Nurse Extern I - Nursing Students Only

DEPARTMENT: NURSING ADMIN

F ACILITY: Tift Regional Medical Center

WORK TYPE: PRN

S HIFT: Varied

SUMMARY

The Nurse Extern program is designed for LPN nursing students who have completed one semester of an accredited nursing program. The program is designed to provide nursing students an opportunity to work and learn in dynamic and supportive clinical environments. Nurse Externs provide patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse for assigned patients. They are responsible for assisting with both clinical and clerical duties, for assisting the nursing staff in delivery of quality care, and for coordinating communications occurring at the Nurses’ Station while assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care and safety. They are responsible for providing excellent customer service to patients, patient’s families, visitors, physicians, and co-workers. Students who are accepted into the Nurse Extern program will be required to work a minimum of 16 hours a month. Students must work a minimum of one 12 hour shift as a Patient Care Tech and one 4 hour observational experience per month. If a student desires, additional hours may be worked.

Students who are accepted into the Nurse Extern program will be required to work a minimum of 16 hours a month. Students must work a minimum of one 12 hour shift as a Patient Care Tech and one 4 hour observational experience per month. If a student desires, additional hours may be worked.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintains cleanliness in the unit area and patient areas.
• Assumes responsibility and accountability for individualized judgements and actions.
• Demonstrates the ability to handle confidential information with discretion for the patient, family, and/or co-worker.
• Adheres to legal responsibilities and does not alter medical records.
• Follows policies related to informed consent, confidentiality, patient rights, and access to chart and advance directive information.
• Makes needed copies of chart when patient is transferred or discharged.
• Maintains the safety of patients who have been identified at risk for preventable injury by the implementation of nursing safety interventions or the use of protective devices/equipment under the supervision of the registered nurse. Ex. side rails, alarms, bed in low position and locked.
• Keeps abreast of pertinent federal, and state regulations and laws and Tift Regional Health System, Inc. (“TRHS”) policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• Understands and adheres to: TRHS’ compliance standards as they appear in TRHS’s Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy; and HIPAA and TRHS policies regarding privacy and security of protected health information.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform tasks that meet the age-specific requirements of the persons, patients, vendors, and staff that the employee is charged to interact with as required by the position.
• Offers suggestions on ways to improve operations of department and reduce costs.
• Attends all mandatory education programs.
• Improves self-knowledge through voluntarily attending continuing education/certification classes.
• Maintains required competency levels as identified in written exams, skills checklists, skills labs, annual safety and health requirements as well as service excellence education hours requirements.
• Cross-trains in order to better assist co-workers and to provide maximum efficiency in the department.
• Volunteers/participates on hospital committees, functions, and department projects.
• Manages resources effectively.
• Reports equipment in need of repair in order to extend life of equipment and removes malfunctioning equipment out of service with timely reporting to the appropriate personnel.
• Makes good use of time so as to not create needless overtime.
• Perform blood sugar testing and report results to nurse.
• Follows proper process and documentation to capture charges for supplies, equipment, and services. Scans Intellishelf appropriately to capture supply charges.
• Conducts rounding to meet patient/patient’s family’s needs and updates patient communication board during hourly rounding, bedside shift report, and as needed.
• Documents and communicates patient needs to nursing staff.
• Perform vital signs and documents in EMR. Recognizes abnormal vital signs and reports to nurse immediately.
• Assist patients with ADLS as needed and document (grooming, bathing, and walking, linen changes).
• Record I&O in EMR.
• Ensure patients are comfortable in bed and adjusts bed settings and or reposition/turns every 2 hours if needed
• Transports patients safely and as required by patients' level of care.
• Follows Dress Code specific to PCTs as outlined in system policy.
• Does not use personal electronic devices or cell phones during work hours. Only hospital approved communication devices are approved for use during work hours
• Performs assigned duties as per stated in specific duties and responsibilities per process and procedures.
• Rotates and flexs with a positive attitude to alternate departments as necessary to provide adequate staffing to meet the needs of patient care.
• Demonstrates basic competency in the operation of a computer to include the following: Keyboard and Mouse functionality, General knowledge of computer software applications, Management of email including reviewing organizational email at least weekly.
• Must complete a 4-hour observational shift each month, not to exceed a total of 24 hours annually, in designated clinical areas such as ICU, PCU, CSDU, Med West, GMS, OB, Peds, Inpatient Dialysis, Day Surgery, Cath Lab, Endoscopy, PICC, Outpatient Dialysis, and SWHR.

EDUCATION:

Complete with 1st semester Nursing School

CREDENTIALS:

OTHER INFORMATION:

Current full-time enrollment as a student in a nursing program required. Completion of one semester of nursing required. Current cumulative GPA of 2.5 of higher is strongly preferred.

Southwell/Tift Regional Health System, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.