Extern - Nurse

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Work Shift/Schedule:

Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities.

About the Role:

Job Summary

The Nurse Extern functions under the direct supervision of a Registered Professional Nurse. A preceptor will be assigned to facilitate the development of knowledge, clinical skills, and professional attitudes. Nurse Externs may be placed with other Registered Professional Nurses to optimize learning experiences. The Nurse Extern is a nursing student who is trained to be flexible in a variety of nursing support duties. The Nurse Extern will provide direct patient care within the scope of practice identified by Northeast Georgia Medical Center and outlined during orientation. Under the direct supervision of the NGHS Registered Nurse, the Nurse Extern will be allowed to assist or to perform clinical tasks that were learned in nursing courses and where competency has been demonstrated. 

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications: Currently enrolled in an accredited RN program. AHA BLS

• Educational Requirements: High School Diploma

• Minimum Experience:

• Other: Completion of a nursing fundamentals and adult health course

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications:

• Preferred Educational Requirements:

• Preferred Experience:

• Other:

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Good interpersonal skills.

• Physical ability to push/pull patients.

• Ability to accept direction from professional nursing staff.

• Ability to perform basic technical skills and procedures.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Provides/assists patient in order to promote comfort.

• Utilizes proper body mechanics in delivery of patient care and services on the unit to prevent injury to either employee and/or patient.

• Provides for patient’s nutritional needs according to procedure and direction.

• Distributes linen and ice to patient as needed in addition to frequently offering refreshments as patient’s diet permits.

• Explains procedure or care to be provided to patient prior to start of procedures.

• Performs therapeutic procedures within the parameters of the skills checklist; reporting patient’s response to supervising Nurse.

• Makes frequent rounds to patients room, responding to patient call lights, instituting appropriate actions.

• Identifies and reports physical and mental status changes to licensed staff assigned to the patient according to procedure.

• Organizes patient care and sets priorities by implementing physician and nursing orders within prescribed time frames and parameters of job description.  Relates to various assigned areas.

• Supports clinical staff within the assigned area.

• Attains proficiency with all required IT systems to support the clinical staff  & accurate documentation of patient care.

• Contributes to patient safety by: Utilizing principles of asepsis in all patient contact, providing a safe patient environment , maintaining properly functioning equipment in safe clean order.   

• Stocks nursing unit with supplies according to inventory needs and obtains necessary patient care items as per unit routine.

• Answers the telephone, screens and refers calls.

• Relays telephone, verbal and written requests accurately to the appropriate individual(s).

• Maintains phone communications.

• Makes necessary diet requests and/or notified Dietary Department of changes

• Places reports in patient’s chart or insures reports are sent to appropriate units

• Maintains oxygen tanks and cylinders in department

• Takes patients vital signs and accurately records in EHR. Alerts supervising nurse of any vital signs out of normal parameters

• Measure patient’s intake and output, to include urine, gastric and surgical drainage and accurately records in EHR. Alerts supervising nurse of any measurements outside of normal ranges. 

• Assist admitting Nurse with completion of the admission data base. Admission data base must be co-signed with an RN

• Weigh patients (standing and bed scales), and accurately records on appropriate forms/EHR. 

• Perform simple dressing changes, assess wound and drainage, and accurately document in EHR. 

• Assists patients with basic hygiene to include oral care, back care, shaving, hair washing, and bed changing.

• Assists patient with positioning and transferring from bed to chair, stretcher or wheelchair.

• Under the direct supervision of the nurse preceptor, the Nurse Extern will be allowed to assist or to perform clinical tasks that were learned in nursing courses and where competency has been demonstrated. 

• All documentation will be reviewed and cosigned in the EHR by a NGHS Registered Nurse

Physical Demands

• Weight Lifted: Up to 100 lbs, 0-30% of time

• Weight Carried: Up to 50 lbs, 31-65% of time

• Vision: Moderate, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Kneeling/Stooping/Bending: Frequently 31-65%

• Standing/Walking: Frequently 31-65%

• Pushing/Pulling: Frequently 31-65%

• Intensity of Work: Occasionally 0-30%

• Job Requires: Reading, Writing, Reasoning, Talking, Keyboarding

Working at NGHS means being part of something special: a team invested in you as a person, an employee, and in helping you reach your goals. 

NGHS: Opportunities start here.

Northeast Georgia Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not tolerate discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification or status.