Summer Nurse Extern | Ortho Trauma

Overview

Under the direct supervision of the Registered Nurse (RN), the Nurse Extern is responsible for demonstrating competency in foundational and progressively developing patient care skills, performing only those delegated tasks that align with their education, validated competencies, and organizational policy. The extern supports the RN in delivering safe, high-quality, age-appropriate care and contributes to patient throughput by assisting with transport, admissions, discharges, and other workflow activities as assigned.

• Must be a rising or current senior nursing student.
• Open to any nursing student, but priority is given to students who live in Central Georgia but attend a nursing program outside of Central Georgia.
• Must have a 3.0 GPA.
• Must have 1 letter of recommendation from a clinical instructor.

The 10-week summer Nurse Extern program is primarily for nursing students who live in Central Georgia, go to school outside of Central Georgia, and are interested in working at Atrium Health upon graduation. The program provides opportunity to gain experience at Navicent Health while home for the summer and during school breaks.

For the summer program, Nurse Externs will be hired to one of 6 specialties:
Cardiac, Neuro, Medical, Ortho/Trauma, Pediatrics, or Women’s Services. They will primarily work in units within their service line but will rotate through all areas and specialties in the hospital over the 10 weeks. The program includes bi-weekly Professional Development Workshops and runs May 18 through July 24, with availability to work the entirety of the program. Externs may have the option to stay on as year-round extern.

• Supports patients with activities of daily living (ADLs) — assists with bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, and other personal care needs while maintaining dignity, comfort, and safety.
• Assists patients with mobility and hygiene needs — repositions, transfers, ambulates, and utilizes assistive devices under RN direction.
• Obtains and documents routine clinical measurements — records vital signs, height, weight, and intake/output; reports abnormalities to the RN.
• Supports patient nutrition and hydration — assists with feeding and meal setup per prescribed diet orders and RN guidance.
• Maintains a clean and safe patient environment — ensures rooms and common areas meet infection prevention standards and are free from hazards.
• Observes and communicates changes in patient condition — reports variations to the RN to support clinical decision-making.
• Reinforces patient and family education and orientation — explains unit routines and assists with preparing patients for tests or procedures as directed by the RN.
• Performs clerical and administrative support functions — answers phones, enters information into the EMR, retrieves supplies, and supports communication flow on the unit.
• Manages patient-care supplies and equipment — stocks inventory, ensures materials are available, and maintains cleanliness and proper functioning of equipment.
• Performs competency-validated technical skills under RN supervision and policy (e.g., 12-lead ECG, routine venipuncture, specimen collection) as documented in competency validation.

• Licensure/Registration/Certification
  
  Required:
  
  Enrollment and good standing in an accredited nursing program (no additional certifications required beyond this).
• Education Required:
  
  High school diploma or GED. Actively enrolled in a Recognized Accredited Nursing Program with good academic standing; minimum 2.5 GPA on a weighted 4.0 scale. Foundational coursework required for supervised clinical practice, with examples including Foundations of Professional Nursing, Physical Assessment and Health, Fundamental Principles and Skills, and Pathophysiology/Pharmacology, or equivalents as defined by the program. Documentation of completion or anticipated completion prior to onboarding is required.

• Experience:
  
  Ability to complete all required orientation, training, and competency validation programs upon hire, including RN-supported instruction for designated skills and…