Nurse Extern - Behavioral Health

SSM Health; Wentzville (MO); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Wentzville is seeking a Student Nurse Extern to gain hands-on clinical experience under the supervision of registered nurses and a dedicated preceptor in Behavioral Health.

Working on a PRN basis with a minimum commitment of 36 hours every six weeks, you will apply classroom knowledge in real-world patient care settings, explore nursing specialties, and build confidence for your RN career.

Qualifications

• Current enrollment in an accredited school of nursing and completion of first clinical rotation, or no more than 90‑days post conferral date.
• No prior nursing experience required; ideal for students externing toward RN.
• BLS HCP certification required.

Responsibilities

• Completes patient care tasks under direction of RN with skills learned in nursing school.
• Assists with vital signs, responds to patient calls, monitors patient status.
• Assists with activities of daily living and prepares/bed patients as needed.
• Performs procedures such as dressing changes, ostomy care, catheter care, and specimen collection.
• Relays information via charting and communicates with the health care team.

Education

Current enrollment in an accredited school of nursing and completion of first clinical rotation, or no more than 90‑days post conferral date

Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)

Job description

It's more than a career, it's a calling

MO-SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Wentzville

Worker Type: PRN

Job Highlights

Join a team where your work matters, every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you'll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact.

As a Student Nurse Extern, you will gain hands‑on clinical experience while working alongside experienced nurses and a dedicated preceptor in a supportive care environment. This role allows you to apply classroom knowledge in real‑world patient care settings, explore a variety of nursing specialties, and build confidence in your clinical skills as you prepare for your nursing career. If you are passionate about patient care and eager to grow as a future nurse, this opportunity is for you.

Department

Behavioral Health

Schedule

Minimum commitment of 36 hours every six weeks with flexible scheduling to accommodate academic requirements.

Job Summary

Under supervision and in collaboration with other health care professionals, assists in performing a variety of nursing care services for patients. This is a transitional role for nursing students enrolled in an accredited school of nursing who have an interest in pursuing an RN position with SSM upon completion of their RN program.

Primary Responsibilities

• Completes patient care tasks based on skills deemed competent in nursing school under direction of RN.
• Contributes to overall quality and safe care for patients by answering patients’ calls for help, taking their vital signs, and monitoring their behavior and physical condition for progress or deterioration as measured by patient satisfaction, quality audits, direct observation.
• Creates a positive patient experience by assisting patients with their activities of daily living including assisting with baths, ambulating, feeding, skin care, personal and oral hygiene and making occupied and unoccupied beds as measured by patient satisfaction quality audits and direct observation.
• Contributes to quality care and safety by assisting and performing procedures such as performing dressing changes, enemas, ostomy care, toileting, turning, cough and deep breathing, catheter care, collection of biological specimens, measuring and recording intake and output of fluids.
• Contributes to exceptional patient satisfaction by establishing a compassionate environment, timely responses to patients' needs, open communication and providing emotional and psychological support.
• Contributes to safety and quality care by relaying information via charting and communicating to team members.
• Contributes to achievement of exceptional health care by functioning as a member of the team as measured by active participation in department initiatives, unit meetings, committees and special projects.
• Informs licensed nurse of any changes in patient condition/needs, of patient complaints, and of patient/significant other educational needs.
• Prepares patients for discharge and accompanies them upon dismissal as indicated.
• Stocks and maintains supplies and equipment in keeping with patient care needs and cost containment. Utilizes time and supplies economically and conscientiously.
• Orients new patients and significant others to the nursing unit.
• Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

• Current enrollment in an accredited school of nursing and completion of first clinical rotation, or no more than 90‑days post conferral date

Experience

• No experience required

Physical Requirements

• Constant standing and walking.
• Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication.
• Frequent use of hearing to distinguish body sounds and/or hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc.
• Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs.
• Frequent reaching, gripping, and keyboard use/data entry.
• Frequent use of vision for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors.
• Occasional bending, stooping, crawling, kneeling, sitting, squatting and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements.
• Occasional use of vision to judge distances and spatial relationships.
• Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs.
• Occasional lifting/moving patients.
• Occasional use of smell to detect/recognize odors.
• Occasional driving.

Required Professional License and/or Certifications

State of Work Location: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin

• Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)

Work Shift

Variable Shift (United States of America)

Job Type

Employee

Department

1200020002 BHS - Adult AcuteWZ 2E

Scheduled Weekly Hours

0

SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.