Published Aug 21, 2014
bagface
87 Posts
Our school recently had a change in the attendance policy for clinical. We have more clinical days for an associates program than any other college in the area. We used to be able to miss 24 hours a semester for illness. Now they backed our time down to 16.
Here's where my problem comes in - I ended up in the ER this week with acute pancreatitis. I am going to miss my first two clinical days because I'm in the hospital. Literally on an NPO diet, receiving fluids, antibiotics, pain medications, etc. I do not normally miss clinical days. I usually reserve those absences for when I am legitimately sick. Like when I was in the NICU rotation and broke out in shingles - I missed clinical.
My doctor said I need to miss a week of school. I'm on day six in the hospital. I should get out this weekend hopefully. They tried to give me food twice already and I started vomiting profusely (not to mention the pain - the horrible horrible pain). I would rather go through childbirth than this again - and I went 20+ hours without pain meds during that.
I had my husband bring my school work to the hospital so I could work on it between pain spells and naps. I'm not as productive as I usually am but at least I'm doing SOMETHING. I emailed my clinical instructor to let her know what was happening. She pretty much wrote back that I should just drop the semester and try again next time because I'm maxing my absences in the first week of school. I was FURIOUS. One week of school (which I'm still doing my classwork) and I'm being told to give up the other 15 weeks of the semester? I'm being told to delay my graduation? For an acute illness that I had no control over? Are you kidding me?
I emailed the nursing director of our school and asked her about the policy changes and asked why I couldn't make my clinical days up with another group (there are currently clinicals every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
Am I being unreasonable trying to fight this? Should I even believe this clinical instructor? I'm a great student - all A's and B's in nursing school. Should I just grind down and show up even when I'm sick? I'm not giving in and dropping the semester. I just feel that you should be able to make up clinical time. You used to be able to make up clinical time by paying $50 per clinical absence and attending your clinical with another rotation but they got rid of that policy.
What policy does your school have when you're ill? Are you allowed to make up time? Has anyone else had an acute serious illness that was told pretty much to just drop out of the semester?
I'm really frustrated right now. I hope this instructor never gets sick and has to take a day off work. Heaven forbid we as nursing students get ill occasionally!
malenurse69, MSN, NP
224 Posts
My school has a three strikes you're out policy, but they do work around acute illness and immediate death in family cases. I guess each school is different
studentnursemon86
245 Posts
I haven't been told about our policy yet: I'm sure I will when school starts on Monday.
Is there any way you can contact your dean?
I did that when I was in school for psychology and they let me make up work. We didn't have clinicals for that though, so maybe it was different then.
mrsboots87
1,761 Posts
What you are experiencing is very normal for many, if not most, nursing programs. I know it is very frustrating, and I;m not saying it's right. But its just how it is, and there likely int anything that can be done to make up the missed time. Facilities only allow so many students on the floor for each rotation (generally 8-10, but it can vary). If your school already has the max number of students in each clinical group, then they legally cant send you with another group. Some schools allow you to make up on a different day if the facility allows for more students, or if they have it set up as a make-up day. Most schools do not have this ability because of how many nursing schools there are fighting for clinical placement slots. It sounds like your school is taking u quite a few slots as it is and likely doesnt have the ability to take any more of the facilities time, or they don't have a CI to cover an extra shift. At this point, all you can do is ask if there is any way to do a make-up, but be prepared to be told no because more likely than not, that will be the answer. As far as being told to just drop, as it could have been said better, unless you can make up the time, it wouldnt be bad advice. If you have even one more missed day for whatever reason (especially with flu season coming up), then you would auto fail. At that point it will count as a failed class and up to the schools retake policy on if you can readmit to that class again, and you will be inelligible for a refund for the semester. By dropping, you would get a refund, and would not have a fail which would afford you the ability to defer this semester. Ultimately it is up to you if you are willing to risk it.
In my program, there is not a set amount of time that you can miss each semester. But missing more than 2 would likely result in a failure for one of two reasons. Either you wont meet the clinical hour requirement set by the BON, or you will not have enough time to show satisfactory clinical profficiency in all required areas. In addition to that, missing the first clinical shift results in being dropped for the semester because it a facility orientation day and introduction to how student conduct patient care at that facility. So if you were attending my school, you would be required to drop and not have a choice of continuing on. Be thankful you are even able to miss. And to take it further, when I hit 3rd block (next semester assuming I pass block 2 this semester), you cannot miss any clinical time or you fail because the school is only able to get enough clinical time between OB/peds, and med/surg II placements to meet BON requirements. Missing any would result in inability to sit for boards so they just fail you for the semester.
