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What is a Nursing Technician?

A nursing technician is a nursing student licensed to work in hospitals, nursing homes, or clinics under the direct supervision of a registered nurse. They can provide a wide variety of the following nursing care tasks to patients, and can help with staffing needs:

  • Gather information about patients
  • Perform specific nursing functions
  • Provide care for patients
  • Work to their verified level of skill and education
 
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Benefits of Hiring a Nursing Technician

Nursing Technicians who work in health care settings are eager to learn and practice their skills.

Hiring Nursing Technicians can:

  • Fill critical staffing needs
  • Create a hiring pool of future licensed Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses
  • Promote partnership with local nursing programs
  • Give future nurses valuable experience
  • Help nursing students meet graduation requirements
Dr. Alecia Nye talks about the benefits of hiring nursing students.
Jenny Weaver talks about her positive experience of being a nursing technician.
“The experience that they (nursing students) get as a nursing technician or CNA even before that, has been so beneficial for them in their nursing programs that I just feel it's a win-win all the way around. For employers to cover tuition costs to help get people into the CNA program, and have a guaranteed employee for a period of time, it's a great way to recruit people into the field of nursing and ensure staffing.”

— Jeannie Eylar, MSN, RN, WABON Pro-tem, former Board Chair

Laws Governing Nursing Technicians

Review the Washington State nursing technician laws to learn more about working with nursing technicians:

Sample Nursing Technicians Job Description

Download a sample Nursing Technician job description and use it to create one for your organization.

Sample Nursing Technician job description (PDF)

Find Nursing Technicians

Contact the nursing programs in your area to find and recruit nursing technicians.

Nursing schools and education programs

Nursing Education Rules

Find the rules for nursing education programs in WAC 246-840-500 through WAC 246-840-571