Student Nurse Apprentice: An individual who Is currently enrolled in a Board approved nursing education program; has completed the fundamental of the nursing program and been competency validated for those skills; Is employed by a licensed healthcare facility where the apprenticeship is to be performed; and is actively engaged in a registered apprenticeship, pursuant to the Alabama Industry Recognized and Registered Apprenticeship Program Act. See outline below:
Student Nurse Apprentice
- Currently enrolled in a Board approved nursing education program
- Competency validation must be performed for each skill to be assigned prior to assignment of that skill.
- Employed by a licensed healthcare facility where the apprenticeship will occur.
- Active registered Nurse apprenticeship agreement on file with the ABN in compliance with the Alabama Industry Recognized Registered Apprenticeship Program Act
- The student has submitted the application fee of $50.00 and has obtained an ABN approval permit prior to beginning apprenticeship.
The nursing student must submit Nurse Apprenticeship application and fee of $50. The applicant must be on the nursing education approved roster. Once received, ABN staff will review and issue all applicable permits to the student.
Student nurse apprentices who have been issued a permit may perform the board-approved nursing skills after meeting the qualifications for the basic or advanced skills list.
The approved skills list is available on the ABN Website: Student Nurse Apprenticeship Skills List
Skills that may NOT be performed by a student nurse apprentice include:
- Administration and discontinuation of blood or blood products
- Administration of IV chemotherapy
- Taking verbal or phone orders without the presence of the licensed nurse preceptor
- Transporting a patient alone when an RN is required
- Providing second signature/check for controlled drugs, blood products, and medications listed as requiring independent double-checking
- Witnessing consents
- Any skills for which the student nurse apprentice has not been cleared by the nursing education program
The list of students approved to work as a student nurse apprentice is available on the ABN website under License/Permit Lookup.
Nursing Program apprentice roster: A primary source document submitted to the Board identifying nursing students eligible for apprentice permits and certifying the student competency validation for basic or advanced nursing skills.
Permit Invalidation: The permit is automatically invalid if the nursing student withdraws from the apprentice program, withdraws from the nursing education program, or does not make satisfactory progress in the nursing education program. The educational program is responsible for notifying the Board of student withdrawal.
Student Nurse Apprentice Permit: A board-issued permit issued for the duration of the student’s enrollment in an Alabama-approved nurse apprentice program.
A supervising licensed nurse may suspend an apprenticeship due to poor performance and collaborate with the nursing education program to oversee remediation until the apprentice can perform at an acceptable skill level.
Failure to perform at an acceptable level could result in dismissal from the apprenticeship and failure of the nursing education program.
The supervising licensed nurse is responsible for validating, in advance, an apprentice’s competency to perform nursing skills or activities assigned to the apprentice in the clinical setting.