Nurse Externship Neuro Trauma PCU

Primary city/state

Glendale, Arizona

Department name

PCU-Medical ST4EW-Hosp

Work shift

Day

Job category

Nursing

Are you a nursing student graduating in 12 months or less (Junior or Senior students)? Are you ready to gain hands-on experience in a clinical setting before you graduate? Look no further than Banner Health's new Nurse Extern program!

Under the supervision of an RN preceptor, our nurse externs will have the chance to practice various skills, including: assessing patients, administering medications, adjusting IV pump rates or devices, parenteral fluids, blood products or IV flushes, initiating, titrating and discontinuing oxygen, and performing basic data collection in an EMR. In addition, our nurse externs will have the chance to practice any skill for which they have received didactic and clinical instruction for an can provide evidence of a skill checklist from an accredited nursing program. Throughout the program, our nursing externs are also able to spend time with the clinical case manager, observe procedures, or participate in other activities relevant to the patient population with which they are involved.

Banners goal when placing an RN Nurse Extern is after you Graduate and obtain your RN license that you continue as a New Grad in the same unit that you selected for your extern position. This is an amazing opportunity to grow and to obtain an amazing skill set even before receiving your RN license.

Unit Description

This is a Neuro/Stroke and Trauma PCU and while 4 South specializes in Neuro and Trauma, you will see many other patient types, including multisystem complex patients. The Neuro population may include severe brain injuries (due to TBI, brain bleeds, or falls), stroke, seizures, brain tumors, and pre/post op neurosurgery. This patient population is highly acute, many times with limited mobility, and requires a collaborative approach.

Many of our staff stay on 4 South due to the excellent teamwork and unit culture. Skills needed for this unit include self-driven nurses who can respond quickly to changes in the patient’s condition, critical thinking, effective communication, teamwork, positive mindset, willing to overcome barriers and challenges by implementing evidence-based practice and flexibility. Additional Stroke specialty training is required for this specific patient population.

Ratio Flexes between 1:4-5, however most of the times ratios are 1:4. Requirements Must be enrolled in an accredited nursing program and within 1 year of graduation. Must be able to graduate from an accredited nursing program on initial anticipated graduation date. Current BLS certification Must be able to pass Nursing State Boards within 90 days after graduation or in the event a second attempt is needed, must schedule and pass within an additional 60days from the first attempt Will work a minimum of 12 hours a month; cannot exceed 20 hours per week.

Selected Nurse externs will go through orientation in Fall 2025 Banner Health’s premier West Valley Level I Trauma for adults and Tertiary Care destination for all ages. Banner Thunderbird Medical Center (BTMC) and Banner Children’s Hospital at Thunderbird provide a preferred destination for surgical, oncological, cardiovascular, neuroscience, orthopedic, pediatric, and women and infant services achieved through best-in-class 5-star CMS rating to provide patients with high quality, safe care for the best possible experience. Our campus is one of the largest campuses in the Banner network with over 3000 employees.

BTMC was voted Best of the Best in 2023 by Banner Health out of 30 hospitals. This is the most prestigious award one of our largest hospitals can receive for consistently meeting our annual targets. If you would like to contribute to truly leading edge caring, we invite you to bring your experience and skills to Banner Thunderbird.

Position summary

This position, under the direct supervision of a licensed professional registered nurse, will allow the nursing student within one year from graduation with a Bachelor’s or Associate Degree in Nursing prior to passing State Boards, the ability to expand their clinical experience while working through standard Nurse Extern competency assessment on a wide variety of patient care activities, which include classroom training, participation in patient care planning, implementation, observation and evaluation, as well as identification/reporting significant observations. The unlicensed Nurse Extern role is not a permanent position. Employment will be impacted based on criteria outlined in the Nurse Program policy.

Core functions

• The unlicensed Nurse Extern must always be under the direct supervision of a designated licensed professional registered nurse.
• Provides direct nursing care including attending to client’s comfort needs and other nursing skills/procedures for which they have received didactic & clinical instruction in their program, as well as their competency established and witnessed under the direct supervision of a licensed professional registered nurse.
• Assists in the assessment, planning, diagnosis, implementation, evaluation and nursing care under direct supervision of a licensed professional registered nurse.
• Must be able to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills and analyze complex data in order to identify and report patient status to a licensed professional registered nurse
• Collaborates with other disciplines in the planning, implementation, evaluation and modification of nursing care under the direct supervisor of a licensed professional registered nurse.
• Follows safety standards, adheres to compliance education/training, and performs all functions according to established policies/procedures, regulatory and accreditation requirements as well as applicable professional standards in all aspects of performance, while demonstrating Banner’s core behaviors in order to deliver an excellent service experience.
• May not perform any skill independently or without direct supervision of the licensed professional registered nurse. Interacts with all levels of staff in a variety of departments: physicians, patients, families and external contacts, such as employees of other health care institutions, community providers and agencies, concerning the health care of the patient. Performs specific duties related to the assigned nursing unit under direct supervision of the licensed professional registered nurse & within the approved polices of the facility in which they are employed. Interacts with other health care providers in numerous settings in order to report and ask for or clarify information. The unlicensed Nurse Extern can continue to perform routine, repetitive nursing activities within the essential functions of the Nurse Extern role that require no nursing judgement while pending transfer into the RN New Graduate role. The unlicensed Nurse Extern must always be under the direct supervision of a designated licensed professional registered nurse.

Minimum qualifications

Must be enrolled in an accredited nursing program and within 1 year of graduation upon hire. Must be able to graduate from an accredited nursing program on initial anticipated graduation date at day of hire. Certification for BLS is required. Must be able to pass Nursing State Boards within 90 days after graduation or in the event a second attempt is needed, must schedule and pass within an additional 60 days from first attempt

Preferred qualifications

Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

EEO Statement

EEO/Disabled/Veterans Our organization supports a drug-free work environment.

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