Did you get to choose your Clinicals site/schedule?

[Stacilator]

Hi all!

My question is about your clinicals: do you get to choose your sites/schedule? Or, at the very least, voice your top choices?

The reason I ask is this: In the first and second semesters of my program we were allowed to sign up for the location we preferred. They made it very clear that they may have to switch it around, but we were allowed to voice our preference, and to my knowledge only had to switch 1 or 2 people around. Now they have announced that for our third semester (which is a summer semester) we are no longer allowed to choose, and that allowing us to choose was a "pilot" program and it failed, and no, they cannot explain why we failed at selecting our own clinical sites/schedules.

Personally, though it was NICE to be able to choose, I didn't expect to be able to choose from the get go and it was just a pleasant surprise. However, we now have some students who are OUTRAGED. Threatening to drop, whining all over our facebook, attacking(verbally) another student who had the guts to speak up and say, hey, we chose this, it sucks, but we can make it.

So I am just wondering what your program procedures are for clinicals. Thank you!

[guest798886]

At my school, they don't have a say at all. Even if you ask to be placed somewhere close to home, they still won't change anything. Sucks really.

Sent from my iPhone using the allnurses.com

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

The way it was listed in my school was that you have 3 sections except when there was low enrollment and they dropped it down to 2. One was traditionally night lecture + online lecture and 2 day lectures. Each was labeled A, B, or C. Then they split up clinicals among them. So by picking an online lecture or night lecture, you picked A clinicals which usually had a few that started at 2 pm. However, sometimes the did not have "good" clinical spots like there was one with just a 2 pm lecture and 5 weekend clinicals. No variety.

We did not know the floor till the week before clinical as it changes semester from semester. Sometimes you can guess like X usually teaches this clinical and she is usually on the unit she works at which would be 5th floor.

However, if too many people drop clinicals, they cancel the clinical and merge the students into other clinicals. Sucks for those who ended up merged.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

We were not allowed to choose.

[kaydensmom01]

Nope, we did not get to choose or switch.

[zeus&lincoln]

We were assigned all of our clinical sites, times and days, no exceptions! During our practicum semester we were permitted to fill out our "dream sheet." Within it had a list of top 3 hospitals, days or nights and top 5 specialty units. The only caveat was that you couldn't do practicum on the same floor that you teched. Most people DID NOT get their preferences.

[RNtobe556]

first semester don't get to have a say at all! but the others we do get to choose! Thank God too because some how I don't think I would beable to drive 5 hr out of the way! or what ever the case may be

[TLeeM]

For my program (starting this summer), my understanding is we have a choice of 1 of 3 options and it is up to the class to work out who goes where. It becomes an exercise in leadership, team work and good sportsmanship.

[mzrainydayz, BSN, RN]

At my school we can't choose our clinical site. We have to drive to any facility up to 100 miles. It sucks because some that live close to that facility have to drive far to another one. Each semester we don't find out until like the first week of class where you are placed, they just hand out a sheet with clinical sections and names. We do have the option of trading with someone, but if you have a clinical site that no one wants then you are stuck. I have just learned to suck it up and go where ever. You can't choose your day or time, so basically you have to keep a open schedule. I am thankful my job is flexible and will work with me.

[MedicalPartisan]

Thanks for resurfacing my frustration.

I start in May. Every term until this one students have been able to submit a preference fort their clinical site; most students got their preference. I've worked at one of the three major local hospitals since I graduated high school almost 6 years and was definitely bummed that they all-online orientation stated "STUDENTS DO NOT GET A CHOICE IN THEIR CLINICAL SITES" as if it had never been allowed before. Oh well... I guess.

[Pink Magnolia, BSN, RN]

We are given the dates and times when we go to clinical. Somedays are even on the weekend.

[bplantz]

The way it was listed in my school was that you have 3 sections except when there was low enrollment and they dropped it down to 2. One was traditionally night lecture + online lecture and 2 day lectures. Each was labeled A, B, or C. Then they split up clinicals among them. So by picking an online lecture or night lecture, you picked A clinicals which usually had a few that started at 2 pm. However, sometimes the did not have "good" clinical spots like there was one with just a 2 pm lecture and 5 weekend clinicals. No variety.

We did not know the floor till the week before clinical as it changes semester from semester. Sometimes you can guess like X usually teaches this clinical and she is usually on the unit she works at which would be 5th floor.

However, if too many people drop clinicals, they cancel the clinical and merge the students into other clinicals. Sucks for those who ended up merged.

My school is the same. A is for morning lectures, B is afternoon, and C is night/weekend lectures. If you choose group A you get to pick from 2-3 "A" clinical sites - same for B & C. They try to give each group a morning/night clinical option.