Covenant Health

Student Nurse Associate, Critical Care Unit

PRN/OCC, Variable hours, Day shift

Parkwest Overview:

Headquartered in Knoxville, Covenant Health is a community-owned integrated healthcare delivery system and the area’s largest employer.

Parkwest is Covenant Health’s and West Knoxville’s premier medical facility and a top-performing heart hospital, offering our patients world-class treatment with all the convenience and warmth of home.

In addition to providing the area’s leading cardiac services, Parkwest has been nationally recognized for award-winning care throughout our facility. For 2020-21, Parkwest received recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Top 10” hospitals in Tennessee.

Knoxville located in East Tennessee is the third largest in the state, well-known for its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is the home of the University of Tennessee. Go Vols!  Living in Knoxville means experiencing all four seasons.  Best of all, each of them is pretty mild!

Combine all that with the abundant natural beauty of the surrounding mountains, and you have a city that truly offers something for everyone. Knoxville has a vibrant arts culture, seasonal festivals, top-notch foodie and incredible outdoor recreation. It’s a perfect blend of big-city amenities and Southern charm.

2 Riverstone, Critical Care Unit:

Parkwest Critical Care Unit (CCU) is located on the second floor of Parkwest Medical Center’s main hospital. As one of the area’s top-performing heart hospitals, we take great pride in providing exceptional care and timely treatment to our patients.

The CCU is a 30-bed department comprised of 20 medical, surgical, neurological, and renal beds and 10 dedicated Cardiovascular Intensive Care (CVICU) beds. The department is a locked unit for the safety and privacy of our critically ill patients. We specialize in high-level care to critically ill patients with life-threatening conditions, including Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT). Our CVICU specializes in the care of patients requiring Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) procedures, Impellas, and Intra-aortic Balloon Pumps (IABP).

We follow a 12- hour shift, weekends/holidays on a six-week schedule. Team members utilize a self-scheduling model, and employee requests are then used during the scheduling process to balance and coordinate with the department’s needs.

We pride ourselves in fostering a culture of positivity, teamwork, and always putting our patient’s needs first.

Position Summary:

Performs a wide variety of patient care activities and supportive services under the supervision of a registered nurse.

Recruiter: Angelica Adams || aadams16@covhlth.com || 865-374-5405

• Demonstrates competence in performing critical skills (Student Nurse Associate Core Competency checklist) to include appropriate delivery of care according to age-specific needs of the population served.
• Take and record temperature, pulse, respiration rates, blood pressure, weight, height and intake-output measurements. Documents oxygen saturation if patient is connected to continuous pulse oximetry.
• Employ all established infection control policies including standard precautions, transmission-based isolation precautions, OSHA standards, safety measures and proper body mechanic in performance of job.
• Completes designated patient care activities and provides for patient comfort and privacy.
• Identifies and assists patients that need assistance with nutrition and/or hydration.
• Empty drains, canisters, urine bags, bedpans and emesis basins and record intake and output.
• Help to maintain clean and orderly patient and work environment.
• Revises and updates the plan of care as problems change and/or new problems are identified in collaboration with RN.
• Assists RN in obtaining a thorough nursing history on assigned patients
• Demonstrate effective therapeutic communication skills.
• Document/maintain patient record as appropriate.
• Performs basic dressing changes and is knowledgeable of the fundamentals of sterile technique.
• Evaluates nursing care actions and patient responses and documents each shift.
• Observes and responds appropriately to changes and complications in patient conditions. Report significant changes in patient condition to RN.
• Documents treatments and diagnostic tests with results and response. Documents in a clear, concise, accurate and legible manner.
• Observes assigned post-treatment/operative patients immediately upon return to floor and initiates appropriate nursing actions.
• Obtains RN signature for review and co-signature all entries.
• Completes assigned tasks with minimal supervision, but seeks guidance when uncertain how to perform procedure.
• Communicates suggestions and/or complaints through appropriate channels. Displays cooperation, flexibility and positive behavior to patients and other staff members.
• Demonstrates ability to effectively perform under stress.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:   

Student in an accredited nursing education program. Student must have junior or senior year status and must have successfully completed fundamental clinical skills portion of the program or must complete the program within the same semester of hiring into the position. (1^st semester of clinicals)

Minimum Experience:     

None

Licensure Requirement: 

CPR required

RN License