Nursing costs make up nearly half of a hospital's total budget, a situation exacerbated by the RN shortage. To maximize effectiveness, hospital administrators must ensure that RNs do only those tasks which require an RN. A nurse “extender” program is described which utilizes nursing students to provide care that does not require the expertise of a RN. This system has increased RN productivity and direct patient care opportunities while simultaneously providing an effective avenue for recruiting RN graduates at decreased orientation costs.