About skipping the last clinical

#1rnstudent · Jul 16, 2004

I have never missed a day and watched everyone else get 1,2, or 3 days off without a problem. I think I am a moron... I say go ahead, call in sick. Just be smart about it and don't go out shopping or something on the same day.

Altra, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2004

Personally I wouldn't do it. Believe me, I hear what you're saying about taking the day to study for the final - I just took a horrendous test this morning after 2 clinical days and I've had a grand total of about 13 hours of sleep in the last 3 days. But ... I dunno, I just get so much out of each clinical day that I can't imagine skipping one intentionally. And if a majority of your group doesn't show up ... IMO it'll look really, really bad.

HyperRNRachel · Jul 16, 2004

MLOS, you know we think alike, I feel the same way. It would be really hard not showing up, when I know there are days the nurses really need our help. And the hospital I am at now has been incredible about showing us new skills, letting us do new skills, and answering many, many, questions without a bit of attitude.

suzy253, RN · Jul 16, 2004

I wouldn't do it either..however tempting. You can bet that the instructor will know you're doing it to study for the final and that you're not really sick. Not worth it I don't think....

Ari RN, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2004

I would do it...... In fact I always did it. If you've never been absent a clinical day take it off for heaven's sake. You need all the study time possible. Your instructor can't do anything about it. Just call in sick for the day. Even if everyone call's in sick.

Good Luck on Finals!

palesarah · Jul 16, 2004

Has you clinical group considered asking your clinical instructor if you could use your last clinical day as a group study session? We did that several times in school. Our clinical instuctors would even bring in our previous tests to go over. It was great having them there to answer questions. One semester we even did a "Jeapardy" format study session with another clinical group.

If not, I would at least be honest with your instructor and let him/her know ahead of time that you will not be attending clinical.

Bekahlynn · Jul 16, 2004

I wanna know where you all go to school. If we miss a clinical day, we have to make it up on our own time. My father had open heart surgery a couple of semesters ago, and obviously I wans't at clinical that day. I had to make it up after the semester was over. This past semester, a girl in my clinical group got into an accident (Indiana, middle of winter, icy road) and didn't make it in. The following week, she had to stay until 7pm both days of clinicals instead of 3 to make up the missed time. I am so jealous :rolleyes:

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2004

Bekahlynn, other than preceptorship our instructors had to be with us in clinicals, so we were allowed a sick day without make up.

To the OP, do you really need the day off to study? Is it that imperitive and if you take it off will you truly study? If you've done well and haven't called in sick there probably isn't anything they can do. Sounds very tempting.

lisamc1RN, LPN · Jul 16, 2004

Wow! We have to have 100% attendance at clinicals. There is one make up day per semester. If you miss that, your out!

christinemj · Jul 16, 2004

I wouldn't do it.

Of course, at my school, any missed clinical time results in makeup "paperwork." Writing a paper, doing a written assignment....something that pertains to the clinical experience that was missed.

This past semester I was SOOOOO sick (pregnant) but I stuck it out every day because it was "easier" to "suffer" through the clinical day that to do the written assignments!!! :chuckle

smk1, LPN · Jul 17, 2004

boy that sounds tempting. is your instructor an understanding, "work with you" type? I almost feel like you should show up then dismiss yourself for personal reasons and then you might come out fit looking better, than those who simply skip. tough one though... I don't know, if you really need the study time i would go for it. (far more important to do well on the final)