Nurse Externship Neuro Trauma PCU

Banner Health • Glendale, AZ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Banner Health's Nurse Extern program offers nursing students graduating within 12 months the opportunity to gain clinical experience before graduation. Under the direct supervision of a licensed registered nurse preceptor, the unlicensed Nurse Extern practices skills for which they have received didactic and clinical instruction and demonstrated competency. The position includes classroom training and participation in patient care planning, implementation, observation, evaluation, and reporting significant observations. Externs may also spend time with a clinical case manager, observe procedures, or participate in activities relevant to their patient population. The program aims to support externs in continuing as new graduate nurses on the same unit after graduation and RN licensure. This is a non-permanent position, and employment is subject to the Nurse Program policy.

The position is on a Neuro/Stroke and Trauma Progressive Care Unit. The unit cares for patients with conditions including severe brain injuries, stroke, seizures, brain tumors, and pre- or post-operative neurosurgical needs, as well as other complex multisystem conditions. Patients may be highly acute and have limited mobility. The unit emphasizes teamwork, communication, critical thinking, flexibility, and evidence-based practice. Additional stroke specialty training is required for this patient population.

The extern must work a minimum of 12 hours per month and may not exceed 20 hours per week. Selected externs will complete orientation in Fall 2025. The role is based at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, Arizona, a Level I adult trauma and tertiary-care destination serving patients of all ages.

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 initially anticipated graduation date.
• Hold current BLS certification.
• Pass the 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 professional registered nurse and not perform skills independently or without direct supervision.

Nice To Haves

• Additional related education and/or experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct nursing care, attend to patient comfort needs, and perform nursing skills or procedures for which the extern has received instruction and demonstrated competency, under direct RN supervision.
• Assist with patient assessment, planning, diagnosis, implementation, evaluation, and nursing care under direct RN supervision.
• Use critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze complex data and identify and report patient status to a licensed registered nurse.
• Collaborate with other disciplines in planning, implementing, evaluating, and modifying nursing care under direct RN supervision.
• Follow safety standards, compliance training, policies, procedures, regulatory and accreditation requirements, and applicable professional standards.
• Interact with staff, physicians, patients, families, and external healthcare contacts concerning patient care; report information and ask for or clarify information with other healthcare providers.
• Perform duties specific to the assigned nursing unit and continue routine, repetitive activities within the Nurse Extern role while awaiting transfer into the RN New Graduate role.
• Practice authorized clinical skills such as patient assessment, medication administration, adjusting IV pump rates or devices, administering parenteral fluids, blood products or IV flushes, initiating, titrating or discontinuing oxygen, and basic EMR data collection, as permitted by instruction and competency.
• Observe procedures or participate in other activities relevant to the patient population, and spend time with the clinical case manager as appropriate.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree