Student Nurse Extern- 5 West Acute Care Neuroscience

UNC Health•Raleigh, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Student Nurse Externship Program is a 10-week, paid summer opportunity for rising senior ADN and BSN nursing students to gain hands-on clinical experience, strengthen nursing skills, and explore hospital-based care. The position supports prelicensure nursing students in applying foundational education and developing role socialization in a clinical setting. Student Nurse Extern I functions as a member of the patient care team within the Nursing Assistant I scope of practice, partnering with an RN and working under the RN’s direct supervision. The role provides routine direct and indirect patient care in a hospital, clinic, or home health setting and offers experience intended to build nursing knowledge and prepare the incumbent for a registered nursing career. The position is assigned to 5 West Acute Care Neuroscience, a 30-bed neuroscience unit that includes a 4-bed step-down unit and cares for patients with neurological disorders and medical-surgical needs. The unit uses a buddy system and self-scheduling with a holiday track, and supports professional growth through assistance with certifications and educational courses. The team contributed to UNC REX’s Advanced Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center certification from the Joint Commission. The Student Nurse Extern reports to the assigned department’s Patient Services Manager or designated Education Leader and works under the direct supervision of an assigned RN partner, who supports learning and development in nursing care activities in complex and non-complex situations. This is a temporary, full-time, onsite position scheduled for 40 hours per week, with a variable schedule from May 24 through July 31. The salary is $18.00 per hour.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Current enrollment in an accredited prelicensure nursing program, with anticipated graduation within 12 months of the start of the externship.
Listed as Nursing Assistant I with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
Fluent verbal and written English.
Ability to organize and prioritize assignments in delivering patient care.
Attain and maintain unit-specific competencies.
Basic computer skills.
Ability to lift and carry 40–50 pounds; examples include pushing or pulling patients on a bed or stretcher, with a 29-pound push force, and lateral transfers involving up to 50 pounds of the patient’s weight.
Frequent to continuous standing and walking.
Ability to perform role-specific physical activities, which may include kneeling, bending, squatting, and CPR.

Responsibilities

Observe, collect, and document patient information while providing care, and promptly report significant changes in patient condition to a registered nurse or provider.
Participate in identifying and reporting patient safety issues collaboratively.
Assist patients and families during admission, orientation to the care setting, and discharge.
Provide care and treatments specified in the plan of care, including vital signs, height and weight measurement, specimen collection, skin preparations, catheter care, capillary blood glucose checks, simple wound care, range-of-motion exercises, postural drainage, and supportive one-to-one patient and family interactions.
Provide personal care for routine activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, feeding, and assisting with ambulation.
Provide indirect care by cleaning work areas, changing linens, restocking supplies, cleaning or sterilizing instruments, transporting patients, supplies, and specimens, assisting with orientation of new employees and students, and performing routine clerical functions.
Reinforce routine teaching provided by a registered nurse or provider and document patient understanding of instructions.
Assist providers and other healthcare providers with routine examinations and procedures, and obtain equipment and supplies during emergencies.
In psychiatric settings, support reality orientation, behavior modification plans and therapy, informal support therapy, verbal de-escalation, physical management of aggressive or out-of-control patients, age-appropriate play for children, and monitoring of therapeutic milieu activities to support patients’ emotional and safety needs.