Student nurses employed as Assistants in Nursing (AINs) in acute facilities

The role of an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) in an acute facility is greatly limited in terms of assisting direct patient care. Careful consideration must be given to employing AINs in acute units of a facility, as patients requiring acute care commonly have complex concurrent needs and conditions that are unstable. The demands of providing nursing care in the acute environment are often unpredictable and the system can be complex to navigate. Consequently, a high level of supervision and support for AINs is required. This information sheet outlines regulations, advice, undergraduate student in nursing and references.