How early do you need to come to the clinicals?

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For those who have started clinicals already, how early do you have to come to the site? Say your clinical starts at 7, do you need just to come a couple of minutes early? or do you need to come, like one hour early to set up?

Is it OK to be late sometime? From my experience of taking pre-reqs at a local community college, there are always students who are late, and there seems to be no problem at all. Not sure about the actual nursing school.

I'm asking since I'm starting nursing school next fall. Already got accepted :biggringi! It's an evening program, clinical starts 4pm. I'm wondering whether it is OK to leave work at 3:30.

Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
You might want to make sure your hand lotions are compatible with the gloves you use. (Oil based lotions can make latex gloves degenerate).

Oooooooooh, yuck....thanks for the info!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
I will depend on your program. I know where I'm going there was somebody about 3 minutes late for clinicals and she was talked to. As far as I'm concerned...if you can get to clinicals on a Saturday ontime (the first one too) then you have problems and if they kick you out so be it. I understand things happen but this girl comes late for classes and leaves early. I doubt something happened on this Saturday with lovely weather. I know I may be late someday in the future because of an issue but I don't think you can plan to be late on a regular basis.

And besides everything else, I don't imagine too many RNs appreciate a fellow RN who can't report ontime to relieve the previous shift. That would have to be very frustrating and it's not like someone can just leave the floor without that person showing up.

I don't think there should be much leeway for those who are perpetually late....this is a career obligation, not just a school obligation we're showing up for!!

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Specializes in Maternity & Well Baby Nursery.

:yeahthat:

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Specializes in Med-Surg so far.

We have to report at 7:30am for pre-conference. There wouldn't be any point in getting there earlier than that, and the teacher doesn't make a big deal about being 2-3 minutes late. There is one girl who keeps showing up 20 minutes late though, and she was spoken to yesterday. Lateness like that annoys the crap out of me. If she was my coworker, I'd be pissed.

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we have to get all our info the night before on our patient. If there are changes we just roll with them.

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Specializes in Education, Administration, Magnet.

On our clinical days, we have to be in pre conference at 0630. But on the days that we are a "team leader" and have to make assignments for the clinical group, we have to be there at 0500.

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I'm always there 30-45 minutes before we all formally meet, which is 7:15-7:30AM for me.

You'll want to do things such as look up the most recent patient information and meet your patient before meeting at class. At least, that's what we do.

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For those who have started clinicals already, how early do you have to come to the site? Say your clinical starts at 7, do you need just to come a couple of minutes early? or do you need to come, like one hour early to set up?

Is it OK to be late sometime? From my experience of taking pre-reqs at a local community college, there are always students who are late, and there seems to be no problem at all. Not sure about the actual nursing school.

I'm asking since I'm starting nursing school next fall. Already got accepted :biggringi! It's an evening program, clinical starts 4pm. I'm wondering whether it is OK to leave work at 3:30.

Per my class schedule, clinical starts at 7:30 AM. We are required to be there by 7:25 AM to get assignment of client and go over the days routine. If we are not there at 7:25 we recieve a VNS (violation of nursing standards). After 2 VNS's (we also get them if we miss two classes or are consistently late for lecture, or do something very wrong etc) we have to meet with the department head, our instructors, etc and it can be grounds for dismissal.

I am in the parking lot (I don't have to walk far or take elevators etc to get to where I need to be from there) between 7 and 7:15 am:wink2:

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Specializes in Cardiac/Tele/Step-down.
Hi Holly,

Your clinical bag sounds very efficient and I am taking note. Big question, though: where in the world do you store it as you're working?? How much of these things do you keep in your pockets? (Those 'pocket' sized books are still pretty big for my lab coat pocket.)

Thanks! I try. LOL I do have pockets on my shirt and jacket,which you can't live w/o pockets in hospital. So here is my run down.....

Pockets

pen paper expo marker highlighter scissors pen light little wipes for ports stethoscope around neck with tape hanging on it.

I have a bag I carry with me to clinicals. we had to keep our stuff either in waiting room or nurses lounge. Thats why I say don't bring anything of value with you that you can't replace or would make you sick to pay out for a new one. I never had anything taken but I did lose my NEW 20.00 assessment book. I was mad." You are right about the size. I kept it in my clipboard or bag.b/c it was too heavy for my jacket and thats why I lost it! from taking it out and laying it down no telling where!

Just a note I STILL carry my stuff this way! Im a "For Real" Nurse now and have all that stuff in my pockets. HINT: If you are right handed keep pen/paper in right pocket. BTW I work on the floor I lost my book on. LOL:nurse:

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It would not hurt if you get there 15-30 minutes early. I am always 20 minutes, so that I can have my coffee before I get going.

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IDEA: Put a shoe box in the trunk of your car with a can of Lysol in it. When you get to the car you can spray your shoes and stick them in the box. You don't want to even think about what you are dragging into your car, home, or bag (if you put them inthere)!!! I do that so they stay white, and I don't wear them anywhere else!

I always go at least 20 min. early.. so I can check to see if there are any changes with my pt. (med changes, discharges, ect) so that way I am ready for preconfrence.. Plus it is better to be early and recognized for that then to be the "late one".. instructors never forget those guys!

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
For those who have started clinicals already, how early do you have to come to the site? Say your clinical starts at 7, do you need just to come a couple of minutes early? or do you need to come, like one hour early to set up?

Is it OK to be late sometime? From my experience of taking pre-reqs at a local community college, there are always students who are late, and there seems to be no problem at all. Not sure about the actual nursing school.

I'm asking since I'm starting nursing school next fall. Already got accepted :biggringi! It's an evening program, clinical starts 4pm. I'm wondering whether it is OK to leave work at 3:30.

I cannot say this enough. As a former manager let me warn you all that you should treat your time in nursing school like any other job. How early should you come to your clinical site? Get there on time, kids! Just like you are expected to be on time for any job. One of the things we asked the nursing schools when we were getting references on new grads looking for their first jobs was: What was their attendance record like? Were they tardy for class or clinicals? Did they meet deadlines for assignments? We didn't want an employee who had a record of showing up late for their assignments. That would be plain stupid on our part. You may be going into nursing for the humanitarian aspect of it, but healthcare is a business, folks, and you need to conduct yourselves like proper, responsible people or you are going to find yourself in trouble with school authorities and, subsequently, with employers.

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