Nurse Extern

GENERAL PURPOSE OF JOB: The Nursing Extern provides direct and indirect care to patients under the direction of the Primary Nurse/Charge Nurse. The Nursing Extern performs basic activities of daily living and assists licensed personnel to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, efficient, quality patient care. The Nursing Extern also performs basic clerical responsibilities and assists with non-patient care activities to ensure the efficient operation of the unit(s). Additionally, the Nursing Extern may be required to perform monitor technician duties, according to unit scope and need.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Licensure/Certification: Required: Must be currently enrolled in a nursing program. Must have successfully completed at least one semester of nursing school with clinical rotation.
Education and/or Experience: Required: High School Diploma or equivalent. Must be currently enrolled in a nursing program. Must have successfully completed at least one year of nursing school with clinical rotation.
Communication Skills: Must possess good oral communication skills. Must be able to communicate with all hospital contacts, both on the telephone and directly. Must be able to read and write legibly in order to communicate patient needs and document in the patient record.
Computer/Typing/Mathematical Skills: Must be or must become familiar with the hospital computer systems.
Special Qualifications: Required: Healthcare provider BLS validation within 60 days of employment, with revalidation per AHA guidelines. Must be willing to complete the hospital’s Monitor Tech training course within one year of employment (requirement may vary depending on unit needs and availability of classes) and receive a passing score or better on the final exam, where required by unit scope of care.

Reasoning/Analytical Ability: Must have the ability to solve practical problems. Must have the ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in verbal, written, diagram or schedule form. After completing appropriate training (where required by unit scope of care), must be able to review and accurately interpret telemetry strips and other data from cardiac/medical monitors and relay results to appropriate personnel in a timely manner.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: N/A.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

1. Visual Acuity –Must be able to see to assess patient’s condition, both physical characteristics and nonverbal communications. Must be able to monitor clinical and non-clinical equipment within job responsibilities.

2. Hearing Acuity – Must be able to hear to assess patient’s condition. Must be able to hear patient call bells, telephone, equipment alarms, and other clinical and non-clinical systems and equipment.

3. Manual Dexterity –Must be able to operate equipment used on the unit and to provide patient care.

4. Oral Communication – Must possess good oral communication skills. Must be able to communicate with all hospital contacts on the telephone and directly.

5. Must be able to stand and sit for long periods of time. Must be able to withstand repeated bending, and be able to assume awkward positions which may be needed when transferring, positioning, and restraining patients. Considerable lifting, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling and/or crouching.

6. Hours of Work- Able to work scheduled hours as dictated by business needs. Includes rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime hours. Subject to flexing and floating policies. May be required to work 4, 8, 10, 12, and/or 16 hour shifts. Consistent, predictable attendance, including punctuality, is required.

7. Must have the ability to respond to emergency situations.

8. Must be able to access all areas of the patient’s room including bathroom.

AGE APPROPRIATENESS: Must have the ability to communicate with developmental ages (infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and older adult) as indicated in the unit scope of care.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Works in well-lighted, well-ventilated, heated and air-conditioned environment. May be subject to low level noise. May be exposed to blood and blood-borne pathogens in routine performance of job duties.