Exciting possibility...

I think it all depends on your state's mandates; I think that its admirable that your SI wants to use nursing students. They likely would need whatever PCA/CNA/LNA certificate and you would need some kind of standing orders to be signed off by someone? Maybe reach out to another district in your state that utilizes aides and see how their pay scale, licensing, etc is structured!

i agree. Help is wonderful, but help that can really HELP is better. I know in my state, it would make little sense to hire someone who is not an RN, as medications can only be admin'd by a nurse. Also, when those nursing students become nurses, will he retain them as nurses and pay them a competitive salary or will it be a revolving door?

I don't think they can work as a student nurse without their instructor present (I remember this issue coming up when I was in nursing school). But, if they already have a CNA or are simply hired as an unlicensed personnel apart from nursing school, then that would probably work.

Based on your location, what college/university would you be pulling from? Do you think this population of students would be "second career" students? (ie, they're older and have more life experience than just what they have learned from the textbook, maybe they're parents themselves) or are they fresh from high school 20 year old students with little "real life" experience? If they are older second career students, then it may be worth it, if it's the latter then I think it could potentially create much more work for you.

As far as pay, I would contact neighboring districts, ask what they pay their health aids or go by what the paraprofessionals make in your district.

Good luck!

Our Dir of Ed for the state wanted to fill nursing roles with retired ccombat medics, cause 16 weeks of corpsman school should make it a snap to step into our roles...?

3 minutes ago, NutmeggeRN said:

Our Dir of Ed for the state wanted to fill nursing roles with retired ccombat medics, cause 16 weeks of corpsman school should make it a snap to step into our roles...?

OMG!!!

I would worry about relying on a nursing student b/c they don't have proper "nursing judgment" yet. They are still learning and it is a huge liability to have someone who does not have the education or experience to be in a position where they are being asked to make assessments.

2 minutes ago, MHDNURSE said:

OMG!!!

Right??!!

They could probably hire education students for the "non-essential" classes, like all the social engineering classes. Oh, that's right, those are the most essential. This is the mindset that allows educators to problem solve the way they do.

Are your student nurses going to be a part of a federal work study program or hired thru the district?

4 hours ago, NutmeggeRN said:

Our Dir of Ed for the state wanted to fill nursing roles with retired ccombat medics, cause 16 weeks of corpsman school should make it a snap to step into our roles...?

What the focalin?!

2 hours ago, Red Shirt 6 said:

Are your student nurses going to be a part of a federal work study program or hired thru the district?

So what I was told was they are wanting to get 2 part time aides to assist with med passes and any kids who *might* end up with some extra care (i.e.: assist my 1 T1D when they are high or low). They would be hired through the district.

As it stands right now, since I am not on these 2 campuses but 1 day a week each, the environment for the students is tougher than the ones on my home campus where they know I'm here. I am chartered through the local university here and we have 2 satellite campuses in near by cities (~1 hr from my home campus; it's located directly between the other 2 cities). All 3 have a nursing program. I work with the nursing students every semester as they help me with my screenings.

I think my SI initially went with the idea of hiring a nursing student since there is a sense of obligation since we are chartered through the university which offers the nursing program. But my concerns for that are lack of knowledge, availability, and frequent turnover. I'm not interested in nor do I have the time to train a new aide every semester. That would be more work and less help. The more I think about it, hiring a nursing student is not going to be ideal. I can appreciate my SI's intentions with the idea, but it's just not going to be feasible.