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Nurse Extern - Behavioral Health

As a Student Nurse Extern, you will gain hands-on clinical experience while working alongside experienced nurses and a dedicated preceptor in a supportive care environment.

Posted Sep 10 · New grads welcomed

Pay
Not posted
Shift and hours
Variable shift Variable Shift (United States of America)Minimum 36 hours every six weeks, flexible scheduling
Unit and setting
Behavioral Health Department: Behavioral Health
License
RN license
Term
Per Diem

Do you qualify?

New grads
Welcomed No experience required
Certification
Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)
Also asks
enrolled in accredited school of nursing and first clinical rotation completed, or no more than 90 days post conferral Current enrollment in an accredited school of nursing and completion of first clinical rotation, or no more than 90-days post conferral date
Also asks
constant standing and walking Constant standing and walking.
Also asks
occasional lifting and moving of patients Occasional lifting/moving patients.
Also asks
occasional lifting/carrying of 25-50 lb objects Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs.
Also asks
occasional driving Occasional driving.
Your six-month RN application plan

Start about six months before graduation. Some programs open earlier; use each employer’s application dates. See program calendars.

  1. 6 months before

    Shortlist units

    Check application windows. Gather clinical experience, references and your expected graduation date.

    Find residencies
  2. 4–6 months before

    Apply as windows open

    Apply before graduation when the program allows it. Keep the cohort date and license deadline with each application.

    Explore new grad jobs
  3. 2–3 months before

    Meet the unit manager

    Ask about overtime, a shadow shift, preceptor continuity and the schedule after orientation.

    Prepare your questions
  4. Around graduation

    Confirm your start

    Coordinate NCLEX, the required license and your start date. Get relocation and repayment terms in writing.

    Plan your license

Pay isn’t listed.

The role and schedule

Unit
BHS - Adol WZ 1201020002 BHS - Adol WZ
Day to day
Completes patient care tasks under direction of RN Completes patient care tasks based on skills deemed competent in nursing school under direction of RN.
Day to day
Takes vital signs and monitors patient condition for progress or deterioration
Day to day
Assists with activities of daily living, baths, feeding, skin care, hygiene and bed making
Day to day
Assists with and performs procedures such as dressing changes, enemas, ostomy care, catheter care and I&O measurement
Day to day
Provides emotional and psychological support
Day to day
Charts and communicates information to team members Contributes to safety and quality care by relaying information via charting and communicating to team members.
Day to day
Informs licensed nurse of changes in patient condition and needs Informs licensed nurse of any changes in patient condition/needs, of patient complaints, and of patient/significant other educational needs.
Day to day
Prepares patients for discharge and accompanies them upon dismissal Prepares patients for discharge and accompanies them upon dismissal as indicated.
Day to day
Stocks and maintains supplies and equipment Stocks and maintains supplies and equipment in keeping with patient care needs and cost containment.
Day to day
Orients new patients and significant others to the nursing unit Orients new patients and significant others to the nursing unit.
Hours stated
Minimum commitment of 36 hours every six weeks with flexible scheduling to accommodate academic requirements.

Support on this unit

The posting does not state the assignment size, and nothing published names it for this unit.

Your preceptor
A preceptor is assigned to you while working alongside experienced nurses and a dedicated preceptor in a supportive care environment

The workplace

SSM Health logo
SSM Health
Hiring organization

Your fit

Questions to ask

  • Can you walk me through base pay range and differentials?
  • What should I expect for weekly hours, weekend, holiday, call, and rotation?
  • What orientation and ongoing unit support are included?
  • How are patient load, floating, and staffing support handled day to day?
Build questions for this role

On your path

Psychiatric is open from year one. Behavioral health spans inpatient, emergency, and community settings.

Original listing

Posted on SSM Health’s careers page.

Read full text

It's more than a career, it's a calling MO-SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital - Wentzville Worker Type: PRN Job Highlights: Join a team where your work matters, every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you'll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact. As a Student Nurse Extern, you will gain hands-on clinical experience while working alongside experienced nurses and a dedicated preceptor in a supportive care environment.

This role allows you to apply classroom knowledge in real-world patient care settings, explore a variety of nursing specialties, and build confidence in your clinical skills as you prepare for your nursing career. If you are passionate about patient care and eager to grow as a future nurse, this opportunity is for you. Department: Behavioral Health

Schedule

Minimum commitment of 36 hours every six weeks with flexible scheduling to accommodate academic requirements. Apply today. SSM Health - We bring out the incredible in you, every day. Job

Summary

Under supervision and in collaboration with other health care professionals, assists in performing a variety of nursing care services for patients. This is a transitional role for nursing students enrolled in an accredited school of nursing who have an interest in pursuing an RN position with SSM upon completion of their RN program. Job Responsibilities and

Requirements

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES Completes patient care tasks based on skills deemed competent in nursing school under direction of RN. Contributes to overall quality and safe care for patients by answering patients’ calls for help, taking their vital signs, and monitoring their behavior and physical condition for progress or deterioration as measured by patient satisfaction, quality audits, direct observation. Creates a positive patient experience by assisting patients with their activities of daily living including assisting with baths, ambulating, feeding, skin care, personal and oral hygiene and making occupied and unoccupied beds as measured by patient satisfaction quality audits and direct observation.

Contributes to quality care and safety by assisting and performing procedures such as performing dressing changes, enemas, ostomy care, toileting, turning, cough and deep breathing, catheter care, collection of biological specimens, measuring and recording intake and output of fluids. Contributes to exceptional patient satisfaction by establishing a compassionate environment, timely responses to patients' needs, open communication and providing emotional and psychological support. Contributes to safety and quality care by relaying information via charting and communicating to team members.

Contributes to achievement of exceptional health care by functioning as a member of the team as measured by active participation in department initiatives, unit meetings, committees and special projects. Informs licensed nurse of any changes in patient condition/needs, of patient complaints, and of patient/significant other educational needs. Prepares patients for discharge and accompanies them upon dismissal as indicated.

Stocks and maintains supplies and equipment in keeping with patient care needs and cost containment. Utilizes time and supplies economically and conscientiously. Orients new patients and significant others to the nursing unit.

Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION Current enrollment in an accredited school of nursing and completion of first clinical rotation, or no more than 90-days post conferral date EXPERIENCE No experience required PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Constant standing and walking.

Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication. Frequent use of hearing to distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. Frequent reaching, gripping, and keyboard use/data entry.

Frequent use of vision for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors. Occasional bending, stooping, crawling, kneeling, sitting, squatting and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. Occasional use of vision to judge distances and spatial relationships.

Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. Occasional lifting/moving patients. Occasional use of smell to detect/recognize odors.

Occasional driving. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS State of Work Location: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) Work Shift: Variable Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 1201020002 BHS - Adol WZ Scheduled Weekly Hours: 0 SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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What's around it?

In Wentzville, MO

Wentzville, MO

Living costs about 9% below the US average

See Wentzville, MO

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