Nurse Extern Medical Surgical PCU

Banner Health is seeking Nurse Externs for the Medical Surgical PCU Cardiovascular unit at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson. This is an excellent opportunity for nursing students within 12 months of graduation to gain hands-on clinical experience under the direct supervision of an RN preceptor before obtaining your RN license.

This is a non-permanent position designed to bridge your nursing education and professional practice. Upon graduation and successful completion of the NCLEX, Banner's goal is to transition you into a New Graduate RN role on the same unit where you completed your extern experience.

Clinical Setting

Banner - University Medical Center Tucson is a Level 1 Trauma Center and nationally recognized academic medical center with Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The Medical Surgical PCU serves adult and geriatric patient populations with multiple comorbidities. You will work with diverse clinical services including Cardiology, Infectious Disease, Pulmonology, Vascular Surgery, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, and Hospitalists.

Responsibilities

Under direct supervision of a licensed RN preceptor, you will:

• Assess patients and perform nursing care activities for which you have received didactic and clinical instruction
• Administer medications and adjust IV pump rates or devices
• Manage parenteral fluids, blood products, and IV flushes
• Initiate, titrate, and discontinue oxygen therapy
• Perform basic data collection in the electronic medical record
• Participate in patient care planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Work with wound care nurses, wound vacs, heparin drips, blood transfusions, NG tubes, Dobhoff tubes, and PEG tubes
• Observe clinical procedures and participate in activities relevant to your patient population
• Spend time with the clinical case manager to expand your clinical knowledge
• Use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to identify and report patient status
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams in planning and implementing patient care
• Follow all safety standards, compliance requirements, and facility policies

All skills must be performed under direct supervision of a licensed RN. You may only perform skills for which you have received didactic and clinical instruction and can provide evidence of a skill checklist from your accredited nursing program.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited nursing program
• Within 12 months of graduation at time of hire
• Able to graduate on your initial anticipated graduation date
• Current BLS certification
• Ability to pass the NCLEX within 90 days of graduation (or within an additional 60 days if a second attempt is needed)

Schedule

• Day shift
• Minimum 12 hours per month
• Cannot exceed 20 hours per week

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional related education and/or experience

Employment Terms

This is a non-permanent position. Employment will be impacted based on criteria outlined in the Nurse Extern Program policy. You must always work under the direct supervision of a designated licensed RN and may not perform any skill independently.