Nurse Extern - Joint Neuro Surgery and Oncology

Owensboro Health•Owensboro, KY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Nurse Extern assists nursing staff by performing assigned duties, including tasks routinely performed by nursing assistants. Under an RN’s direct supervision, the Nurse Extern performs patient-care activities for which they have been educationally prepared and have demonstrated clinical competence. The position is in the Joint Neuro Surgery and Oncology department at Owensboro Health System and is per diem/PRN, with work hours and weekend work as needed. The role requires critical thinking and decisive judgment, the ability to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action, and application of more advanced skills and knowledge in the area of specialization. The employee works under general supervision and supports Owensboro Health’s mission, vision, core commitments, policies, and a culture of compliance, safety, and high reliability. The physical demands are those of a clinical hospital setting. Standing, walking, lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds, pushing/pulling, bending or stooping, reaching, talking, hearing, repetitive hand/arm movements, keyboard data entry, and several vision tasks are performed frequently. Some heavier lifting and carrying, climbing, kneeling, crouching or crawling, and running may be required occasionally or rarely. The position has high-risk hazardous drug exposure.

Requirements

Completion of the first semester of a nursing program and continued enrollment in a nursing program upon hire.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification as a Healthcare Provider required within 90 days of employment.
Critical thinking skills and decisive judgment.
Ability to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.
No prior work experience required.

Responsibilities

Greets and orients new patients to the hospital environment.
Performs tasks routinely included in a nursing assistant’s job description under registered nurse supervision.
Contributes to patient assessment by collecting physical assessment and health history data for RN review and co-signature.
Ensures documentation is accurate, complete, specific, and timely.
Assists nursing staff in identifying each patient’s physical, psychosocial, age-specific, and cultural considerations.
Works with nursing staff to provide personal care according to organizational standards and policies.
Reports abnormal findings or changes in patients’ physical, mental, or emotional conditions to nursing staff.
Performs delegated and supervised patient-care activities, including collecting specimens, taking vital signs, and gathering related data.
May administer medications by oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, topical, nasal, otic, optic, and inhaled routes under an RN’s direct supervision and co-signature.
May assist with oxygen modalities under an RN’s direct supervision.
May assist with sterile dressing changes under an RN’s direct supervision.
Demonstrates interpersonal competency when working with patients in the assigned area.
Assists with patient activity and mobility.
Assists with nonpharmacological interventions.
Supports Owensboro Health’s mission, vision, core commitments, and business interests; follows organizational policies and procedures and acts consistently with a culture of compliance, safety, and high reliability.