Student Nurse, Medical Oncology

Job description

Job Requirements
Student Nurse
Department: Medical Oncology
Position Summary
The Student Nurse functions as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)/Patient Care Technician with expanded responsibilities that support the student's nursing education and clinical development. The Student Nurse is actively enrolled in an accredited nursing program and works under the direction of a licensed Registered Nurse (RN). The Student Nurse provides direct patient care within established scope, organizational policy, and competency validation requirements.
The Student Nurse assists with patient care activities, documentation, patient mobility, and admission preparation while gaining practical nursing experience. Responsibilities are performed independently when validated and within approved scope limitations, or under direct RN supervision when required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Direct Patient Care
• Provides routine patient care consistent with CNA and Student Nurse competencies.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, grooming, toileting, feeding, and repositioning.
• Obtains and documents vital signs, intake and output, weights, and other patient data.
• Performs validated patient care skills independently within approved scope.
• Recognizes and reports changes in patient condition to the assigned RN.

Mobility and Transportation
• Assists with patient transfers, ambulation, and mobility activities.
• Transports patients to diagnostic and treatment areas.
• Utilizes safe patient handling equipment and practices.

Documentation
• Documents patient care and observations in the electronic medical record according to organizational standards.
• Ensures documentation is accurate, timely, and complete.

Admission Support
• Assists with patient admission preparation activities.
• Prepares rooms and equipment for incoming patients.
• Completes assigned admission-related tasks within scope.

Point-of-Care Testing
• Performs point-of-care glucose testing (Accu-Chek) following competency validation and organizational policy.
• Reports critical results immediately to the RN.
• May not perform Accu-Chek testing in ICU areas unless specifically authorized by policy.

Team Collaboration
• Communicates effectively with patients, families, nurses, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Participates in shift reports, huddles, and unit-based activities as appropriate.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

Scope of Practice and Limitations
May Perform Independently Following Validation
• Documentation
• Patient mobility and transfers
• Admission preparation
• Point-of-care blood glucose testing (non-ICU areas)
• Routine CNA-level patient care activities

May Perform With RN Oversight
• Patient transportation
• Additional nursing skills validated by the nursing program and approved by organizational policy

Not Permitted
• Independent patient assessments
• Medication administration (oral medications)
• IV push medication administration
• IV medication administration
• Intradermal injections
• Intramuscular injections
• Subcutaneous injections
• Administration or handling of narcotic medications
• Admission assessments
• Patient discharge activities requiring nursing judgment
• Any activity requiring an RN license

The Student Nurse may observe and learn restricted skills as part of educational development but may not perform those activities.
Physical Requirements
• Ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods.
• Ability to lift, move, and reposition patients using approved safe patient handling techniques.
• Ability to respond quickly in emergency situations.
• Ability to perform repetitive bending, reaching, pushing, and pulling activities.

Core Competencies
• Patient-centered care
• Communication and teamwork
• Safety and quality
• Professionalism
• Accountability
• Time management
• Infection prevention and control
• Confidentiality and HIPAA compliance

Position Purpose
The Student Nurse role provides nursing students with hands-on clinical experience while supporting patient care delivery in a safe, structured environment. The position serves as a developmental pathway toward RN practice and promotes readiness for transition into a Nurse Graduate role upon completion of nursing school.
Work Experience
Qualifications
Required
• Current Maryland CNA certification (or applicable state certification)
• Active enrollment in an accredited nursing program
• Current BLS certification
• Completion of all required organizational onboarding and competency requirements

Preferred
• Completion of at least one medical-surgical clinical rotation
• Previous healthcare experience