Unity Health Toronto is a leading academic health network uniting St. Michael’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre and Providence Healthcare, driven by a single purpose, to advance the health of everyone in our urban communities and beyond. Across the full continuum of care, from primary and community services to complex tertiary and quaternary care, as well as post-acute rehabilitation, palliative and long-term care, we are committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care to those we serve. Rooted in excellence, innovation and equity, we also champion world-class research and education, shaping the future of healthcare while making a meaningful difference in people’s lives today.
Ready to start your nursing career and make a meaningful difference from day one? Join us as a Clinical Nurse Extern (student) and gain hands-on experience through the Ministry of Health’s Clinical Extern Program. As a proud participating organization, we are excited to support and mentor the next generation of nurses by providing meaningful clinical exposure, supportive team environments, and the opportunity to build confidence and competence at the bedside. If you are ready to grow your skills while making a difference in patient care, we’d love to welcome you to our team.
We are committed to attracting qualified candidates for all positions across our Health Network. Currently, we are accepting resumes for Clinical Nurse Extern opportunities in the following programs:
Pediatrics
Transitional Care
Reactivation Care Centre
Emergency
Stroke & Neurology Inpatient
Cardiovascular ICU
Cardiac Catheterization Lab
Respirology
Cardiac Vascular Surgery/Cardiology
Transplant & Nephrology/Urology
Medicine
ICU
Acute Care Mental Health Services
Oncology Hematology Medicine
Surgery
General Surgery/ Gastroenterology
Oncology/Infectious Diseases
Resource Team – Providence
Surgical Short Stay Unit
Orthopaedics
Trauma & Neurosurgery
Trauma & Neurosurgery ICU
Women’s Health Care Centre
Family Birthing Centre
Candidates must be available to work on a temporary casual basis, starting on October 5th, 2026, with a contract end date of March 26, 2027 (potential for contract extension available). Shift requirements are dependent on departmental needs, and could include 8 or 12 hour shifts, with a requirement to work Days, Evenings, Nights, Weekends and Statutory Holidays.
Qualified candidates only will be contacted and invited to participate in our interview process. Suitable applicants will be considered for upcoming Clinical Nurse Extern positions.
Job Summary:
Reporting to the Clinical Manager, the Clinical Nurse Extern is an unregulated health care provider working under the supervision of registered health care professionals. They will work within a changing environment in interprofessional teams to advocate for and promote wellness while ensuring the delivery of safe, quality care. The Clinical Extern will develop their competencies through learning, education, experience and reflective practice.
As part of our ongoing commitment to professional growth and development, Clinical Externs may be considered for future opportunities upon graduation and licensure.
Responsibilities:
- Practices under the direct and/or indirect supervision of a registered health care professional to ensure that they have the knowledge, skills and judgment needed to perform all actions/duties supporting direct patient care;
- Follows organizational policies and professional standards while taking into account their respective governing body’s guidance for unregulated care providers;
- Participates in patient assessments and activities of daily living;
- Documents observations and care provided in the patient chart
- Requests assistance with assigned duties whenever necessary;
- Contributes to care planning and evaluation;
- Provides assistance with turning, transferring, transporting and ambulating patients
- Provides measures to ensure skin integrity and reduce pressure injuries;
- Assists with comfort measures and patient safety by ensuring the environment is clean and tidy and free of hazards;
- Engages in additional skills as approved;
- Requests assistance with assigned duties whenever in need;
- Contributes patient information during transfer of accountability (ToA) at shift report and when going on break;
- Contributes to and supports positive team functioning.
Qualifications:
- One of the following:
- Nursing Externs - Nursing students who are in their third or fourth year of a CNO-approved 4-year, direct-entry Baccalaureate Nursing (BScN or BN) program; in the final year of a CNO-approved second-entry (accelerated) Baccalaureate Nursing (BScN or BN) program (having completed year 1); or in the final year of a CNO-approved Practical Nursing (PN) program,
- Internationally Educated Nurse Externs – Internationally Educated Nurses who have initiated registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), have received a CNO letter of direction and meet one of the following:
- Are in any year of study in a CNO approved program, such as a BScN-IEN program, PN-IEN program, or
- Are completing a micro-credential plan with a curriculum to meet the CNO requirements for registration (e.g. Standards of Practice for nursing, Entry-to-Practice Competencies, Evidence of Safe Practice, Evidence of English Language Proficiency) or
- Have completed their educational requirements (e.g. BScN-IEN/PN-IEN program or micro-credentialing
- Current certificate in Basic Cardiac Life Support required
- Successful completion of a recent clinical placement in an acute care area preferred
- Excellent clinical skills and competencies
- Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills
- Completion of mandatory/required certifications provided by corporate orientation/unit orientation, including extern orientation (e.g., Fit Test, WHIMS, AODA, IPAC).
- Demonstrated implementation of infection prevention and control practices.
- Demonstrated excellent problem-solving, decision making and critical thinking skills.
- Demonstrated excellent organizational and time-management skills.
If you are interested and qualified for this position, we invite you to apply. In addition to your resume, you will be required to attach a copy of your current transcript .
Unity Health Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We strive to provide a recruitment process that is barrier-free and in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. We understand that you may require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process. When you are contacted, please inform the Talent Acquisition Specialist and we will work with you to meet your accommodation needs. We want to emphasize that all accommodation requests are handled with the utmost confidentiality, respecting your privacy and dignity.