Nurse parapros

Jolie, BSN · Nov 20, 2012

I don't understand your question. It is my understanding that the term "paraprofessional" refers to an unlicensed assistant, who by definition, would not be a nurse. So a paraprofessional would most definitely not be a certified school nurse.

Are you asking whether hours worked by a RN in the school setting qualify toward the 1000 hour practice requirement to become a certified school nurse? If so, I believe the answer is, "Yes."

delawaremalenurse · Nov 20, 2012

not sure what a "school nurse paraprofessional" is...I am aware of the term "paraprofessional" as it relates to the classroom setting or special needs child

A school nurse is not a "paraprofessional"

Not sure what this question is asking

schooldistrictnurse · Nov 20, 2012

"Certification" is a confusing term, also. There is national certification as well as varying state requirements. Some state require certification and others do not. Wisconsin does not require certification of any kind, only BSN.

mustlovepoodles, RN · Dec 2, 2012

My son is in a class for children with severe/profound intellectual disabilities. He has had several paraprofessionals who were nurses. They are not technically school nurses. Their role is to assist the teacher in implementing classroom learning. They work with the students on different sorts of projects and work stations. They also do potty training and feedings. I'm sure they were probably hired partly due to their nursing background, although they are not working specifically as nurses. It is a great comfort to me to know that they are there. My son has seizures; he is a "runner" and a fall risk. There have been several times when he has fallen at school and thankfully his nurse parapros were right there to assess him and take care of him in my place. Unfortunately, these nurse paras are paid the same as non-nurse paras, about $14/hr. But the nurse paras that I have known do it because they love working with the special needs population, they like the hours, they have young children, and they are VERY happy to be out of the hospital setting.

allnurses Guide · Dec 4, 2012

Where I live and work, paraprofessionals are not nurses.

I think even if a nurse applied for a paraprofessional position, she'd still have to make the same money as the nurse. My district wouldn't hire a nurse to be a para because they'd be forced to pay her as a nurse.

Vtachy1 · Dec 5, 2012

My son is in a class for children with severe/profound intellectual disabilities. He has had several paraprofessionals who were nurses. They are not technically school nurses. Their role is to assist the teacher in implementing classroom learning. They work with the students on different sorts of projects and work stations. They also do potty training and feedings. I'm sure they were probably hired partly due to their nursing background, although they are not working specifically as nurses. It is a great comfort to me to know that they are there. My son has seizures; he is a "runner" and a fall risk. There have been several times when he has fallen at school and thankfully his nurse parapros were right there to assess him and take care of him in my place. Unfortunately, these nurse paras are paid the same as non-nurse paras, about $14/hr. But the nurse paras that I have known do it because they love working with the special needs population, they like the hours, they have young children, and they are VERY happy to be out of the hospital setting.

This is me, I was getting paid $30 an hour and took this job, which is a "nurse paraprofessional" ($16/hour) to get out of the extreme stress and exhaustion. I love the hours and the work is great too! However, people in education don't know much about nursing and they want me to be certified school nurse too. I believe the state is pushing all school nurses to be certified. But I am understanding that a nurse parapro is not the same as a school nurse? At my school, the health department takes care of all of the vision, hearing, and health care plans. They hired me to be more of a teachers aid, to help out with tube feedings, seizures, and I think its probably an insurance thing.

They have me seeing 3 different kids throughout the day. I am mostly with a DS sweetie, I even teach math to her and 2 other kids. Then I spend an hour with a student that has tube feedings, and then an hour with a student that has seizures. I help with diaper changes and ADLs.

I guess I will call NASN and find out if I am allowed to get certified or not. On their website it does state that in the "1000" hours that they require, they do not consider one-on-one as part of those 1000 hours. But I do have more than one kid. And they do use me for immediate emergencies, like when a second grader broke her wrist on the playground, a student had a seizure for the first time, students that have complaints of chest pains, severe head injuries, but they don't like to take me out of class for these things, so they limit using me for that reason. And I spend most of my day doing teaching things instead of nursing things.

schooldistrictnurse · Dec 5, 2012

I think it's your state board of nursing or your department of public education school nurse consultant who can answer questions regarding your role. It seems murky to me. Are you employed as a nurse or not? The role you describe is a non- nursing professional in my district, but those educational aides are clearly trained and supervised in these delegated tasks by the school nurse.

amoLucia · Dec 8, 2012

I think it's your state board of nursing or your department of public education school nurse consultant who can answer questions regarding your role. It seems murky to me. Are you employed as a nurse or not? The role you describe is a non- nursing professional in my district, but those educational aides are clearly trained and supervised in these delegated tasks by the school nurse.

What's the malpractice insurance coverage - who's covering whom?