As you will be aware the RCN is calling its members out on strike action (Thursday 15 Dec and Tuesday 20 Dec).

This is likely to impact on the availability of nursing staff cover within schools. It is imperative that under no circumstances should Classroom Assistants undertake nursing duties or feel under any pressure to cover the tasks which would be outside their job description and list A of clinical interventions.

If nurses are not going to be present in school as a result of their lawful industrial action, we should ensure solidarity with them and no cover will be available by NIPSA members. Classroom Assistants must not undertake nursing tasks. Unfortunately, this may mean that some pupils cannot attend school during the strike days.

Please circulate to your Classroom Assistant members.

Alan Law
Assistant Secretary

Clinical Interventions/Procedures
  • Tracheostrophy Tube Cleaning
  • Administering Rectal Valium/Diazepam
  • Administering Buccal Diazepam
  • Use of epipen to administer adrenalin as a result of child going into shock
  • Using a nebuliser or spacer to administer a drug to children with asthma. (This does not include children who self-administer with an inhaler).
  • Insertion and removal of a catheter
  • Administering oxygen
  • Carrying out a diabetic “prick test”
  • Administration of insulin (also lack of intervention could result in “diabetic hypo”
  • Tube feeding
  • CPR
  • Colostomy
  • Suctioning of children using appropriate equipment to prevent chocking.

This list is not exhaustive but is illustrative of the types of procedures which would be applicable.

List of Clinical Interventions/Procedures

(in accordance with the pupil’s care plan and for which specific training is needed)

  • Tracheostrophy Tube Cleaning
  • Administering ad monitoring rectal Valium/diazepam
  • Administering buccal diazepam
  • Using a nebuliser or spacer to administer a drug to children with asthma (this does not include children who self-administer)
  • Insertion and removal of a catheter
  • Tube feeding
  • CPR (where the medical plan identifies the need for this)
  • Colostomy bag
  • Suctioning of children using appropriate equipment to prevent choking
  • Administration of insulin (also lack of intervention which could result in “diabetic hypo”)
  • Use of an epipen to administer adrenalin as a result of a child going into shock
  • Using specific physiotherapy techniques to deal with children with cystic fibrosis.

This list is not exhaustive but is illustrative of the types of procedures which would be applicable.