Nursing Extern - Summer 2027

The University of Kansas Health System•Kansas City, KS

About The Position

The Nursing Extern role is part of an 8–10 week paid summer Nurse Extern Program that gives student nurses real-world clinical experience and helps them develop critical-thinking skills under the direct supervision and guidance of a registered professional nurse serving as their preceptor. The Nursing Extern functions as an extension of the care team, completing tasks delegated by the RN in a caring, culturally sensitive manner and providing excellent customer service. The role requires competence in critical thinking, interpersonal relationships, and technical skills related to delegated tasks. The program runs from May 24 through July 30. Duties and skills may vary by unit or department. Medication administration, collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, patient assessment, and documentation are performed under the supervision of a Registered Nurse Preceptor.

Requirements

High school graduate.
Currently enrolled in an accredited School of Nursing pursuing an Associate degree or Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Completed a basic nursing skills class/lab, with documentation of knowledge or competence in required basic skills.
Basic Life Support Heartsaver (BLS HS) (Non-Clinical) certification from the American Heart Association, including a hands-on component.

Responsibilities

Provide basic nursing care, including taking vital signs and pulse oximetry readings; performing fingerstick blood glucose checks; assisting with activities of daily living; recording intake and output; collecting urine, phlebotomy, stool, and sputum specimens; applying or removing compression hose and SCDs; and emptying drains, urinary catheters, NG tubes, and ostomies.
Document tasks, intake and output, and meal percentages in O2.
Maintain a neat, clutter-free, clean work and patient environment.
Maintain patient safety, including fall-risk prevention interventions such as hourly rounds and promptly answering call lights in person for patients on the unit.
Follow hand hygiene, standard and isolation precautions, and infection-prevention principles.
Provide care for patients in restraints, including range-of-motion assistance and fluids/toileting; reorient confused patients; and reinforce patient safety precautions.
Promptly notify the RN of changes in vital signs, mental status, or condition; skin breakdown or redness; patient-reported pain; and other patient needs, concerns, or issues.
Perform medication administration, patient assessment, documentation, and other assigned duties under the supervision of a Registered Nurse Preceptor.
Perform professional, clinical, and technical competencies required by the assigned unit or department.