures, it provides insight into communication, professionalism, and patient interaction in a clinical environment. Long-term volunteering can also help students build consistency and healthcare-related experience before applying to nursing school programs. The structured commitment allows students to develop workplace habits and interpersonal skills.
5. Industry Scholars Program - Healthcare Track
Location: Various healthcare partner sites, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Six-week summer program (tentative)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: NYC high school students aged 16 to 18 years
The Industry Scholars Program places NYC high school students into career-focused internships, including healthcare placements. Students participate in workplace learning experiences designed to build professional skills and career awareness. Healthcare interns may work in hospitals, clinics, or healthcare administration settings depending on placement availability. The program combines career development with practical exposure to workplace expectations and communication skills. Students also participate in career-readiness activities throughout the internship period. Paid placements make the program more accessible to students balancing financial considerations with career exploration. The healthcare track can be useful for students exploring nursing pathways or allied health careers.
6. NYU Health Career Opportunity Program
Location: NYU Langone Health, various NYU locations
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions from May to August
Application Deadline: December 21
Eligibility: High school seniors who are at least 18 years old
This program introduces high school students to clinical environments and healthcare careers through supervised observation in rehabilitation medicine and related healthcare specialties. During the internship, you follow one specialty area over several weeks while attending lectures, seminars, and discussions on healthcare education and career pathways. Ethics sessions focus on topics related to patient care and the experiences of individuals with physical disabilities or mobility challenges. Depending on your placement, you may also participate in research-focused or emergency medicine learning activities. The program includes opportunities to observe how healthcare professionals collaborate across departments and specialties. Throughout the internship, you gain familiarity with clinical settings, medical terminology, and healthcare systems. At the end of the program, participants who complete the program receive a certificate from NYU Langone Health.
7. Explore Youth Health Volunteer Opportunities
Location: NYC Health + Hospitals, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Must be at least 16 years old | High school students interested in adolescent health and healthcare
This program offers volunteer opportunities through an adolescent health program at NYC Health + Hospitals. You can join the Youth Leadership Council or pursue internship-style volunteer opportunities tied to youth health. These roles may involve patient services and professional development in the healthcare sector. Placements may be at the Central Office or other NYC Health + Hospitals facilities depending on the requirement. The volunteer path requires standard NYC Health + Hospitals documentation and training. Because it is focused on adolescent health, it may be more policy- and service-oriented.
8. CUNY School of Medicine’s Sophie Davis Health Professions Mentorship Program (HPMP)
Location: The City University of New York’s School of Medicine, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 18-month program
Application Deadline: April 13
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors with an overall minimum GPA of 80
This two-year mentorship program introduces high school students to healthcare careers such as nursing, physician assistant studies, and occupational therapy. Starting in your junior year, you participate in a four-week summer program followed by monthly Saturday sessions throughout the academic year. The program includes mentorship from faculty members and medical students affiliated with the CUNY School of Medicine. As a participant, you work on a community health project focused on addressing healthcare-related issues affecting New York City communities. Sessions also cover topics such as clinical case analysis, healthcare career exploration, teamwork, and decision-making in medical settings. Additional support is provided through college readiness workshops, SAT and ACT preparation, interview practice, and admissions guidance. You gain broader exposure to healthcare education pathways and professional expectations in the medical field through seminars and collaborative activities.
9. RIT’s Health Care Careers Exploration Program
Location: Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Cost/Stipend: $900
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 18 - 22
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Deaf and hard-of-hearing students who are entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade in the fall
Although this program is not a traditional internship, it can be a valid option if you are exploring nursing or other healthcare careers as a high school student who is deaf or hard of hearing. The residential summer program introduces you to a range of healthcare fields through daily sessions focused on subjects such as nursing, microbiology, nutrition, biology, and exercise science. Learning takes place through laboratory activities, demonstrations, discussions, and campus-based experiences rather than clinical work placements. You also participate in field trips and healthcare-related workshops designed to build familiarity with medical environments and healthcare education pathways. CPR and First Aid certification are included as part of the program curriculum. The structure allows you to explore multiple healthcare disciplines within a short-term academic setting while interacting with faculty and peers interested in similar careers. Students who later apply to Rochester Institute of Technology may also qualify for a scholarship opportunity and an application fee waiver associated with program participation.
10. Health Scholars Program at Maimonides Medical Center
Location: Maimonides Medical Center, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Various rotation dates available from April to June
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years of age
This internship places high school students in the Emergency Department at Maimonides Medical Center, where they spend several months observing how healthcare teams manage patient care in a fast-paced clinical setting. During the program, you work alongside physicians, nurses, and other medical staff while learning about emergency medicine procedures and hospital operations. Responsibilities may include assisting with non-invasive patient support tasks and observing medical evaluations under supervision. The program also introduces you to the coordination required between healthcare professionals in emergency settings. Through consistent clinical exposure, you develop familiarity with healthcare environments, patient interaction, and the day-to-day responsibilities of medical teams.
11. High School Volunteer Programs | Maimonides Health
Location: Maimonides Health, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Must be a high school student in one of the NYC partner schools listed here
This volunteer program gives high school students the opportunity to explore a hospital environment while supporting patients, visitors, and healthcare staff in non-clinical settings. Depending on placement availability and eligibility requirements, assignments may involve assisting with administrative tasks, helping visitors navigate the hospital, or supporting patient experience initiatives. The program can be relevant if you are interested in nursing or healthcare careers and want exposure to how hospital systems operate on a daily basis. Participation may help you develop communication, professionalism, and teamwork skills within a medical environment. Since roles and responsibilities can vary, you may need to contact the volunteer office directly to learn more about opportunities available for high school students. Details regarding minimum age requirements, student placements, and patient interaction policies may also differ by department. The program follows a structured hospital volunteer model, which can provide more formalized healthcare exposure than independent community service opportunities.
12. Volunteer | NYU Langone Health
Location: NYU Langone Health, New York, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students are welcome
This volunteer program allows high school students to explore healthcare environments within the NYU Langone Health system. While the program does not specifically focus on nursing shadowing, it can still provide exposure to hospital operations, patient services, and healthcare teamwork. Depending on your assignment, you may assist with administrative support, visitor guidance, or patient-centered activities in supervised settings. The program can help you build familiarity with professional expectations in medical environments while developing communication and organizational skills. Because placements differ between sites, the type of healthcare exposure you receive may vary based on availability and eligibility requirements. Application timelines, schedules, and volunteer responsibilities are typically determined at the facility level after placement selection.
Questions students often ask about these internships
1. Do I need prior healthcare experience to apply to these nursing internships?
No, most of these are designed to introduce healthcare careers from the ground up, so no prior experience is expected. A genuine interest in nursing or medicine matters more than a resume packed with prior roles.
2. A few of these are volunteer programs rather than internships with dedicated mentorship. Does that still count for a nursing-focused resume?
Yes, hospital volunteering still demonstrates real exposure to healthcare settings and can support a nursing-focused narrative on applications. If dedicated nursing mentorship matters most to you, prioritize the programs that explicitly pair you with nurse mentors.
3. Will I get to do hands-on clinical work, or is this mostly observational?
Mostly observational, since hospital regulations generally limit minors to shadowing and non-clinical support tasks rather than direct patient care. That said, the exposure to clinical environments and healthcare teams is still valuable for exploring nursing as a career.