Doh! No time to be sick...

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So, I'm in my 3rd semester of 4 in my ABSN program. I take MSI, MS II, Psych, Leadership/Management, and an NCLEX review course this semester. Last Thursday I woke up with a painfully sore throat, and I knew I was coming down with something. I got up and went to class from 8-5 anyways, then to a meeting we had to attend. Took some Nyquil and went to bed at a decent hour, and got to sleep in since my mgmt. clinical wasn't until 1 on Friday. Got through the 4 hours of clinical, and since there wasn't any patient care involved I just used a lot of sanitizer and powered through it. Today's Saturday, and I still feel like a steaming pile of crapola. My problem is that it's so hard to study when I feel like this! I have two exams next Thursday and two the following week, plus all the other assignments, reading, and the 25 hours/week of clinical. It's just some kind of virus, my husband seems to have the same thing even though he came down with it while he was out of town, on the same day I got sick. How has everyone dealt with being sick during the semester? Class attendance isn't mandatory but I wouldn't dream of skipping, and if I used my one allowed clinical absence on Tuesday I'd still have to go in on Weds. I feel bad about going in to the hospital sick, but what are we as students supposed to do? We can only miss one for any reason, so if I use it in the third week on a cold and get into a car accident or something in April I fail. That's not an option, so I'll be at clinical all week. The problem now is that I can't concentrate on anything! I have so much studying to do, and there isn't any time built in to fall behind. I've still got tomorrow to rest at least, but I have so much work to do...just wish I could have gotten sick at a more convenient time, like during the holidays or something.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

If we have the sniffles at work, I wear a mask. Is that an option? I totally know about sick leave and going to work/school sick. Not much fun, I totally agree. Hopefully by Monday, you'll be feeling better.

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Eek, I was sick last quarter, but went anyway- although we didn't have clinicals. This quarter my mom fell and broke her ankle. She ended up having surgery and getting a cast put on. I have had her temporarily move in with us, I still have been going to class. Although I know my concentration has not been great. I always record the lectures. A few of my classmates have been sick at various times and have asked me to send them my recordings. I don't mind. I was also told never to miss clinicals so even if I am sick I plan on showing up, but I will ask the clinical instructor, as every quarter someone seems to be sick. They must have some extra precautions they would advise using ie. masks, frequent handwashing, etc. I just hope that I stay healthy, but as you know the stress of nursing school makes you more susceptible. I wish you well. Unfortunately rest, lots of fluids and time are the only things that work for the flu. Hang in there!!

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I'm only in my first semester, and I'm paranoid about being sick. I told everyone they're not allowed to be sick on M,T,W,Th. Next 8 weeks they CAN be sick on W (lol).

We've already lost 1 person in our group due to absences. This person left lecture early 2x, and was late once. That person was asked to leave a week or so ago.

And then on Thursday, another person in my class got sick (we had skills lab then). They were going to go home, but after talking to the teacher in charge of the class (who happens to be my clinical instructor) the person decided to stay. They'd been throwing up all night, and the person sat with a trash can next to them all day (and sat in the very back of the room). I hope we all don't come down with it this week.

When I asked my clinical instructor about sickness (and now I wonder if I did the right thing- or I'm going to be pegged a "troublemaker") she said that there are NO excused absences from clinical. But our syllabus says you are allowed 1 absence. But I don't think they want us to show up sick! Esp since our 1st clinical's in a hospital that has mostly sick elderly patients! Maybe they say that so that you don't call in "sick" to clinical b/c you just don't feel like going. But honestly, after all the work it took me to get to this point, I would NEVER do something like that.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

That's the thing....I wound up getting sick on the FIRST day of class, due to working on the peds unit the night before....so I sent email, etc.....ended up showing up to clinicals, then going to other class the next day....so it works out...but what a impression!

They NEVER want you to be sick, but if you talk to them and you sound like death warmed over, I'm sure they'll make an exception...although you have to make it up, and there just isn't that much time for that.....

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Still sick today...I'm progressing at least, it's moved from my nose and sinuses to more down in my chest, and usually when I get sick that's how it goes. After another day or two of a nasty cough, I ought to be better...I have my med pour check off tomorrow, so I just hope I can concentrate enough to pass it! Otherwise I'll be the one person who won't be able to pass meds at clinical, and that's just embarassing.

