Nurse Extern

Job Summary:
The Nurse Extern is a participant in a 10 week summer program for nursing students. They must have completed a minimum of 1 medical surgical clinical nursing course in an accredited school of nursing and must have current CPR certification (BLS for Healthcare Provider with the American Heart Association). The program is open to students entering their junior and senior year of nursing school. The Nurse Extern program is designed to provide the nursing student with an opportunity to strengthen and reinforce his or her knowledge and skill in the practice of nursing under the direct supervision of a registered nurse preceptor and ease the transition of the realities of the work world. The Nurse Extern will follow his or her preceptor's work schedule and will assist with the care for that nurse's patients. All Nurse Externs will be required to attend or view all classroom presentations.
Essential Functions:

• PATIENT / CUSTOMER
  • Essential Accountabilities Assessment:
    • Identifies the patient per hospital policy before carrying out functions.
    • Assists with data collection for nursing history and physical.
    • Participates in therapeutic communication.
    • Includes available auxiliary information i.e., physician, lab, x-ray.
    • Provides information to the registered nurse for coordination of care and
    • Discharge planning including both the patient and family.
    • Observes skin changes and reports discoloration, abrasions, infestations or skin breakdown.
  • Planning
    • Participates with patient/family and the healthcare team in decisions related to the care plan of the patient.
    • Assists in setting mutually agreed upon realistic individual patient goals.
    • Receives report from the RN on the patient's plan of care.
    • Gives on coming shift handoff report under direct supervision of the RN
  • Intervention
    • Promotes infection control.
    • Follows standard precautions and any other isolation precautions as dictated by the patient's condition.
    • Maintains a safe environment and protects the patient from injury. Supports the observer in one to one/constant observation situation.
    • Observes or monitors behavior/health state and responses to therapy.
      • Temperature, Pulse, Respiration
      • Blood Pressure
      • Neurological Checks
      • Vascular Checks
      • Pain Assessment/Level of Sedation
      • Height and Weight
      • Intake and Output
    • Communicates pertinent observations to appropriate members of the health care team under the direct supervision of the RN.
    • Participates in multidisciplinary rounds on the patient care unit.
    • Participates in staff meetings.
    • Works in collaboration with all members of the healthcare team.
    • Reports findings to nurse concerning the patient and/or family which may impact patient care.
    • Performs bed bath, tub bath, shower.
    • Participates in the prevention and treatment of skin breakdown.
    • Assists patient with activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, eating, feeding, range of motion, ambulating, transferring.
    • Applies current accepted methods of heat and cold therapy.
    • Provides for the patient's oral dietary needs using currently accepted methods.
    • Provides for the elimination needs by giving a bed pan, urinal or implementing the bowel program under the direction of the nurse.
    • Inserts urinary catheter under direct supervision of the RN.
    • Removes urinary catheter under direct supervision of the RN
    • Assists with colostomy irrigations under the direct supervision of the RN.
    • Applies condom catheter.
    • Administers cleansing enemas as ordered under direct supervision of the RN.
    • Assists with suctioning under direct supervision of RN.
    • Performs post mortem care under direct supervision of the RN.
    • Assists the physician to perform physical exams.
    • Assists with oxygen therapy only and does not regulate the flow of oxygen.
    • Encourage the use of the pulmonary toilet by using the incentive spirometer, coughing, turning and deep breathing.
    • Assists with Hoyer/ceiling lifts.
    • Reinforces health care instruction to patients according to the directions of the nurse.
      • Displays competence in using the following equipment:
      • Pulse oximeter
      • Bladder scanner
      • 12 Lead ECG
      • Glucometer
  • Documentation
    • Documents assessment data, interventions and patient outcome results on patient documents.
    • Documents using complete signature, status "Nurse Extern," date and time on all charted entries.
    • All admission assessments and head-to-toe assessments need to be validated with a signature of the RN preceptor.
  • Evaluation
    • Seeks and utilizes feedback regarding nursing care to determine necessary changes in the care plan.
• PATIENT/ EMPLOYEE SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITIES
  • Non-Patient Care
    • Participates in Entity and Department wide initiatives for patient /employee safety.
    • Demonstrates an awareness of patient/employee safety when carrying out daily responsibilities of their position.
  • Patient Care Providers
    • Participates in Entity and Department wide initiatives for
    • Patient/Employee safety.
    • Demonstrates an awareness of patient/employee safety when carrying out daily responsibilities of their position.
    • Validation of annual competencies required for the position.
    • Identifies the patient per policy i.e. uses two unique identifiers.
    • Aware of the Safe Medical Devise Act.
    • Aware of the Material Safety Data Sheet.
    • Carries out fire and safety regulation.
    • Identifies where the oxygen safety valve is located.
    • Makes occupied or unoccupied bed.
    • Cleans and restocks equipment as needed.
    • Observes radiation precautions.
    • Demonstrates proper body mechanics when moving and lifting.
    • Alerts the nurse to the sounding of alarms. Does not change settings or rates on equipment.
    • Observes HIPAA regulations.
    • Knows limits of responsibilities and seeks guidance as appropriate.
    • Observes chemotherapy precautions.
    • Identifies emergency equipment on the unit.
  • Items not to be Performed
    • Intravenous therapy
    • Medication Administration
    • Taking of Verbal Orders
    • Central Line Care/Procedure
    • Total Parental Nutrition Administration
    • Chemotherapy Administration
    • Blood Administration
  • Items to be performed by the Nurse Extern under the direct supervision of a RN (RN is present in the room as care is delivered
    • Urinary Catheter Insertion
    • Suctioning
    • Tracheostomy Care
    • Enteral Feedings
    • Simple Dressing Changes
    • Discontinuing an Intravenous Line
    • Venipuncture under the direct supervision of the RN

Other Duties as Assigned
Qualifications:

• • Education
    • High School Diploma required
    • Must be registered in an accredited school of nursing with completion of 1 medical surgical clinical nursing course required
  • Work Experience
    • 1 medical surgical clinical rotation is required.
  • Licenses / Certifications
    • Basic Life Support / CPR, as a healthcare provider, per the American Heart Association required
  • Skills and Abilities
    • Must be able to communicate effectively.