RN Apprentice Program

About the role

The Registered Nurse (RN) Apprentice is a competency-based clinical role designed for students actively enrolled in a Tennessee Board of Nursing-approved pre-licensure RN program. This apprenticeship offers real-world, supervised clinical experience that supports the transition from student to professional nurse. Apprentices receive direct mentorship and progressively apply validated competencies in a supportive environment that fosters growth, learning, and patient-centered care.

Responsibilities

• Assist the assigned RN mentor/preceptor to provide quality nursing care for an assigned number of patients while learning the role of the Registered Nurse.
• Deliver direct and indirect patient care under licensed nurse supervision, aligned with validated skills and scope of practice.
• Perform basic and advanced clinical tasks upon competency validation by the academic institution or MLH RN preceptor/mentor.
• Document accurately and communicate effectively with the care team using electronic medical record system and MLH procedures/processes.
• Actively participate in ongoing skill validation, mentorship/preceptor feedback, annual mandatory MLH education, and performance evaluations.
• May perform all skills listed under validated competencies per the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) RN Apprentice standards, under director RN supervision.

Education

• Currently enrolled in a college program.

Licenses and Certifications

• BASIC LIFE SUPPORT – American Heart Association

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to verbally communicate in an effective and positive manner with child/family, public, and all other health care workers.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Assists with patient and family education.
• Assists with patient discharge planning at time of patient’s admission and continuing through patient’s dismissal.

Physical Demands

• The physical activities of this position may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion.
• Must have good balance and coordination.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. without assistance and push and pull up to 250 lbs.
• The Associate is required to have close visual acuity including color, depth perception, and field of vision to perform an activity, such as assessing patients, preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; or extensive reading.
• Frequent invasive and non-invasive patient contact.
• Exposure to patient body fluids as well as exposure to hazardous or poisonous materials.
• Ability to react quickly to emergency situations.