Need advice about sticky practicum situation- long but please HELP!!!

[bluesky, BSN, RN]

Ok here's the story. I have been longing, passionately, for my senior practicum at a magnet hospital which is about 30 miles from where I live (with a vicious rush hour).

Well I started pushing for the scholarship program in early October when it was offered. I was accepted in November but the ER only gave me a schedule this week. To make a long story short, she gave me a VERY difficult schedule with 3 X12's a week ( in addition to other classes and a husband who NEEDS to work at least 5 X12's to make ends meet including a weekend contract with a local hospital) and different preceptors. The ER director also told me I would have to compete with everyone else in that state (different than the one I live/go to school in) if I want employment afterwards (which is different than what my scholarship rep at school said when I applied). I will have to use the scholarship money I receive just to pay someone to take care of my son for all the weekend shifts I was scheduled for. So now I figure if I take the money, I may end up in MedSurg which for me is the ultimate nightmare (please don't get offended, all you awesome M/S RNs out there... I have the UTMOST respect for you, being able to do something I just can't).

I did make some major mistakes including disclosing that I have epilepsy (though well controlled) and not being available for 2 weeks in January b/c I was on vacation. I understand this looked bad to them, but I was calling them at least 3X/ month for sooo many months in 2003 and I just got blown off or told to wait.

At this point I just don't know what to do. My husband is yelling and cussing me out because he can't afford to take so many shifts off or pay someone. My school is not letting me miss lecture on the days that I was scheduled at the hospital. The hospital doesn't want me after February and the manager believes that she is sincerely already "working around my needs".

:confused: :confused:

[Rapheal]

I am sorry that your schedule is so tough. How long is the preceptorship? As a med/surg nurse I take no offense at you wanting to go where your heart desires. If your heart desires to work at this hopital then you need to make this a huge priority and accept the negatives of the situation. You might have to miss vacation as well if they will hold it against you.

You could really try to make a go of this and show them how willing and able you are to accomplish your goal. Gather recommendations and copy the reviews (glowing I imagine) to bring with you during your future interview. Meet the unit manager and show her/him how valuable you will be to the ED.

The question is how bad do you want it, and will this position be worth the temperary high stress that you will be facing. Make a list of the pro and cons of this position. The commute, car maintenance, gas, ect., ect.,.

Hope this works out for the best for you. Just take a step back and read your post and try to answer it as if you were the one giving advice.

Good luck and God bless. Beth

[memphispanda, RN]

My feeling...

If they are this unwilling to work with you when they know you are a student, how willing are they going to be to work with you when you are a regular employee?

I don't know how a facility like that would ever get magnet status, but I wouldn't break my neck to work at a place like that. The stress is not worth it.

[passing thru]

I think you need to analyze why you are "longing passionately"

to do the practicum at this particular hospital.

Write the pro's and con's on paper where you can read them. No matter how small.....write the pro's on paper.

Only then can you "see"....

Are your pro's - - your reasons for desiring to go to that hospital based in reality?????????

or something some one told you?

an impression you have of the hospital?

WHY would you want to go there to the exclusion of every

thing else?

Is this sacrifice REALLY that important to your career goals 3-5 years from now?

You can get the experience you want without all this hardship, stress, sacrifice, etc.

It doesn't make sense to me.

Part of the puzzle is missing.

Why are you hell-bent to go there?

What is the utterly distasteful alternative? And have you given the alternative equal consideration and time as

you have given

your passion to work at the magnet hospital?

Is this an ego thing?

Do you think you will have more prestige telling the Jones'

that you are working at the magnet hospital?

Pride.....