Nurse Extern - Joint Neuro Surgery and Oncology

Owensboro Health•Owensboro, KY

About The Position

The Nurse Extern assists nursing staff by performing assigned duties, including tasks routinely performed by nursing assistants. Under the direct supervision of a registered nurse (RN), the extern performs patient-care activities for which they have been educationally prepared and have demonstrated clinical competence. The role is in Joint Neuro Surgery and Oncology at Owensboro Health System and is per diem/PRN, with work and weekend hours as needed. The extern contributes to patient assessment and care, maintains accurate and timely documentation, supports patient mobility and personal care, and reports changes in patients’ conditions to nursing staff. Certain medication administration, oxygen-related assistance, and sterile dressing changes may be performed only under the RN’s direct supervision, with RN co-signature where specified. The position requires critical thinking, decisive judgment, and the ability to work under general supervision in a stressful environment. No prior work experience is required. Candidates must have completed the first semester of a nursing program and remain enrolled upon hire. BLS certification as a Healthcare Provider is required within 90 days of employment.

Requirements

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

Responsibilities

Greet and orient new patients to the hospital environment.
Perform tasks routinely included in a nursing assistant’s job description under registered nurse supervision.
Contribute to patient assessments by collecting data during physical assessments, including health history, for RN review and co-signature.
Ensure documentation is accurate, complete, specific, and timely.
Assist nursing staff in identifying patients’ physical, psychosocial, age-specific, and cultural considerations.
Provide personal care in accordance with organizational standards and policies.
Report abnormal findings or changes in patients’ physical, mental, and emotional conditions to nursing staff.
Perform delegated patient-care activities under RN supervision, including collecting specimens, taking vital signs, and gathering related data.
Administer medications by oral, subcutaneous, intramuscular, topical, nasal, otic, optic, and inhaled routes only under direct RN supervision and with RN co-signature.
Assist with oxygen modalities under direct RN supervision.
Assist with sterile dressing changes under direct RN supervision.
Demonstrate interpersonal competency when interacting with patients in the work area.
Assist patients with activity and mobility.
Assist with nonpharmacological interventions.
Support Owensboro Health’s mission, vision, core commitments, and business interests; follow organizational policies and procedures and act consistently with a culture of compliance, safety, and high reliability.