Exciting possibility...

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So my superintendent just approached me and said "I'd like us to start looking into hiring some help for you on 2 of our campuses. Since we're all located so far a part, it makes no sense you driving to each campus so much. I was thinking we could look to hire a nursing student to be an aide for you on the other two campuses. We'll need to see how much to budget for them and everything. Let me know what you find out."

1) yay for help!

2) any suggestions on where to start on this?!

3) anyone know if that's a thing? hiring nursing students to be aides? how does that work with their nursing student status and working in the capacity of an aide? is it the same as if they were a PCA at the hospital?

4) where do I even begin to look for a pay scale for this?

5) any and all help is greatly appreciated!

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Specializes in pediatrics, school nursing.

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!

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

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?

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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!

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Specializes in kids.

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...?

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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!!!

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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.

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Specializes in kids.
2 minutes ago, MHDNURSE said:

OMG!!!

Right??!!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

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.

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Specializes in School Nurse.

Nursing students will probably be in nursing school during the day . . .

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

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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?!

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