Premature Clinicals Question??

[Xlorgguss]

Hi guys,

I have a question about clinicals. I have tried to look around the site and google and all that but I didn't get a clear answer. So my question is what are clinicals, when do you do them, and how do they really work?

So I understand that you rotate through different areas of nursing and it is where you learn your practical skills, right? I am looking to enter an ADN program and the site didn't mention 'clinicals'. However certain nursing courses have additional components which are outside of the classroom. Those classes would include-

Nursing Care of the Adult and Child 1 &2

Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Maternity Nursing

So are the additional components to those classes 'clinicals' or are clinicals something entirely different?

My major concern is that I will be starting as a Clinical Lab Support Tech in the Microbiology dept of a hospital and my shift is 4pm-12:30pm. And unfortunately they can't be flexible with class. And I really need to keep this job because after a year they give pretty awesome tuition benefits, they are the premiere hospital in my area, and also have their own nursing programs as far as a BSN, MSN, etc.

The whole thing just has me really concerned and anxious.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Oh and for what it's worth I am coming from a Biology/Pre-Med major.

Thanks!

[Fireman767]

So you have clinicals two days a week it seems. Sadly nursing schools set their clinicals in stone, and if you miss more than 2, usually your dropped from the program (for mine that is, and if there is a medical issue like spraining a leg and such and it counts). So the short of it is, if your work interferes with your clinicals, you need to decide which is more important. You don't want to be fired from the hospital for poor attendance or excessive missed days, then as an RN most places won't hire you because you have a bad history of working in the hospital. The school probably won't make exceptions for you because you'll be entering a new student, and statistics show only a handful of students move past the first semester. You should find out if you can do part time work, otherwise you need to make the decision of which one is more important.

[meeep, BSN, RN]

I've seen a lot of girls fail out because they worked too much and couldn't handle it + the workload of nursing school. Just something to take into consideration.

[SunsetButterfly]

Have you talked to your school to find out if it is feasable to hold a job while in the program? Some of the schools I am looking at come right out and say it is impossible or nearly impossible to hold a job outside of the program. Even when you are not in class or in clinicals, there is studying and prep work that needs to be done for the next time.