Student Nurse Extern I - Acute Care Trauma and General Surgery

Join UNC Health as a Student Nurse Extern I in our Acute Care Trauma and General Surgery department. This temporary full-time position is designed for prelicensure nursing students to gain immersive clinical experience while working toward your RN license. You will function as a member of the patient care team, working under the direct supervision of an assigned RN partner who will facilitate and support your learning experiences. This externship runs from May 24 through July 31, 2027.

Clinical Setting

You will work in the acute care trauma and general surgery setting at UNC Medical Center's 5 Bedtower in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The role involves providing direct and indirect patient care in a hospital environment, working with complex and non-complex patient situations.

Responsibilities

• Observe, collect, and document patient information while providing care and promptly report significant changes in the patient's condition to a registered nurse or provider
• Participate in collaborative identification and reporting of patient safety issues
• Provide assistance to patients and families during admission, orientation, and discharge
• Provide routine patient care including measurement of vital signs, height and weight, specimen collection, skin preps, 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 assisting with ambulation
• Provide indirect care including cleaning work areas, changing linens, restocking supplies, cleaning and sterilizing instruments, transporting patients and supplies, and assisting with orientation of new employees and students
• Reinforce routine teaching given by the registered nurse or provider and document patient understanding
• Assist providers with routine examinations and procedures and procurement of equipment and supplies during emergency situations

Required Qualifications

• 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
• 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 and pulling patients on beds and stretchers (requires 29 lbs. push force) and lateral transfers up to 50 lbs. of patient weight
• Frequent to continuous standing and walking
• Ability to perform activities including kneeling, bending, squatting, and CPR as required by the role

Schedule and Compensation

• Temporary full-time position
• 36 hours per week
• Variable schedule
• Onsite work in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• $18.00 per hour
• Not exempt from overtime

Benefits

This is a state position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If you are currently an employee of another North Carolina agency and participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.