Nurse Extern at SSM Health summary:

A Nurse Extern is a nursing student enrolled in an accredited program who gains hands-on clinical experience under supervision in a hospital setting. They assist with patient care tasks such as taking vital signs, helping with daily living activities, and performing basic procedures, while developing skills to transition into a registered nurse role. The position supports patient safety, quality care, and provides exposure to various specialties with flexible scheduling to accommodate school commitments.

It's more than a career, it's a calling

Worker Type:

Job Highlights:

All candidates must be currently enrolled in an accredited school of nursing and have completed their fundamentals of nursing class and first clinical rotation. Graduation date must be within 18 months to qualify.

Scheduling: Student nurse externs commit to a minimum of 24 hours over four weeks. Flexible scheduling is available to help work around your school schedule.

Program Length : The Student Nurse Externship ends upon graduation from nursing school with the

goal of transitioning to a graduate nurse position and joining the Graduate Nurse Residency program.

Pay: $18.00/hour

Our Student Nurse Externship provides real-world, hands-on clinical training across various units, all under the guidance of a dedicated preceptor.

Opportunities include:

• 1:1 clinical training with experienced nurses

• Apply classroom knowledge to a clinical setting

• Expand your knowledge of hospital practice

• Explore various specialties

• Build a professional network

Job Summary:

Job Responsibilities and Requirements:

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Completes patient care tasks based on skills deemed competent in nursing school under direction of RN.
• Contributes to overall quality and safe care for patients by answering patients’ calls for help, taking their vital signs, and monitoring their behavior and physical condition for progress or deterioration as measured by patient satisfaction, quality audits, direct observation.
• Creates a positive patient experience by assisting patients with their activities of daily living including assisting with baths, ambulating, feeding, skin care, personal and oral hygiene and making occupied and unoccupied beds as measured by patient satisfaction quality audits and direct observation.
• Contributes to quality care and safety by assisting and performing procedures such as performing dressing changes, enemas, ostomy care, toileting, turning, cough and deep breathing, catheter care, collection of biological specimens, measuring and recording intake and output of fluids.
• Contributes to exceptional patient satisfaction by establishing a compassionate environment, timely responses to patients' needs, open communication and providing emotional and psychological support.
• Contributes to safety and quality care by relaying information via charting and communicating to team members.
• Contributes to achievement of exceptional health care by functioning as a member of the team as measured by active participation in department initiatives, unit meetings, committees and special projects.
• Informs licensed nurse of any changes in patient condition/needs, of patient complaints, and of patient/significant other educational needs.
• Prepares patients for discharge and accompanies them upon dismissal as indicated.
• Stocks and maintains supplies and equipment in keeping with patient care needs and cost containment. Utilizes time and supplies economically and conscientiously.
• Orients new patients and significant others to the nursing unit.
• Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

• Current enrollment in an accredited school of nursing and completion of first clinical rotation

EXPERIENCE

• No experience required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Constant standing and walking.
• Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication.
• Frequent use of hearing to distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc.
• Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs.
• Frequent reaching, gripping, and keyboard use/data entry.
• Frequent use of vision for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors.
• Occasional bending, stooping, crawling, kneeling, sitting, squatting and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements.
• Occasional use of vision to judge distances and spatial relationships.
• Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs.
• Occasional lifting/moving patients.
• Occasional use of smell to detect/recognize odors.
• Occasional driving.

REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS 

 
State of Work Location: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin 

• Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)

Work Shift:

Job Type:

Department:

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

Benefits:

SSM Health values our exceptional employees by offering a comprehensive benefits package to fit their needs.

• Paid Parental Leave : we offer eligible team members one week of paid parental leave for newborns or newly adopted children (pro-rated based on FTE). 

• Flexible Payment Options: our voluntary benefit offered through DailyPay offers eligible hourly team members instant access to their earned, unpaid base pay (fees may apply) before payday.

• Upfront Tuition Coverage : we provide upfront tuition coverage through FlexPath Funded for eligible team members. 

SSM Health is an equal opportunity employer. SSM Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, veteran status , or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Click here to learn more.

Keywords:

nurse extern, clinical training, patient care, nursing student, vital signs, hospital, RN transition, basic nursing procedures, healthcare, patient safety