Nursing Students COVID-19

theRPN2b · Mar 19, 2020

It's not known yet if that will need to happen, but I think it would be a last resort if it does.

So far, many nurses in Canada have been expressing interest in offering their help in the Covid-19 crisis.

The Public Health Agency of Canada posted an online application for RNs interested in Covid-19 response. They closed the job posting yesterday, and reported that they received a high number of applicants.

The RNAO sends Covid-19 emails every few days, and on March 17th they said in their email that over 3000 RNs and NPs responded to their survey expressing interest in helping in the Covid-19 crisis.

The RPNAO also sent out a survey for RPNs who may be interested in offering their help, and so have have received 1600 responses from RPNs.

In Ontario, nurses in the retired and non-practicing class can express interest in having their licence reinstated temporarily for this crisis, and I read somewhere that there were quite a few of them interested in doing that.

I don't know how the response is in other provinces, I'm only speaking for Ontario.

But so far, it looks like there won't be a need for nursing students to be employed in hospitals for this crisis as there are many nurses interested in working for the crisis.

chulada77, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Apr 2, 2020

It’s not only a horrible idea but not fair for a new grad(not even a “true “ grad) to know how to deal with this level of chaos. As an experienced nurse we come w tricks of the trade, insight and our past experience to get us thru crisis esp when our hospitals are not protecting staff properly.

GBC_Student, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2020

I think a better idea would be fast tracking the licensing of foreign trained RN's into service. I'm not trying to put down nursing students but I think it would be a bad idea to push students into the middle of a pandemic.

friendlyelse · Apr 25, 2020

I am an RN in NYC currently working with Covid 19 patients. Honestly, this is brutal. There is no other way to describe it. It takes a toll on you physically and mentally. We have new graduate nurses with about 3 months on the unit and most cannot handle it. Our peds unit was transformed to Covid 19 only. Our Hospital brought in nurses but only those with experience. Hiring a nursing student would not be wise in a situation like this. Personally I hope, I never have to see or go through anything like this ever again.

JoC12345 · May 11, 2020

I actually think this is a good idea, but not for say 1st year students in an ADN but those in the RN year already. Same with BSN the 4th years only.
If it’s the NCLEX that’s blocking that then maybe let them take it first or early as the deciding factor. To ppl saying it isn’t fair, come on it’s a dang pandemic going on. I would rather have someone taking care of me or my family with some school and little experience rather than no one at all!

On 4/25/2020 at 5:24 PM, friendlyelse said:
I am an RN in NYC currently working with Covid 19 patients. Honestly, this is brutal. There is no other way to describe it. It takes a toll on you physically and mentally. We have new graduate nurses with about 3 months on the unit and most cannot handle it. Our peds unit was transformed to Covid 19 only. Our Hospital brought in nurses but only those with experience. Hiring a nursing student would not be wise in a situation like this. Personally I hope, I never have to see or go through anything like this ever again.

See that’s what I mean! It’s not about that. If you think of it in the way of them taking care of patients who are less at risk or in acute care areas then it would work.

friendlyelse · May 11, 2020

@JoC12345

I am in the HEART of the pandemic and it is a bad idea. It is very easy to say you rather have someone there with little experience to be there with a family member. First, the Hospital will not allow the student in the room without the Nurse, so that argument is out the window. It will not happen. Second, we have new grads ( maybe about 3 months on the unit) and they are breaking down. The time I spend trying to comfort and calm a nursing student down, I would be spending that time attending to my patient. On a few occasions I had to stop what I was doing because I did not want to have to call a Code on a new nurse. Extra help is needed, but that person needs to know what he or she is doing. I understand your point, but honestly Nurses do not have the time to eat, and bringing someone who is going to bombard them with questions will add more stress. That's just reality.

JoC12345 · May 18, 2020

On 5/11/2020 at 8:25 AM, friendlyelse said:
@JoC12345
I am in the HEART of the pandemic and it is a bad idea. It is very easy to say you rather have someone there with little experience to be there with a family member. First, the Hospital will not allow the student in the room without the Nurse, so that argument is out the window. It will not happen. Second, we have new grads ( maybe about 3 months on the unit) and they are breaking down. The time I spend trying to comfort and calm a nursing student down, I would be spending that time attending to my patient. On a few occasions I had to stop what I was doing because I did not want to have to call a Code on a new nurse. Extra help is needed, but that person needs to know what he or she is doing. I understand your point, but honestly Nurses do not have the time to eat, and bringing someone who is going to bombard them with questions will add more stress. That's just reality.

I don’t feel it’s a bad idea. I feel it’s a good learning experience. Maybe not to push them to be with covid patients but to put them on less “stressful” units. There are other nurses on those units who they could assist. They don’t have to do invasive but could help give IMs, certain meds, showers, ambulate, or just be there as company to patients. As nurses we should think outside of the box. You might be in the heart of the pandemic but you shouldn’t let it stifle you from teaching. As a nurse you are a teacher to new nurses and you just shouldn’t throw that out. Unfortunately no one saw this pandemic coming and being as destructive as it has.

friendlyelse · May 18, 2020

You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. Shouldn't let the pandemic stifle me from teaching? Really? Do you honestly think Nurses had the time to teach in that situation? Listen, what you are seeing on TV was just a glimpse of what is actually going on. We did not even have the time to grab a bite, far less to teach. Do some critical thinking...Even the hospital had to cancel all formal orientation. What can I say. Your prerogative. I am just saying it as I see it.

JoC12345 · May 19, 2020

On 5/18/2020 at 6:01 PM, friendlyelse said:
You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. Shouldn't let the pandemic stifle me from teaching? Really? Do you honestly think Nurses had the time to teach in that situation? Listen, what you are seeing on TV was just a glimpse of what is actually going on. We did not even have the time to grab a bite, far less to teach. Do some critical thinking...Even the hospital had to cancel all formal orientation. What can I say. Your prerogative. I am just saying it as I see it.

Whether you like it or not, you signed up to be a nurse. You know what comes with the job. Do your research and look at the history of pandemics and what took place. If you had more students to help you, you could “grab a bite.” And so you are aware My friend was in Italy with her husband who is in the military as a nurse. So I’m completely aware of what is going on and how much pain and suffering people are going through. If you let it get to you then it will get to you. That sounds weird but it’s the truth. Just like I said students would benefit going to other areas to help, or to even grab food for other nurses since you mentioned that. But instead of thinking of ways to help benefit you just think negatively.

friendlyelse · May 19, 2020

Don't you have any assignments to do or books to read? One of the good qualities of Nursing...you cannot be judgmental but here you are throwing judgments without knowing someone. Read to understand; then analyze to understand what someone is trying to say. Hint: Critical Thinking is paramount in Nursing. I don't have to do research on any other Country. I am in NYC in the epic center....by the way QUIT WHINING. They would chew you in NYC. goodbye

Khow89 · May 19, 2020

There's too much liability for the schools to let students work during the pandemic.