Overview:

Saint Joseph Hospital is a 433-bed facility located in Lexington Kentucky. Founded in 1877 a small group of Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Kentucky led by Sister Euphrasia Stafford began their health ministry. Their mission was to provide compassionate care to the poor and underserved - a tradition still carried out today. Saint Joseph Hospital primarily serves central and eastern Kentucky with a full range of services including distinguished awards for cardiology orthopedics and stroke care. CHI Saint Joseph Health supports 5000 active employees 8 hospitals specialty clinics and a Medical Group with more than 200 locations across Central and Eastern KY. CommonSpirit Health was formed by the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health in 2019. With our combined resources CommonSpirit is committed to building healthy communities advocating for those who are poor and vulnerable and innovating how and where healing can happen both inside our hospitals and out in the community.

Responsibilities

Job Summary / Purpose

The nurse extern will gain experience in a realistic professional nursing work environment by assisting in the delivery of both direct and indirect nursing care under the direction and supervision of a registered nurse within the scope of practice of unlicensed, assistive personnel.

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

Skills and procedures

• Performs clinical procedures in a competent manner, following appropriate policies and procedures, under the direction of a Registered Nurse.

• Obtains vital signs, intake and output, accuchecks and documents per unit protocol.

• Obtains blood and blood products from the blood bank. May assist in identifying blood before administration.

• Assists with trach care, suctioning, G-tube and feeding tube insertions and maintenance, and simple/complex dressing changes.

• Assists physician before, during, and after procedures within facility and unit guidelines.

• Demonstrates knowledge related to age appropriate behavior of children, adolescents, adults, and seniors to assess the growth and development of the patient.

• Provides routine and procedural hygiene needs.

• Assists in meeting patient's activity needs.

• Obtains specimens as directed.

• Assists/Performs post-mortem care. Provides emotional support patients and assists with monitoring recovery from any procedures.

Communication

• Communicates effectively with all members of the health care team.

• Maintains complete patient confidentiality.

• Reports changes in patient's condition or other pertinent data to RN immediately.

• Assists with patient and family education, as appropriate.

Quality and Safety

• Attends shift huddles and in-services, as appropriate.

• Demonstrates safe and proper use of equipment.

• Uses personal protective equipment and complies with all universal precautions and blood-borne pathogens regulations.

• Cleans and checks for malfunctioning of stretchers, wheelchairs, bedside commodes, and I.V. poles according to unit protocol.

• Identifies and immediately reports any actual or potential hazard observed in the hospital environment.

• Demonstrates knowledge of all safety and emergency codes

Professional Development

• Dresses professionally and wears name badge at all times.

• Performs AIDET before any patient and family interactions.

• Actively participates in all Nurse Extern activities

Qualifications

Required Education

Currently enrolled (3.0 GPA or higher) and has completed at least one year in an accredited School of Nursing and has completed at least one medical surgical clinical rotation.

Required Licensure and Certifications

Current BLS certification

Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated career path which demonstrates progressive leadership responsibilities and project management

Able to work collaboratively to achieve desired department, facility and regional results

Skilled and articulate in both verbal and written communication

Demonstrated abilities in clinical reasoning and problem solving

Proficient in Microsoft office and Outlook