Student Nurse Intern- Acute Psych

Kaweah Health•Visalia, CA

About The Position

The Student Nurse Intern (SNI) works under the direction and direct supervision of a registered nurse (RN) to protect and promote health, prevent illness and injury, and alleviate suffering through nursing diagnosis and treatment. In partnership with the RN, the SNI contributes to professional practice through coordination with the interdisciplinary healthcare team, holistic care, and advocacy for patients and families. The SNI performs selected nursing tasks and procedures under the supervision of a Kaweah Health RN preceptor, and only after the skills have been validated by the school of nursing in conjunction with the preceptor. Certain duties require an RN to be present even when the SNI's skills have been validated. Duties that require RN presence include, but are not limited to, administering oral or injectable medications, initiating or adjusting intravenous therapy, administering IV medications, and taking physician orders. The SNI must keep a validated Skills Checklist available while working and may perform designated intern functions only when school is in session. After completing Kaweah Health position- and unit-specific competencies, the SNI may perform specified support duties continuously, including on non-instructional days. The role also requires maintaining current certifications and providing care appropriate to the patient population and patients' cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age-specific needs.

Requirements

Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
For an ASN student: enrollment in an accredited RN program and completion of the third semester.
For a BSN student: enrollment in an accredited RN program and completion of the fourth semester.
Submit an updated transcript to Human Resources each term and notify the manager and Human Resources of changes in nursing program enrollment.
Participate in an approved Work Study Program affiliated with the school of nursing, or be currently employed by Kaweah Health while enrolled in a Kaweah Health/Unitek nursing program eligible for the practice and academic partnership; the partnership must not be for academic credit.
Have a validated Skills Checklist available while working as an SNI and complete school-of-nursing skills validation in conjunction with the Kaweah Health RN preceptor before performing applicable tasks.
Work under the supervision of a Kaweah Health RN preceptor and follow RN direction regarding duties requiring RN presence.
Keep all required certifications current.

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 care and service delivery.
Perform basic bedside care and selected nursing procedures under the supervision of an RN and within validated skills.
Report changes or variances in patient condition and report patient or family needs, concerns, and activity changes to licensed staff.
Refer complaints and problems promptly to licensed staff or the department manager.
Answer assigned patient call lights within two minutes; greet patients and family members professionally and identify self by name and job category.
Assist patients with needs, activities of daily living, meals, snacks, water pitchers, and toileting.
Assist with patient admissions, transfers, discharges, and room orientation.
Collect and record intake and output, weight, height, and vital signs as delegated by the RN; collect respiratory rate by direct observation.
Report variations in the amount, color, consistency, or odor of patient output to the RN.
Document care in the electronic medical record as soon as possible after care is provided.
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 responding to Code Blue.
Handle patients' personal property carefully and maintain a clean, safe, and neat patient environment.
Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with current policies and procedures, including safety and infection-control requirements.
Assist nursing staff with tasks delegated by the RN and participate actively in achieving quality patient care.
Maintain required certifications and a professional, well-groomed appearance; wear a watch with timing capabilities, such as a seconds hand or stopwatch.
Provide care and communication appropriate to the population served and the patient and family's cultural, linguistic, spiritual, gender, and age-specific needs.
Perform other duties as assigned.