Having the student engage in chores, while helpful and seemingly polite, can set you up for problems.
If something is supposed to be done and doesn't get done, the student cannot be held responsible by the agency. So if they mess up an equipment control, don't perform it at all for whatever reason, or are acting too independantly, somebody who trusted them or used the student to reduce the amount of work from a paid provider, at the agency is going to take a big hit on the off chance things go wrong. Like anything, themore students you have the higher your risk exposure.
All it takes is for one person to start treating a student like a probationary firefighter (not picking on FFs but they are notoriously hard on new people) and having them do all the crap work (aka F ******new guy, rookie, etc ) for them to file a harassment or hazing complaint. In addition to the person doing the "harassment," the preceptor, shift officer, etc can get dragged into the mess. The student most likely will not be returned to the clinical site, but the fallout can have longterm effects on the careers of people named.
When you start giving students poor reviews for the inability of not being an unpaid part of the team, it creates a hostile environment not conducive to learning. They are paying to learn. Your agency is hosting them (often receiving something in return) doing daily chores is not part of the curriculum. academia recognizes a clinical site as a professional worksite, not as "your house," it is possible to ruin professional relationships for expecting more than the required academic learning objectives. (another reason why preceptors should be specially chosen and trained, not just whoever shows up for work)
It is not that I don't appreciate when somebody helps out or that I would turn an offer for help down, the problem comes in when people start expecting it. When the line between student and team member blurs, problems inevitably develop.
