Students having your contact info...

What are the "rules" surrounding contact with prior graduates as well as current students? I recent got myself into a bind because I was contacting prior program graduates to check on status of readiness for board exams as well as job placement. I was told this was inappropriate behavior and that they should also never have my contact info... This kind of put my in an awquard position because I felt that my students could always contact me with questions reguarding clinical or post grad advice??? I completely understand about not having lunch with prior grads or inviting students to my home (I know that is very inappropriate). I felt like I was scolded for being friendly with students. It's not like we were having margaritas at the local bar!

In our school handbook it states that students and faculty of the clinical site should be able to contact you at anytime while at clinical by pager or cell phone...but the school does not provide this. I have been giving my students my personal cell number for this. I have now told them that they can only contact me 30 minutes prior to clinical and one hour after, otherwise they must leave a voicemail. Our director has also said that we are to not use cell phones at the clinical site but then in the same breath that we must be able to be contacted by the school at all times in case of emergency. So which one is it!?!

I thought that it would be in the best interest of the school to keep in contact with prior grads and assist with job placement. Am I completely off base?

Thanks so much for any advice you can give a new LVN Clincal Instructor!