Student Nurse Extern I

UNC Health Care; North Carolina; On-site; USD 20,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Health Care seeks a Student Nurse Extern I for Summer 2027. Eligible students enrolled in BSN or ADN programs will work alongside an RN partner to gain hands-on patient care experience in inpatient, clinic, or home health settings during May–August 2027.

You will observe the nursing process, perform routine tasks within your scope, and reinforce patient education under supervision. This temporary role requires completion of junior year and a current NC CNA listing; BLS certification is

Qualifications

• Enrollment in accredited prelicensure nursing program with anticipated graduation within 12 months time from start of externship.
• High school diploma or GED required; higher-level degree may satisfy this requirement.
• Fluent in verbal and written English; strong communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to lift and transfer patients; basic computer skills.

Responsibilities

• Observes, collects, and documents patient information; reports significant changes to RN or provider.
• Provides assistance to patients and families during admission, orientation, and discharge.
• Performs nursing tasks within plan of care (vital signs, measurements, wound care, 1:1 patient interactions).
• Provides direct personal care for activities of daily living.
• Maintains unit cleanliness, restocks supplies, and supports routine clerical tasks.
• Reinforces teaching and documents patient understanding.

Skills

Fluent English

Basic computer skills

Lift 40-50 lbs

Observation and documentation

Education

Enrollment in accredited prelicensure nursing program

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Description

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

Student NURSE EXTERN Summer 2027

Successfully completed junior / 1st year in a BSN or ADN program and are currently enrolled in that same program.

• North Carolina CNA listing

GOAL

Working with an assigned RN, enhance foundational nursing education as a part of the Patient Care Team.

• Close observation of the Nursing Process for Inpatient Care and hands-on CNA care
• Starting May / June 2027 through August 2027, up to 36 hours per week
• (8 or 12 hour shifts preferred / may be worked in 4-hour shifts)

Resume/cover letter requirements

Requires - Resume or Cover Letter that includes:

• clinical practice experience
• volunteer or community involvement
• statement addressing why you are the best candidate for the opportunity
• Two Instructor recommendations, one from clinical rotation
• Acceptable attendance Commitment ability - schedule / studies
• Clinical aptitude examples Organizational skills
• Recognition of knowledge boundaries and scope of practice
• Understanding and delivery of holistic, empathetic patient care

Summary

The goal of the Student Nurse Externship experience is to provide pre-licensure nursing students with an immersive experience to enhance their foundational nursing education and role socialization within a clinical setting. The Student Nurse Extern I (SNE I) position is intended for nursing students enrolled in an accredited School of Nursing to function as a member of the patient care team. The SNE I will work with their RN partner as a partner in practice within their Nursing Assistant I scope of practice.

The Student Nurse Extern I demonstrates the ability to learn and apply the concepts they have been taught in their nursing program to provide technically skilled care in their assigned department. This position provides the chance to work with RNs in a variety of healthcare settings, earning valuable experience that will enhance nursing knowledge and prepare the incumbent for a profession as a registered nurse.

The SNE I reports to the assigned department's Patient Services Manager or designated Education Leader and works under the direct supervision of an assigned RN partner. The RN partner facilitates and supports learning experiences to enable the SNE to proficiently perform nursing care activities in both complex and non-complex situations. Provides routine direct and indirect patient care in a hospital, clinic, or home health care setting. All work performed is under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or provider.

Responsibilities

• Observes, collects, and documents patient information obtained while providing care and promptly report significant changes in the patient's condition to a registered nurse or provider. Participates in the collaborative identification and reporting of patient safety issues.
• Provides assistance to patients and their families during admission to the clinical area, orientation to the hospital/clinic/home health experience, and discharge.
• Provides care/ treatments to patients as outlined in plan of care including, but not limited to, the measurement of vital signs, height and weight, specimen collection, skin preps/scrubs, catheter care, capillary blood glucose checks, simple wound care, range of motion exercises, postural drainage, and supportive 1:1 patient and family interactions.
• Provides direct personal care to patients as outlined in plan of care for routine activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, feeding and assisting with ambulation.
• Provides direct personal care to patients as outlined in plan of care for routine activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, feeding and assisting with ambulation.
• Provides indirect care to patients and assigned area to include, but not limited to, cleaning the work area, changing linens, re-stocking supplies, cleaning/sterilizing instruments, transporting patients/supplies/specimens, assisting in the orientation of new employees and students, and some routine clerical functions.
• Reinforces routine teaching given to patients by the registered nurse or provider and document patient understanding of instructions.
• Assist providers and other health care providers with routine examinations and procedures, as well as procurement of equipment and supplies during emergency situations.
• In the psychiatric setting, aids patients in reality orientation, participates in behavior modification plans/therapy, provides informal support therapy to patients/families, provides verbal de-escalation of potentially aggressive patients, aids in the physical management of aggressive/out-of-control patients, facilitates age appropriate play for children, and monitors the therapeutic milieu activities on assigned unit to ensure that emotional and safety needs of patients are met.

Other Information

Education Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED required; higher-level degree may satisfy this requirement. Current enrollment in an accredited prelicensure nursing program with anticipated graduation within 12 months time from the start of student nurse externship.

Licensure/Certification Requirements:

• Listed as Nursing Assistant I with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

Professional Experience Requirements:

• None required.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:

• Fluent in verbal and written English language.
• Ability to organize and prioritize assignments in the delivery of patient care. Attainment and maintenance of unit-specific competencies.
• Basic computer skills.
• Lift and carry 40-50 lbs. Examples: Push/pull patients on a bed, stretcher (requires 29 lbs. push force), lateral transfers up to 50 lbs. of the patient's weight.
• Frequent to continuous standing/walking.
• Patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting, and performing CPR.

Job Details

Legal Employer: NCHEALTH

Entity: Johnston Health

Organization Unit: Education

Work Type: Temporary Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range:$18.00

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Variable

Location of Job: US:NC:Smithfield

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Heath Care System. This is not a State employed position.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities.