EMPLOYMENT

It is advisable to plan ahead, so that it is not necessary to work, when a full RN course load is carried.  The student must be responsible for her/his own educational goals.

Decisions must be made about whether to work or to have ample time to get the most benefit from the educational opportunity. Working is particularly inadvisable during the beginning semester and should be carefully regulated during any semester.  Students are expected not to work 11-7 on the night before any clinical experience.  This is to assure maximum rest and the elimination of potential problems that may be associated with fatigue and/or minimal rest. Those students who have completed all or most of their general education requirements by the end of the first year in nursing are encouraged to gain further clinical experience through either full-time summer employment in nursing or perhaps part-time work during the sophomore year.

When a hospital or other such agency employs a student in the nursing program, that student becomes the responsibility of the employer.  Functions performed by the student should be limited to basic patient care, such as nurse's aide and orderly level.  LVNs enrolled in this program may, of course, be employed as LVNs. Again, a word of caution about over-employment at the expense of education. The student must be aware of educational limitations if she/he is under stress about both finances and workload.  There is a personal obligation on the part of the student to bring the priority of educational needs to the attention of the employing agency.  Since the goal of this program centers on the education of the nursing student for a role to be assumed in the future, special consideration will not be given for problems arising from the student's work load.

Some individuals may want to become certified as nursing assistants to provide more employment opportunities. The rules to become certified include both classroom and clinical requirements and are set up by the Texas Department of Human Services. To be eligible to take the competency evaluation based on competency in nursing skills as a RN student, an individual must pay a fee to the Texas Department of Human Services, Long Term Care Division, Nurse Aide Training Program, P.O. Box 149030, Austin, Texas 78714-9030.  However, the fee does not provide a test site.  Some Long-Term Care employers such as nursing homes give the examination for individuals they employ. This testing possibility is the student's responsibility to negotiate and arrange.  Forms for this do change but the most current form is provided as Appendix F.

When working at a hospital or health care facility, the Del Mar student arm insignia or picture identification badge is not to be worn.  A student working, who represents himself/herself during work as an ADNS, is subject to disciplinary action or suspension from the program.