Summer Student Nursing Program - Fairfield Hospital

Position: 2026 Summer Student Nursing Program - Fairfield Hospital
At Bon Secours Mercy Health, we are dedicated to continually improving health care quality, safety and cost effectiveness. Our hospitals, care sites and clinicians are recognized for clinical and operational excellence.

Summary of Primary Function

The Clinical Nursing Student - Summer provides direct patient care under the guidance of the Registered Nurse or designated healthcare professional in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and within the policies, procedures, and guidelines of the organization. The Clinical Nursing Student - Summer program is a temporary time-limited summer program designed to provide clinical experience and exposure. The Clinical Nursing Student - Summer role is primarily a job shadowing role that may incorporate aspects of clinical care at the delegation of the RN.

Essential Job Functions

* Under direction of the RN, supports the nurse in the application of the nursing process.

* Works to develop critical thinking skills through collaboration with the RN to ensure quality patient care delivery

* Seeks out educational opportunities related to nursing practice and critical thinking

* Shadows the RN to learn the role in the context of the care team and delivery of patient care and understanding of the nursing process

* Provides basic patient care to include, but not limited to, care and comfort, record vital signs, personal care and hygiene, and mobility, including unit based specialty duties in accordance with pertinent school of nursing, facility, and state board of nursing

* Acts as liaison between patient and nurse to report changes or concerns to nurse

* Provides high level customer service to all patients, patient's family, visitors and all employees

* Provides accurate, precise, timely documentation when applicable for patient care

* Participates in hand-off/report of pertinent information regarding patient and departmental needs upon arrival and when leaving

* Performs delegated tasks once competency has been validated

* Ability to clearly communicate to other members of the healthcare team

* Ability to understand and follow directions of healthcare team

* Knowledge of patient and healthcare safety standards and regulations (i.e. falls, skin breakdown, suicide prevention, environment of care)

* Infection prevention and transmission-based precautions

* Team dynamics

* Patient data collection and documentation (i.e. vital signs, intake/output, change in patient condition)

* Basic hygiene and activities of daily living care

* Assists with feeding, hydration, and nutrition

* Assists with bowel and bladder elimination

* Ambulation and patient mobility

* Use of clinical technology

* Compassionate, relationship-based approach in care activities

* Accountability for completion of assigned tasks

* Escalation of concerns via chain of command

* Professionalism

Education

High school diploma/GED (required)

Currently enrolled in a (RN) nursing program and has successfully completed program specific educational requirements with a planned/anticipated graduation date within 12 months of summer program start (required)

Certifications

BLS (preferred)

Work Experience

Recent experience in acute care and/or long term care facility (preferred)

Training

Qualifications may vary per facility, please refer to program specific requirements

EPIC Electronic Health Record (EHR) training (preferred)

Working Conditions

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur

May be exposed to physical altercations and verbal abuse

May be required to use physical restraints

May be exposed to adverse weather conditions; cold, hot, dust, wind, etc.

May be exposed to high noise levels and bright lights

May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids

May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious materials

May have periods of constant interruptions

General office environment

Required to car travel to off-site locations, occasionally in adverse weather conditions

Long-distance or air travel as needed- not to exceed 10% travel

Prolonged periods of working alone

Patient Population

Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.

Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age, specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.

Neonates (0-4 weeks)

Infant (1-12 months)

Pediatrics (1-12 years)

Adolescents (13-17 years)

Adults (18-64 years)

Geriatrics (65 years and older)

Physical Requirements

Lifting/Carrying (0-50 lbs.) 34-66%

Lifting/Carrying (50-100 lbs.) 67-100%

Push/Pull (0-50 lbs.) 34-66%

Push/Pull (50-100 lbs.) 34-66%

Stoop/Kneel 34-66%

Crawling 1-33%

Climbing 1-33%

Balance 34-66%

Bending 67-100%

Sitting 34-66%

Walking 67-100%

Standing 67-100%

Additional

Physical…