A nurse externship is a recent graduate awaiting boards. They are meant to give the nursing student more clinical experience and confidence prior to boards. Nurse externs work under the supervision of an experienced registered nurse serving as coach. Nurse externs may also have the opportunity to take nursing workshops and attend conferences during the extern period. Nurse externships also help new nurses gain exposure to nursing specialties, such as pediatrics or geriatric nursing.

Nurse externs assist the mentor nurse in regular nursing duties.

They usually may not administer medications or begin IVs by themselves, but can assist in these and a number of other procedures.

Nurse externs may also provide or assist with personal patient care such as bathing, oral hygiene, dressing, and changing bed linens.

Different nurse externships have differing requirements, but in general, the nurse extern must currently be enrolled in a nursing program and have completed at least one year or nursing school.

They may be required to have completed at least clinical nursing course prior to the externship.

Nurse externs learn to perform duties common to the departments they are training in, such as triage, resuscitation, general patient care, charting and patient assessment.

Nurse externs can generally not perform any duties independently, but must work under the direct supervision and approval of the registered nurse serving as mentor and coach.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Works only under the direct supervision of an RN.

Attends in staff meetings, in-service, projects.

Adheres to and supports policies and procedures of the STRHS.

Maintains a neat and professional appearance in compliance to the existing dress code.

Job Requirements

Minimum Education

As required by the State of Tennessee to meet Licensing and/or Certification standards

Required Skills

Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment and the ability to work with minimal supervision.

Must be able to work in a stressful environment and take appropriate action.

Certifications

Basic Life Support (BLS) As required by the assigned work area.

License

Not required.