Student Nurse Intern- Telemetry

Kaweah Delta Health Care District•Visalia, CA

About The Position

The Student Nurse Intern (SNI) works under the direction and direct supervision of a registered nurse (RN) to support patient health, prevent illness and injury, and alleviate suffering through nursing care. In partnership with the RN, the intern contributes to holistic care, patient and family advocacy, and the work of the interdisciplinary healthcare team. The position is in the Telemetry department at Kaweah Health. The SNI may perform specified nursing functions only while school is in session, and only after the relevant skills have been validated by the school of nursing in conjunction with a Kaweah Health RN preceptor. The intern must keep a validated Skills Checklist available while working and is responsible for taking it to the school for completion. Some duties—including medication administration, initiating or adjusting intravenous therapy, administering intravenous medication, and taking physician orders—require an RN to be present even when the intern’s skills have been validated for independent performance. After completing Kaweah Health position- or unit-specific competencies, the intern may perform designated patient-support duties during both instructional and non-instructional days. These include reporting patient changes and concerns to licensed staff, assisting with basic bedside care and activities of daily living, collecting and documenting delegated measurements and specimens, maintaining a safe patient environment, and supporting emergency response. The SNI must follow applicable policies, safety and infection-control procedures, confidentiality requirements, and professional appearance guidelines.

Requirements

BLS certification is required.
For an ASN program: enrollment in an accredited RN program and completion of the third semester.
For a BSN program: enrollment in an accredited RN program and completion of the fourth semester.
Submit an updated transcript to HR each term and notify the manager and HR of changes in nursing-program enrollment.
Participation in an approved Work Study Program affiliated with the school of nursing, or current Kaweah Health employment while enrolled in a Kaweah Health/Unitek nursing program eligible for the practice and academic partnership (not for academic credit), is required.
Maintain a validated Skills Checklist while working as an SNI and perform skills only after validation by the school of nursing in conjunction with the Kaweah Health RN preceptor.
Follow the ANA Code of Ethics in practice.
Wear a watch with timing capabilities, such as a seconds hand or stopwatch, as part of the required uniform.

Nice To Haves

Current California Certified Nursing Assistant certification.

Responsibilities

Collaborate and communicate with patients, residents, families, and other healthcare providers.
Work with the RN to formulate plans of care and involve patients and residents in decisions about their care and services.
Work under the supervision of an RN preceptor and perform basic bedside care and selected nursing procedures as delegated.
Maintain an available, validated Skills Checklist and perform skills only after required validation.
Report variations in patient condition, patient or family needs and concerns, changes in activity, and complaints or problems to licensed staff.
Answer assigned patient call lights within two minutes; greet patients and family members professionally, identify oneself by name and job category, and assist with assigned needs.
Support quality patient care while maintaining patient confidentiality and complying with current policies, safety procedures, and infection-control requirements.
Assist with toileting, including emptying bedpans and drainage containers, and report changes in output to the RN.
Assist with patient admission, transfer, and discharge, and orient patients to their rooms and call lights.
Assist patients with meals, snacks, and water pitchers, and with activities of daily living such as bathing, ambulation, and oral care.
Collect and record delegated intake and output, weight, height, and vital signs; obtain respiratory rate by direct observation.
Document care in the electronic medical record as soon as possible after providing it.
Collect, label, and deliver specimens.
Provide post-mortem care and assist with transporting the body to the morgue.
Assist with emergency care, including crash cart checks, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and response to Code Blue.
Handle patients’ personal property carefully and maintain a clean, safe, and neat patient environment.
Provide care appropriate to the population served and account for patients’ and families’ cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, developmental, and age-specific needs.
Keep required certifications current and perform other assigned duties.