St. Joe’s Hamilton is a proud participant of the Enhanced Extern Program developed by the Ontario Ministry of Health. The Extern Program provides clinical experience for students within an interdisciplinary team to support learning and development. The Extern role is not a substitute for clinical rotations or placement, but it is an opportunity where students can develop clinical experience.
Externs are clinical learners who are employed as unregulated care providers to work under the supervision of regulated care providers. Types of eligible clinical learners include externs in nursing, respiratory therapy, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and paramedic programs, or recent Canadian medical graduates awaiting start of residency.
This is an exciting employment opportunity to work in a clinical environment where students can develop and consolidate competencies in order to prepare to transition into a future registered role upon completion of their studies.
To be eligible for the Enhanced Extern Program at SJHH, students must be enrolled in one of the following programs:
- Registered Nurse (RN) Students enrolled in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of an accredited baccalaureate nursing program
- Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Students enrolled in their final year of study with an accredited nursing program
- Undergraduate Medical Students in the final year of a program; recent Canadian Medical Graduates awaiting start of residency
- Respiratory Therapy Students in their 2nd or 3rd year of study in a Diploma Program
- Paramedic Students who are in an approved Paramedic Program; 2nd year of study
- Occupational Therapy Students
- Physiotherapy Students
Our Clinical Extern Coordinator will act as a mentor and help guide students through the process. Depending on the Program and in consultation with the supervising healthcare professions, externs might take part in the following activities:
- Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (e.g. feeding, toileting, bathing, dressing, etc.)
- Mobility Assistance (lifting, turning, positioning, transfer, ambulation, etc.)
- Taking patients’ vital signs, height and weight
- Contribution to care planning and implementation of existing care plan interventions under direction of the nurse
- Reporting changes in patient status or safety concerns to a supervising nurse
- Falls Risk Assessment
- Pain Assessment
- Braden Scale Assessment
- CAM Assessment
- Other care activities as needed and as appropriate for clinical area and patient population served
In order to apply to our Extern Program, please apply to our job posting on our external careers site here.
For any questions in regards to the Extern Program, please contact recruit@stjoes.ca.
Will I be paid during this opportunity?
- This is a paid placement.
What kind of Program areas will I be able to work in?
- We are currently offering placements in:
- General Internal Medicine
- Critical Care (Intensive Care Unit, Stepdown, Respiratory Therapy)
- Mental Health & Addictions
- Emergency Department
- Kidney and Urinary Program
- Women’s & Infants Program
- Surgical Program
- Acute Care
- Post-Acute Care
What are the hours of work?
- Clinical Externs will be hired on a contract part-time basis and the hours of work will be determined based on individual availability and the needs of the unit which will include day/evening/night and weekend shifts.