Description

Full-time, 10-Week, summer employment internship

Purpose:
The FHN Gateway from Student to Professional Nurse Program is designed to provide final year nursing students with a 10-Week, paid internship with an experienced mentor to develop and expand clinical knowledge, critical thinking abilities, and task performance through exposure to various patient-care experiences.  In addition to on-the-floor experience, our Professional Development Team will conduct Education Days to enhance the nurse intern's learning opportunities. 

Position Summary:
Under the direct supervision of a registered professional nurse, the nurse intern assists in the delivery of nursing excellence for those we serve in compliance with FHN's nursing mission, vision and philosophy. 

Education/Experience:
Nurse Interns must be entering the final year of an associate or baccalaureate program in nursing; completed at least one acute care clinical rotation; anticipate graduation within one year after completion of the intern program; and have a 3.0 or above GPA on a 4.0 scale.

Clinical Internship Opportunities May Include the Following Areas:  

• Medical/Surgical Units:  You will experience patients with a wide array of diagnoses that will expand your knowledge base.  You will care for orthopedic, gastroenterology, endocrine, surgical and other types of medical patients.   
• Telemetry and Intensive Care Units:  Your experience will be to provide care to both medical and surgical patients.  You will gain experience with the latest technology and treatment such as an electronic ICU and tele-neurology.
• Surgical Services:  You will learn the fundamentals of care for the patient undergoing surgical intervention.  Your experience may include experience in the ambulatory care unit, operating room, recovery room, and pre-operative holding area.
• Emergency Department:  You will experience medical and surgical patients within this department.  This quick-paced unit achieves national standards related to stroke and heart attack patients.
• Obstetrics:  You will experience patients in labor and delivery, postpartum, and newborn care areas within the OB Department.
• Office Practices:  You will experience patients completing outpatient visits and gain understanding of the office practice setting work flow.

Selection of Interns:

• Qualified applicants may be contacted to submit supporting documentation to their application. 
• Applicants may be contacted for a personal interview. 

Job Summary

The Nurse Intern is a member of the FHN healthcare team and is under the direct supervision of a registered professional nurse assisting in the delivery of holistic, compassionate, individualized, effective and quality patient care and customer satisfaction by supporting the patient in activities of daily living, as well as, other physical, emotional and spiritual needs consistent with the Mission of FHN, Vision of Patient Care Services, evidence-based standards of care and established policies and procedures.

Job Responsibilities

POSITION EXPECTATIONS:

Function in an assistive role under the supervision of the Registered Nurse retaining accountability for one's own actions and behaviors.

Carry out the FHN Mission and promulgate the Vision of Patient Care Services.

Continuously seek out opportunities to improve the quality of patient care delivery through innovative and creative problem solving.

Support and participate in shared leadership and interdisciplinary care.

Demonstrate ethical conduct and practice consistent with the Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements (2001).

Contribute to the positive image of the nursing profession and enhance the culture of the organization by modeling professional behavior both in the organization and in the community.

Personally adhere to the FHN PRIDE Standards & Expectations and Service Excellence Standards.

Serve as a mentor to other students and nursing assistants.

Embrace change and lifelong learning, taking personal accountability to seek out experiences that enhance the ability to maintain skills and competence in clinical practice and role performance.

Seek feedback concerning one's own practice.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

FHN supports a shared leadership philosophy and encourages nursing staff to demonstrate accountability for their own practice. The Nurse Intern reports to a Supervisor and/or Clinical Director, who in turn reports to the Vice President of Patient Care Services/ Chief Nursing Officer.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Observe collaborative nursing practice with an experienced nurse mentor and assume shared responsibility for a patient assignment.

Have general knowledge of nursing theory, techniques and interventions.

Exhibit high standards of ethical conduct, honesty and integrity at all times.

Record and report information such as vital signs, intake and output, weigh and any behavioral changes to appropriate supervisory personnel.

Responsible for maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient & staff; Eliciting Pain Scale rating; Obtaining vital signs( temperature, pulse, respirations and blood pressure, no invasive monitoring measures); Proper handling and use of patient care equipment, including patient safety devices; Basic patient hygiene; Safe patient mobilization and transfer; Supporting mealtime activities; Recording intake & output; Accurately record height and weight; Proper handling of lab specimens; Obtaining patient's blood sugar, performing blood glucose monitoring; Following infection control principles & specific precautions; Applying cardiac monitor and recording 12-lead EKG; Performing "downtime" procedures: restock rooms, answer call lights, checking on patients, meeting basic needs; Communicating patient care information and needs with nurse mentor; Documenting care and observations in the medical record; Meet regulatory education requirements; Respect the age-specific needs of the patient population served; Appropriately call and respond to emergencies; Hold BLS certification; Meet nurse intern competency requirements and unit -specific competencies upon hire and annually, as appropriate to the practice area.

Qualifications

Requirements

 Education: Nurse Interns must be entering the senior year of a four-year baccalaureate program in nursing or last year of an associate degree program in nursing; completed at least one acute care clinical rotation; anticipate graduation within one year after completion of the intern program; meet FHN job related health requirements; have an above-average academic record; and pass a criminal background check. A minimum of a high school education or GED equivalent is required.

Licensure/Certification/Registration:  BLS Certification

Populations Served:

While performing this job, the employee does not care for patients in the following age groups.

• Neonate: <30 days
• Infant: <1 year
• Early Childhood: 1 year and <5 years
• Late Childhood: 5 years and <13 years
• Adolescent: 13 to <17 years
• Young Adult: 17 to < 30 years
• Middle Adult: 30 to < 60 years
• Older Adult: > 60 years
• Serves patient in areas other than patient care.
• No responsibility to treat or care for patients