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Nurse Extern Cardiac Stepdown Unit

SSM Health·Mount Vernon, Illinois

$18 - $18/hr·Part Time·On Site·0-2 yrs·Posted 8 days ago
Practice for this role

About the role

Assist licensed nurses in providing a variety of nursing care services and performing patient care tasks. Support patient activities of daily living and monitor physical conditions to ensure quality and safe care.

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

IL-SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mount Vernon

Worker Type

PRN

Job Highlights

All candidates must be currently enrolled in an accredited school of nursing and have completed their fundamentals of nursing class and first clinical rotation. Graduation date must be within 18 months to qualify.

Scheduling

Student nurse externs commit to a minimum of 24 hours over four weeks. Flexible scheduling is available to help work around your school schedule.

Program Length

The Student Nurse Externship ends upon graduation from nursing school with the goal of transitioning to a graduate nurse position and joining the Graduate Nurse Residency program.

Our Student Nurse Externship provides real-world, hands-on clinical training across various units, all under the guidance of a dedicated preceptor.

Opportunities include

  • 1:1 clinical training with experienced nurses
  • Apply classroom knowledge to a clinical setting
  • Expand your knowledge of hospital practice
  • Explore various specialties
  • Build a professional network

Hourly Rate

$18.00 per hour

SSM Health values the skills and talents that each team member brings to our organization. Compensation for this role is based on a variety of components including relevant experience, labor market, and other qualifications. The posted pay range for this position is what SSM Health reasonably expects, in good faith, to offer based on the circumstances at the time of posting. SSM Health may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range as permitted by law.

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.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements

  • 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: 1003000046 Pat Rms 3200 CSU

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 0

Benefits

  • SSM Health values our exceptional employees by offering a comprehensive benefits package to fit their needs.
  • Paid Parental Leave: we offer eligible team members one week of paid parental leave for newborns or newly adopted children (pro-rated based on FTE).
  • Flexible Payment Options: our voluntary benefit offered through DailyPay offers eligible hourly team members instant access to their earned, unpaid base pay (fees may apply) before payday.
  • Upfront Tuition Coverage: we provide upfront tuition coverage through FlexPath Funded for eligible team members.

Explore All Benefits [https://jobs.ssmhealth.com/us/en/benefits]

SSM Health is an equal opportunity employer. SSM Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Click here to learn more. [https://www.ssmhealth.com/privacy-notices-terms-of-use/non-discrimination?_ga=2.205881493.704955970.1667719643-240470506.1667719643]

Posting details

Employment type
Part Time
Work arrangement
On Site
Experience
0-2 yrs
Salary
$18 - $18/hr
Location
Mount Vernon, Illinois
Posted
Jul 20, 2026
Application
Employer website
SH

Hiring organization

SSM Health

SSM Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit, fully integrated health system dedicated to advancing innovative, sustainable, and compassionate care for patients and communities throughout the Midwest and beyond. The organization’s 40,000 team members and 13,900 providers are...

Salary listed on 162 jobs
IndustryHospitals and Health Care
TypeNonprofit
Size10,001+ employees
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Market context

Illinois nursing roles remain consistently in demand

In Illinois, nursing roles typically see steady demand across hospitals, clinics, and long-term care settings, especially for candidates with an active Illinois license and current CPR certification. These positions can be competitive because employers often look for both accredited nursing education and readiness to work in fast-paced care environments. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your license, CPR status, and degree match before applying.

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