Greater than 2,000 pupil nurses and midwives are to be faraway from their scientific coaching placements in public hospitals on a short lived foundation by the Division of Well being because of the affect of the Covid-19 pandemic on staffing ranges.
Minister for Well being Stephen Donnelly on Saturday authorised the ending of the present placement preparations for pupil nurses and midwives throughout the nation for at the least two weeks in a bid to unlock senior and skilled nurses, who presently oversee the coaching, and to permit them to return to front-line duties.
The scenario is predicted to be reviewed once more in direction of the start of February.
The Division of Well being stated on Saturday night time that the HSE had sought that skilled and certified workers who presently supported undergraduate coaching for college kids in Years 1-3 of their programs be launched for redeployment as a part of the Covid-19 response.
“In gentle of this growth, all scientific placements for pupil nurses and midwives in Years 1-3 might be suspended for a interval of least two weeks from January 18th, 2021, as there might be no academic and help infrastructure for them whereas within the scientific studying setting.”
The Division of Well being stated the scenario was “evolving” and “below fixed assessment within the context of the present Covid-19 demand trajectory”.
The brand new transfer won’t have an effect on these of their remaining yr, who work as interns in hospitals.
The Division of Well being stated at current, pupil nurses and midwives in Years 1-3 of their programs had been thought-about to be “ supernumerary, and their scientific schooling is along with the traditional or requisite variety of certified nurses or midwives”.
“The short-term suspension of those pupil placements will unlock scientific placement co-ordinators, follow co-ordinators, in addition to nurses and midwives working in different academic and coverage growth roles to allow them to help the HSE at this difficult time.
“College students in 12 months 4, the ultimate yr earlier than qualification, are counted for rostering functions as 0.5 of a fulltime equal nurse/midwife. Scholar nurse and midwife placements for interns, who’re in fourth yr, will proceed with the suitable schooling and help infrastructure in place.”
Some native hospitals are understood to have curtailed pupil nurse placements already, however Mr Donnelly’s transfer will see all placements for college kids within the first three years finish at a nationwide degree on a short lived foundation.
It’s understood the HSE contacted the chief nursing officer on the Division of Well being who, in flip, made a suggestion to the Minister. Mr Donnelly authorised the transfer on Saturday.
Mr Donnelly stated he knew many college students could be disillusioned by the developments. He stated, nevertheless, that he needed to reassure them that “all choices might be thought-about in restarting these placements as quickly as it’s attainable”.
Rachel Kenna, Division of Well being chief nursing officer, stated: “I recognise the large dedication college students have made in taking part within the scientific studying environments at a really difficult time. The schooling of pupil nurses and midwives is a precedence for all of us, however this should be performed safely, with the suitable helps and supervision buildings in place.”
Instructional allowance
The scholars affected are anticipated to proceed to obtain their present academic allowance for lodging of €50.79 per week of placement, in addition to SUSI grants and any pandemic unemployment funds to which some could have been entitled.
Final spring about 1,350 college students within the first three years of their programs took up roles as healthcare assistants within the well being service for a interval below an initiative launched by the then authorities.
On this event there might be no nationwide association for pupil nurses to be employed as healthcare assistants, though it’s going to open to hospitals at native degree to take action in the event that they think about it needed.
It’s understood that the HSE informed the Division of Well being a nationwide scheme to make use of pupil nurses as healthcare assistants was not wanted presently.
Larger schooling institutes had been briefed on the choice to finish the scholar nurse placement on a short lived foundation by the Division of Well being on Saturday afternoon.
The Authorities has been below stress for some weeks over funds to pupil nurses.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation argued the scholars on placement had been being exploited and urged that they need to be paid as healthcare assistants. The union and Opposition politicians claimed the scholars on placement had been being successfully requested to to work as workers workers for no pay.
There was additionally criticism of a number of the duties which the scholar nurses had been requested to hold out whereas on their placements in hospitals.
The Division of Well being has contended that no healthcare college students in disciplines akin to drugs, physiotherapy or radiography, for instance, are paid earlier than they qualify, aside from fourth-year pupil nurses who obtain the equal of an annual wage of €21,749 . These coaching in psychiatric nursing obtain the equal of €22,229 for his or her intern interval in fourth yr.
Earlier than Christmas, the Authorities introduced a assessment of allowances which really helpful earlier this month a brand new pandemic placement grant price €100 per week when the scholars are on hospital placements.
Commerce unions expressed unhappiness on the suggestion.