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I think it is cruel and unusual punishment that nursing students get sick so often! I'm sorry you're feeling crummy. I would go to clinical if you possibly can because like you said, you never know if you might HAVE to miss a day later on. I've done clinical while sick and I just wore a mask, asked for less acute patients that day, and explained to my patients who asked that I had a little cold and didn't want to sneeze on them. They were all understanding. I'd also take your vitamins and I find that I seem to get better faster if I take emergen-c so I always keep that on hand. It gives me a little energy boost too. I hope you feel better soon!

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Definitely taking my vitamins, and as long as I'm ambulatory I'll go to clinical. I do plan on letting my preceptor know I'm a little under the weather, asking for a less acute and definitely not immunocompromised pt, and depending on my pt and how I feel I guess I could wear a mask. It just sux that there is NO time built in for us to ever get ill, and especially in an accelerated program, we really can't ever take a break from studying. I wish there was a med I could take to make my brain work better when it's filled with snot, but they don't seem to have developed that one yet. Thanks for the concern!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

Okay....first of all, the students who were forced to sit in a class with someone with some kind of stomach bug :barf02:and a trash can next to them are to be commended for not lynching that instructor. I am sorry, but unless this person is chronically absent, give EVERYONE a break; it's just *******' wrong!! Thanks heavens, our lectures aren't that closely monitored; they take roll, but primarily so if a student has a complaint about test scores, the instructors can start off by pointing to poor attendance if it applies.

Second, the whole clinical sickness thing is a real quandary. I went to each semester with some kind of bug. One semester I was really dragging, especially when you add in the fact that I am NOT an early morning person and it was TOUGH. However, I think fever or anything that seems particularly contagious should be a good enough excuse to stay away from clinicals. We are allowed 2 absences per semester, but have extensive clinical paperwork that has to be completed on campus in order to make up for it. Believe me, we only had to hear "It took me 8 hours in the lab to finish that" for almost no one to miss clinicals if possible. It's too bad that people that take advantage of things ruin it for those who really can't make clinicals/class due to illness.

Best wishes all and healthy nursing school semesters!! :rckn:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, IM, OB/GYN, neuro, GI.

I know how you feel about not padding the schedule with a couple of sick days for the students. During our first set of clinicals we wer at a LTC facility and the nurses were happy to let us know that we would have a lot of code browns because there was a 72 hour bug going around. I caught it had to miss one day of clinical because it started on a Sun. and the day I drug myself in I basically spent the whole day with the toilet. I think the entire clinical gorup caught this. No sooner get over that and the nurses let us know that now there's a case of pink eye going around. Caught that too and had to go to clinicals with glasses on so I wouldn't touch my eye and AB eye drops and Visine to get the red out. That was the only time I had to miss clinicals.

When I feel like I'm coming down with or have a cold I stay away from everyone and when I have to go into a patients room I just wear a mask. If the patients ask I tell them that I'm coming down with/have a cold. They're usually happy about it because they don't want to get any sicker. I also keep one of those little travel size hand sanitizer so if I cough or sneeze I don't infect anything and I don't have to keep on getting up and running to one of the patients room to use the facilities. Plus mine smells better and doesn't leave my hands sticky.

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Poor baby..I completely understand what you are going. I got sick on the day I was to start my first nursing class! I was miserable but there was no way I could miss the first week of nursing school. I tried to prepare myself before going into class by drinking hot tea, taking my medicine, making sure I had a bottle of water and kleenex. But it was so hard to concentrate on my homework, we had 22 CHAPTERS to read in the first week plus corresponding workbooks and a critical thinking assignment. And I had to work that week! When I wasnt working or in class I slept and relaxed. Thats my advice to you is get through class/clinicals and when you're not get PLENTY OF REST! Good Luck and feel better.:specs:

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Well, I'm mostly better, but it took a week and I'm still not 100%. Most of our school, instructors included came down with the same thing - and you know what? They came in too and lectured anyways, since we don't have any makeup days built into that schedule either. Took an exam yesterday with my head still fuzzy, so I'm not sure how well I did (and she still hasn't posted scores grrrr), but at least I have some energy now to study for the two next week.

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