Clinical Extern, Nursing

St. Michael's Hospital; Toronto; On-site; CAD 27,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Unity Health Toronto is seeking Clinical Nurse Externs to gain hands-on experience under the supervision of registered nursing professionals. These temporary casual positions provide exposure to a range of programs including Pediatrics, Transitional Care, Emergency, and more within a leading academic health network that includes St.

Michael’s Hospital. Selected candidates will join a supportive team, starting November 30, 2026, with a contract end date of May 28, 2027 and potential extension.

Qualifications

• Nursing externs in final year of a BScN/BN or PN program.
• Internationally Educated Nurses who have initiated registration with the CNO and meet one of the listed criteria.
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certificate.
• Excellent clinical, interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assists with direct patient care under supervision of registered nurses.
• Follows organizational policies and professional standards for unregulated providers.
• Performs patient assessments and activities of daily living.
• Documents observations and care provided in the patient chart.
• Requests assistance with duties when needed.
• Contributes to care planning and evaluation.
• Assists with turning, transferring and mobility of patients.
• Maintains patient safety and environment cleanliness.

Job description

Site: CA:ON:Toronto:Unity Health Toronto

Category: Other Patient Care

Work type: Casual Temporary

Date posted: October 27, 2026

Salary range: 23.54-23.54

Shift/ hours of work:

Description

Unity Health Toronto is a leading academic health network uniting St. Michael’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre and Providence Healthcare, driven by a single purpose, to advance the health of everyone in our urban communities and beyond. Across the full continuum of care, from primary and community services to complex tertiary and quaternary care, as well as post-acute rehabilitation, palliative and long‑term care, we are committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care to those we serve. Rooted in excellence, innovation and equity, we also champion world‑class research and education, shaping the future of healthcare while making a meaningful difference in people’s lives today.

Ready to start your nursing career and make a meaningful difference from day one? Join us as a Clinical Nurse Extern and gain hands‑on experience through the Ministry of Health’s Clinical Extern Program. As a proud participating organization, we are excited to support and mentor the next generation of nurses by providing meaningful clinical exposure, supportive team environments, and the opportunity to build confidence and competence at the bedside. If you are ready to grow your skills while making a difference in patient care, we’d love to welcome you to our team.

We are committed to attracting qualified candidates for all positions across our Health Network. Currently, we are accepting resumes for Clinical Nurse Extern opportunities in the following programs:

Pediatrics

Transitional Care

Reactivation Care Centre

Emergency

Stroke & Neurology Inpatient

Cardiovascular ICU

ICU

Oncology Hematology Medicine

Surgery

Oncology/Infectious Diseases

Resource Team – Providence

Surgical Short Stay Unit

Orthopaedics

Trauma & Neurosurgery ICU

Women’s Health Care Centre

Family Birthing Centre

Candidates must be available to work on atemporary casual basis, starting on November 30th, 2026, onwards, with a contract end date of May 28, 2027(potential for contract extension available). Shift requirements are dependent on departmental needs, and could include 8 or 12 hour shifts, with a requirement to work Days, Evenings, Nights, Weekends and Statutory Holidays.

Qualified candidates only will be contacted and invited to participate in our interview process. Suitable applicants will be considered for upcoming Clinical Nurse Extern positions.

Job Summary:

Reporting to theClinical Manager, the Clinical Nurse Extern is an unregulated health care provider working under the supervision of registered nursing professionals. They will work within a changing environment in interprofessional teams to advocate for and promote wellness while ensuring the delivery of safe, quality care. The Clinical Extern will develop their competencies through learning, education, experience and reflective practice.

As part of our ongoing commitment to professional growth and development, Clinical Externs may be considered for future opportunities upon graduation and licensure.

Responsibilities:

• Practices under the direct and/or indirect supervision of a registered health care professional to ensure that they have the knowledge, skills and judgment needed to perform all actions/duties supporting direct patient care;
• Follows organizational policies and professional standards while taking into account their respective governing body’s guidance for unregulated care providers;
• Participates in patient assessments and activities of daily living;
• Documents observations and care provided in the patient chart
• Requests assistance with assigned duties whenever necessary;
• Contributes to care planning and evaluation;
• Provides assistance with turning, transferring, transporting and ambulating patients
• Provides measures to ensure skin integrity and reduce pressure injuries;
• Assists with comfort measures and patient safety by ensuring the environment is clean and tidy and free of hazards;
• Engages in additional skills as approved;
• Requests assistance with assigned duties whenever in need;
• Contributes patient information during transfer of accountability (ToA) at shift report and when going on break;
• Contributes to and supports positive team functioning.

Qualifications:

• One of the following:
• Nursing Externs - Nursing students who are in their third or fourth year of a CNO-approved 4-year, direct-entry Baccalaureate Nursing (BScN or BN) program; in the final year of a CNO-approved second-entry (accelerated) Baccalaureate Nursing (BScN or BN) program (having completed year 1); or in the final year of a CNO-approved Practical Nursing (PN) program,
• Internationally Educated Nurse Externs –Internationally Educated Nurseswho have initiated registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), have received a CNO letter of direction and meet one of the following:
• Are in any year of study in a CNO approved program, such as a BScN-IEN program, PN-IEN program, or
• Are completing a micro‑credential plan with a curriculum to meet the CNO requirements for registration (e.g. Standards of Practice for nursing, Entry‑to‑Practice Competencies, Evidence of Safe Practice, Evidence of English Language Proficiency) or
• Have completed their educational requirements (e.g. BScN‑IEN/PN‑IEN program or micro‑credentialing
• Current certificate in Basic Cardiac Life Support required
• Successful completion of a recent clinical placement in an acute care area preferred
• Excellent clinical skills and competencies
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
• Completion of mandatory/required certifications provided by corporate orientation/unit orientation,including extern orientation (e.g., Fit Test, WHIMS, AODA, IPAC).
• Demonstrated implementation of infection prevention and control practices.
• Demonstrated excellent problem‑solving, decision making and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated excellent organizational and time‑management skills.

Successful Clinical Externs must attend the in‑person Clinical Extern Orientation Week which includes General Orientation (December 1st) and Interprofessional Practice Orientation (December 2nd) and the Clinical Extern Skills Day, which will take place on either December 9th or December 23rd.

Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier‑free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.