Student Nurse Extern - Acute Neurosurgery and ENT Care

Student Nurse Extern I - Acute Neurosurgery and ENT Care

The Acute Neurosurgery and ENT Care Unit is an 18‑bed unit comprising post‑operative surgical patients. Neurosurgical patients present with post‑operative brain and spinal surgeries, cancer, neuro‑ and spinal‑trauma, and stroke. ENT patients present primarily with head and neck malignancies, including cancer and infection, requiring a variety of surgical interventions involving the head, mouth, tongue, jaw, thyroid, and oropharynx.

The Student Nurse Externship experience provides prelicensure nursing students with an immersive experience to enhance foundational nursing education and socialization within a clinical setting. The Student Nurse Extern I (SNE I) is intended for nursing students enrolled in an accredited School of Nursing and functions as a member of the patient care team, working under the direct supervision of an RN partner.

• Observe, collect, and document patient information while providing care; promptly report significant changes to a registered nurse or provider.
• Participate in collaborative identification and reporting of patient safety issues.
• Assist patients and families during admission, orientation, and discharge.
• Administer care and treatments outlined in the plan of care, including vital signs measurement, specimen collection, skin prep, catheter care, capillary blood glucose checks, simple wound care, range of motion exercises, and postural drainage.
• Provide direct personal care for routine activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, feeding, and ambulation.
• Assist with indirect care tasks such as cleaning work areas, changing linens, restocking supplies, and transporting patients, specimens, and supplies.
• Reinforce routine teaching given by the registered nurse, documented in the patient record.
• Assist providers with routine examinations and procedures, including procurement of equipment during emergencies.
• In the psychiatric setting, support patients with reality orientation, participate in behavior modification plans, provide informal support therapy, perform verbal de‑escalation, manage physical restraints, facilitate age‑appropriate play, and monitor the therapeutic milieu to ensure emotional and safety needs are met.

• High School Diploma or GED
• Current enrollment in an accredited prelicensure nursing program with anticipated graduation within 12 months from the start of the externship

• Listed as Nursing Assistant I with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

• None required

• Fluent in verbal and written English
• Ability to organize and prioritize assignments in the delivery of patient care; attainment and maintenance of unit‑specific competencies
• Basic computer skills
• Ability to lift and carry 40‑50 lbs, including pushing/pulling patients on a bed or stretcher (29 lbs push force) and performing lateral transfers up to 50 lbs of the patient’s weight
• Frequent continuous standing and walking
• Capability to kneel, bend, squat, and perform CPR as required for the role

• Legal
  
  Employer:
  
  STATE
• Entity: UNC Medical Center
• Organization Unit:
  Acute Neurosurgery and ENT
• Work Type:
  Temporary Full Time
• Standard Hours Per Week: 36.00
• Salary Range: $17.60 per hour
• Work Assignment Type:
  Onsite
• Work Schedule:
  
  Rotating
• Location:
  
  US:
  
  NC:
  
  Chapel Hill
• Exempt From Overtime:
  No
• This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation. UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities.

Please email applicant.accommodations.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.