I hope this works out for you, and I understand being frustrated, but schools have a policy for a reason. They can't just break it fro some students because where would they draw the line on exceptions?
Stephalump
2,723 Posts
I don't think you're being unreasonable fighting it. Graduating is definitely worth fighting for!
But remember...the rule is that you can only miss 16 hours. It isn't "You can only miss 16 hours unless you have a really good reason." So IF you can convince them to work with you, it's going to be because they feel badly for you and are willing to go above and beyond for you. Meaning: watch your approach. You aren't owed make up clinicals. People don't like entitled attitudes.
Whether or not you can make up clinicals probably depends on multiple things - if all the groups are full, they can't have another student. If the hospital will let your school use their facilities after your scheduled final week, if they believe in working with people or if they think it opens too many doors for "special circumstances."
Anyway, I'm sorry you're all holed up in a hospital instead of out here finishing school. That really sucks and it's definitely frustrating. I hope they come around and find a way to work with you!
Jenngirl34RN
367 Posts
My program doesn't have a set limit on what you can miss, just that if it is excessive enough that our clinical instructor feels you aren't meeting the objectives for the quarter you will have to drop. In cases like yours, or other very good reasons, if a clinical or two is missed we have to make it up by doing extra scenarios in the SIM lab. We can't make up with other clinical groups because the hospitals in our area are very strict about scheduling clinical hours, and the school has to let them know months in advance who is going to be there when.
I hope you get everything worked out, and I hope you feel better soon!
Backwardo
40 Posts
In my program, I know I'd be told something similar. We can only miss one day and we have to make it up at the end. There is no switching to the other clinical days. Our dean told us at orientation that if something emergent happens, she is sorry, but it is policy and it will be upheld no matter how dire your circumstance is.
Now, that's not to say I would give up. My approach would be to continue on (and not make a stink with my instructor or the higher ups) and make sure I do everything in my power not to miss another clinical day. You haven't been kicked out. Just keep working towards graduation.
windsurfer8, BSN, RN
1,368 Posts
"I just feel" doesn't mean anything. That is a good lesson to learn if you are going to be a nurse. No one cares what you "feel". They expect you to do your job which is school. They set in place rules and regulations to earn a degree and the opportunity to take the NCLEX exam. "I just feel" will get you nothing. Either do it correctly or don't do it. If you are to sick to do it correctly then do it when you are able to do it correctly. I have been a nurse 8 years and have a moderate amount of experience. My advice....be humble...be professional, and don't whine. Why do you care what the policy is at another school? What matters is the policy at the school you are attending. Same as when you are working. Different hospitals have different policies. When you are getting fired at hospital X they won't give a hoot if you say "but hospital Y does it THIS way". Good luck.
Windsurfer - I care because I'm on a committee that students give feedback to the college on policies that are developed each year. Several of us were handpicked from the beginning and we have made a huge difference in the current practices/policies that do exist. That's why I was CURIOUS as to other colleges and asked their opinions.
As someone who works in a hospital already in a very busy ER I know what professionalism is. I have been working for over 15 years at this point in my life. I know how to handle myself in a proper manner at this point in my career or I wouldn't have made it this far.
In the end they aren't able to work with me for my illness. However my doctor is FINALLY clearing me for school again with minimal restrictions so I'll be able to participate in clinical. Hopefully no more acute pancreatitis attacks are in my future!
NurseGirl525, ASN, RN
3,663 Posts
I understand your frustration, but this is a legal issue. You have to have so many clinical hours to sit for the NCLEX and to meet state requirements for graduation. Plus, if groups are full you cannot just make them up. I know your situation stinks, but if you have to drop, you do. Take care of yourself first. You cannot take care of other people unless you are well first.
SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP
3,152 Posts
I'm sorry you're going through such a rough time. Pancreatitis is awful! I feel for you, it's miserable.
Unfortunately, your only alternative right now is to drop this semester and come back next semester. You're going to need time to recoup and if your school doesn't allow make-up time, there's really no other choice.
The program I'm in has no make-up clinical time whatsoever. We can miss one day with a documented illness, otherwise, we're required to drop and join the class behind us.
I know it sucks to have to wait, but you have to fulfill clinical hours and if they're not available to be made up, you're up the creek.
I sincerely hope you're feeling better soon!