Who We Are
Valley Health System is a not-for-profit network of hospitals, urgent cares, physician practices, and services. Expanding across Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland, we are devoted to the health of all who call our 18-county area home.
A vital resource for healthcare, we are the region’s largest employer, a dependable community partner, and are at the leading edge of clinical innovations.
We are looking for passionate, innovative, and caring people who will each bring their unique skills and perspectives to our workplace.
What You Will Do:
The Nurse Extern is a current nursing student with the completion of the fundamental clinical. The Nurse Extern is selected for a 10-week summer or 5-week winter program to strengthen and reinforce existing knowledge and skills through a variety of patient care experiences.
The Nurse Extern:
Provides direct patient care under the supervision of a Nurse.Assists and/or performs procedures that have been learned and demonstrated as part of the nursing school curriculum.Assists in developing the patient’s plan of care and deliver patient care and patient/family education in collaboration with the nurse.Assists in the plans and evaluations that are consistent with the overall admission through post-discharge.Assists with the Continuum of Care
Sample skills to perform include, but are not limited to: Direct Patient Care, Wound Care, Catheter Insertions, Accuchecks, Intakes and Outputs, and Vital Signs.
Reports to Nurse the patient’s needs and changes in condition.
Reports on designated patients as assigned at shift report.
• Implements basic interventions and standards of care.• Seeks opportunity to broaden skill base progressing from beginning to complicated skills.• Performs activities related to patient hygiene, nutrition, mobility and elimination, after receiving assignments.• Maintains a safe patient care environment by identifying risks, which impact on patient safety and takes appropriate action.• Displays organizational skills and is able to prioritize patient assignments.• Assists other team members without being asked when own work is complete.• Communicates effectively with other staff and patients, conveying needs sensitive to age and developmental level of the individual patient/family.• Assists the Nurse Preceptor with education of patients and families related to promoting independence, personal care and daily living.• Accurately completes all components of nursing documentation in a timely manner and documents care following hospital policy.• Develops rudimentary delegation skills.• Delivers care in a non-judgmental and non-discriminatory manner while preserving patient dignity and rights and is sensitive to patient diversity.
A Nurse Extern will not:• Administer any medications• Provide any treatment without the direct supervision of a trained preceptor• Perform an initial patient assessment, except under the direct supervision of a trained preceptor• Take verbal orders from a Doctor or a member of his staff• Take phone orders from a Doctor or a member of his staff• Obtain or witness consents• Operate outside the scope of practice, policies or procedures of Winchester Medical Center• Supervise other employees
EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIORS
The Nurse Extern acquires and maintains current knowledge and competency in nursing practice.Develops understanding of daily operations of clinical setting (team nursing, patient flow, resource nurse role and coordinating with ancillary departments).Develops understanding of unit culture and the extern role within the unit team.Maintains boundaries between student skills and abilities and the extern job description Attends extern educational programs as assigned.• Consistently solicits assistance and feedback regarding patient care and practice setting issues and integrates feedback into practice.• Questions and begins to relate care to evidenced based practice.• Accepts personal accountability for and demonstrates growth in learning basic knowledge and skills related to practice setting.LEADERSHIP AND OR SHARED GOVERNANCE
The Nurse Extern works to achieve desired outcomes through coordination with peers through effective use of time, personnel, equipment, supplies and work systems.• Identifies how own behavior affects work and patient relationships.• Recognizes the need for and provides assistance to others when needed and or requested• Plans and uses time management skills in the delivery and documentation of patient care.• Participates in unit-based committees, staff meetings, and shared governance council.
What You Will Bring:
Education
Must have successfully completed the first year of an accredited ADN nursing program and be in good standing
Qualifications
• Current cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher is strongly preferred; must provide current unofficial transcript prior to commencing employment
• Must provide 2 letters of recommendation on official letterhead or by direct e-mail to designated Valley Health RN Recruiter from clinical faculty prior to commencing employment
• Must be knowledgeable in the basic stages of human growth & development and competent to provide care appropriate to the age group of patients served
• Competent to provide care to patients utilizing the nursing process
• Must have a reliable means of phone communication with hospital
What You Will Get:

At Valley Health, we believe everyone is a caregiver, and our goal is to create an environment where our caregivers thrive physically, financially, and emotionally. In addition to a competitive salary, our most popular benefits for full-time employees include:
• A Zero-Deductible Health Plan
• Dental and vision insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Tuition Assistance
• Retirement Savings Match
• A Robust Employee Assistance Program to help with many aspects of emotional wellbeing
• Membership to Healthy U: An Incentive-Based Wellness Program
Valley Health also offers a health savings account & flexible spending account for childcare, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and professional development. In addition, several perks come with working for the largest employer in the region, such as discounts to on-campus dining, and more.
To see the full scale of what we offer, visit valleyhealthbenefits.com.
Exclusions apply
We celebrate, support, and thrive on our differences for the benefit of our employees, our patients, and the communities we serve.
We are neighbors caring for neighbors, and our goal is always to help those we serve get well, feel well, and stay well.
EOE
Criminal Background Checks
WV State Background and Fingerprinting (WV Cares)
3rd party Background Check
FLSA Classification
Non-exempt
Grade
108
Physical Demands
20 A Nursing, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), Patient Care Tech.