GRADUATE NURSE ASSOCIATE - Covenant Health

Graduate Nurse Associate, Oncology, Post Surgical Unit 

Full Time, 72 Hours a pay period, 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 Dogwood, Oncology, Post Surgical Unit:

Parkwest’s Oncology-Gynecological-Surgical unit consists of 36 beds inside our most recent expansion, the Dogwood Tower, which opened in December 2019. Our Oncology and Post-Surgical Unit at Parkwest houses patients with a variety of medical diagnoses and also serves as a general post-surgical floor. We specialize in oncological care and are strongly passionate in providing a healing environment for our patients while maximizing our clinical quality and efficiency. Once experienced on our floor, our nurses can undergo training to administer chemotherapy to further care for our oncology population.

We also care for post-op surgery patients who will need surgical incision care, drain care, ostomy and ileal conduit care, blood product, and TPN administration. Among a skilled-interdisciplinary group, the RN serves as a guide, healer, collaborator, teacher, leader, and sentry to their patients.

Staff members include RN’s, LPN’s, Certified Nursing Assistants, Patient Care Assistants and Health Unit Coordinators who work together to provide exceptional patient care. Our department is high energy, team oriented and customer satisfaction focused. We currently use a preferred self-scheduling model that covers a six-week period. Staff work three 12-hour shifts per week with an every-other-weekend rotation and every other major holiday.

2 Dogwood welcomes staff members of varying experiences, from new graduates to the experienced healthcare professional. We have a supportive environment and orientation is tailored to your needs.

If you are team minded and enjoy working with a variety of medical conditions, then 2 Dogwood is a place to call home.

Position Summary: 

This position is designed to facilitate the transition upcoming graduates of an accredited nursing program into the work force. Performs a wide variety of patient care activities and supportive services under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN).

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

• Demonstrates competence in performing critical skills (appropriate delegation grid competency checklist) to include appropriate delivery of care according to age-specific needs of the population served.
• Takes and records temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, weight, height and intake-output measurements. Documents oxygen saturation if patient is connected to continuous pulse oximetry.
• Employs 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.
• If trained and competency demonstrated, empties drains, canisters, urine bags, bedpans and emesis basins and records intake and output.
• Helps to maintain clean and orderly patient and work environment.
• Assists RN in obtaining a thorough nursing history on assigned patients.
• Demonstrates effective therapeutic communication skills.
• Documents/maintains patient record as appropriate. Basic charting, admission history, basic observations under guidance of RN.
• Observes and reports significant changes in patient condition to RN.
• Obtains RN signature on 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:           

Must have graduated from an accredited registered nursing education program. Must have applied and fulfilled all other requirements for licensure as a nurse and be approved by the State of Tennessee to sit for Nursing Boards within 30 days of graduation.

Minimum Experience:         

None required but able to perform as nursing assistant; previous hospital experience preferred. Must be able to operate computer and possess excellent interpersonal skills.

Licensure Requirement:      

CPR required

RN license