Nurse Externship Surgical PCU

Banner Health • Glendale, AZ

1d

About The Position

The Nurse Extern is an unlicensed nursing-student role in Banner Health’s Nurse Extern program, working in a surgical progressive care unit. Under the direct supervision of a designated licensed registered nurse and an RN preceptor, the extern develops clinical experience through competency assessment, classroom training, and participation in patient-care planning, implementation, observation, and evaluation. The role includes identifying and reporting significant observations and practicing nursing skills for which the student has received didactic and clinical instruction and demonstrated competency.

Externs may practice skills such as patient assessment, medication administration, adjusting IV pump rates or devices, managing parenteral fluids, blood products or IV flushes, initiating, titrating and discontinuing oxygen, and basic data collection in an EMR. They may also spend time with a clinical case manager, observe procedures, and participate in activities relevant to their patient population. The role is not permanent; employment is subject to the criteria in the Nurse Program policy. After graduation and obtaining an RN license, the program aims for the extern to continue as a new graduate nurse in the same unit.

The unit is a cardiovascular specialty progressive care unit caring for peripheral vascular, cardiothoracic surgical, heart failure, and respiratory patients. Its care model emphasizes learning and collaboration among nursing, physicians, and other therapies. Externs must work at least 12 hours per month and may not exceed 20 hours per week.

Requirements

• Be enrolled in an accredited nursing program and be within one year of graduation upon hire.
• Be able to graduate from an accredited nursing program on the initial anticipated graduation date.
• Hold current BLS certification.
• Pass Nursing State Boards within 90 days after graduation; if a second attempt is needed, schedule and pass within an additional 60 days from the first attempt.
• Work a minimum of 12 hours per month and no more than 20 hours per week.
• Remain under the direct supervision of a designated licensed registered nurse; do not perform skills independently.

Nice To Haves

• Additional related education and/or experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care and attend to patients’ comfort needs under the direct supervision of a licensed registered nurse.
• Perform only nursing skills and procedures for which the student has received didactic and clinical instruction and established competency under supervision.
• Assist with assessment, planning, diagnosis, implementation, evaluation, and modification of nursing care under direct supervision.
• Use critical thinking and problem-solving to analyze information and identify and report patient status to a licensed registered nurse.
• Collaborate with other disciplines in planning, implementing, evaluating, and modifying nursing care under supervision.
• Follow safety standards, compliance training, established policies and procedures, regulatory and accreditation requirements, and applicable professional standards.
• Communicate with staff, physicians, patients, families, and external contacts about patient care; report information and ask for or clarify information as needed.
• Perform specific duties related to the assigned nursing unit within approved facility policies and under direct supervision.
• Participate in classroom training, patient-care planning, observation, evaluation, and other relevant unit activities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed