By Nadia Wable, former nurse, now project manager at Opal Solutions
I still feel too young to claim to be able to rethink the humanistic foundations of the healthcare and social services professions on my own. However, I know how to recognize humanity when I see it. As a nurse, I want to take care of it by developing human-centered organizational solutions. The digitization of healthcare internships is one such solution, provided it remains at the service of the field.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to observe the humanity of caregivers, particularly nursing students on internships. Their motivation is simple and strong: to preserve the lives and dignity of patients. I believe it is vital to nurture this energy focused on others.
In 2019, at the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, I participated in the deployment of Interneo, a solution for digitizing healthcare internships offered by Opal Solutions. Responsible for organizing the nursing department’s 2,000 annual internships, I gained considerable time and agility once the solution was in place.
I invested this freed-up time outside the office to return to the field. Gemba Walks, informal but targeted, are valuable opportunities to capture the needs of each partner: students, nurses, administrative staff, or teaching teams. Starting from everyone’s needs, expectations, and ideas is key to making the organization more human and more coherent.
By taking care of caregivers, we highlight and value their humanity. They can then be fully present in their care. Caregivers deserve as much attention as patients. Students, who are still fragile in their journey, perhaps deserve even more.
Students need a consistent and secure internship framework in order to learn in the right conditions. Caregivers need time and shared guidelines in order to supervise without becoming exhausted. Attractive institutions offer a working environment where collaboration between partners becomes more fluid, to the benefit of care.
Why the internship experience is a matter of care
A poorly structured internship undermines learning, but also the quality of care. A well-supported internship enhances safety, confidence, and continuity of care.
The digitization of healthcare internships as a catalyst for operational humanism
When repetitive tasks are reduced, teams regain time for clinical supervision, listening, and feedback.
Creative utopia or UX intern in brief
Fictional account of a student’s journey
I decided to look for an internship for my second year. I took out my computer, looked at the offers online, submitted my application, and received a quick response.
Accepted in pediatrics: my goals match, the adventure begins. I discover Interneo. I log in and build my schedule with the internship site. I find useful information, preparation documents, and hospital instructions. I also see a student well-being indicator: 91%. That’s reassuring.
I then move on to the equipment. At reception, they already know who I am and where I’m going. My badge is ready. I have a locker, clear procedures, and a point of contact if I get stuck. I feel welcome.
Monday, 7 a.m. I arrive at the department. Here too, I am welcome. Jessy, my nurse supervisor, knows my name. He or she gives me a tour with a smile. Here, we share, we explain, we give feedback. Jessy has been trained to supervise. That makes all the difference.
I also notice that the internships overlap: nursing students with orderlies, pharmacists with nursing interns, medical students coached by nursing students. This interdisciplinarity makes me want to learn.
I bump into the internship coordinator in the elevator. She asks me if everything is going well. We discuss my plans. She talks about talent, not “manpower.” I can see that I matter.
At the end of the internship, I take care of the administrative side of things with ease. Jessy validates my hours on Interneo. My internship logbook contains my self-assessments and the feedback I received. Jessy summarizes everything on the evaluation sheet. It’s smooth.
As I leave the locker room, I see that you can leave a comment or vote online on Interneo in three clicks to give your opinion on the internship. It’s anonymous, and I’m told that my feedback helps the hospital improve. I vote.
Back home, I receive a thank-you message. I am told that the team appreciated my time there. I am touched.
I go back to the hospital’s website to look at next year’s internships. Geriatrics appeals to me. I apply. The hospital remembers my pediatrics internship. Accepted. I feel recognized.
What this story reveals
A smooth, structured, and respectful internship experience is not a luxury. It is a direct factor in motivation, quality of care, and the attractiveness of the profession.
Adopting solutions such as Interneo for internship management is more than just process optimization. It is a lever for engagement that frees up time to anticipate students’ needs and build a hospital environment conducive to well-being and excellence in care.
Interneo is currently used by 44 healthcare institutions and more than 37,000 users. Through a survey conducted by Opal Solutions, I aim to objectively assess the direct and indirect benefits of Interneo for each profile: intern, caregiver, coordinator, supervisor, and support services. Creating a narrative that places caregivers and students at the center opens up an ethically desirable horizon. Used in this way, digital technology becomes a concrete response to societal challenges.
Clinical and human benefits of digitizing healthcare internships
The platform reduces administrative tasks, secures information, structures the onboarding process, and facilitates feedback. It improves supervision without adding to the workload.
Well-managed internships to retain future caregivers
A student who is well received is more likely to return, recommend the program, and commit to it. Internships become a breeding ground, not a constraint.
Conclusion
En cultivant notre collaboration et en partageant nos réussites, nous pouvons transformer l’hôpital en un lieu où l’humanité des soignants a de l’espace pour s’exprimer. Contribuons à bâtir un environnement où il fait bon vivre, travailler, apprendre et se faire soigner. Nadia Wable, Project Manager Opal Solutions
