Can I still go to clinical??

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Apr 5, 2008

I realize that I may get flamed for this but, if an injury can be hidden, I hide it. I've spent a total of 5 weeks in nursing school (1 week last summer, 4 in Jan) on light duty, all related to my left shoulder. Each time my doctor cleared me to work, provided I wasn't lifting over 15 lbs. I got help, explained my situation to classmates, and my instructors never knew. I was still able to use my hands, right arm strength, etc, just a little weak on the left side. Did I put anyone in danger? Pt's, probably not, myself perhaps though, if I tried lifting things before I should have (and I FELT it later on)!

elkpark · Apr 6, 2008

I realize that I may get flamed for this but, if an injury can be hidden, I hide it. I've spent a total of 5 weeks in nursing school (1 week last summer, 4 in Jan) on light duty, all related to my left shoulder. Each time my doctor cleared me to work, provided I wasn't lifting over 15 lbs. I got help, explained my situation to classmates, and my instructors never knew. I was still able to use my hands, right arm strength, etc, just a little weak on the left side. Did I put anyone in danger? Pt's, probably not, myself perhaps though, if I tried lifting things before I should have (and I FELT it later on)!

I'm not looking to "flame" you, but do feel compelled to say that, in all seriousness, as a long-time RN and nursing instructor, I'm really disturbed by the level of basic dishonesty you describe in your post. What other policies and standards in your school and associated clinical facilities do you just choose to flout?

Healthcare bureaucracies, like most every kind of bureaucracy, tend to be reactive rather than proactive; most of those policies that may not seem terribly important or relevant to students are there because something bad happened in the past, and the policy was put in place to make sure that particular bad thing doesn't happen again. What qualifies you to unilaterally decide which policies and requirements you can ignore without endangering clients, yourself, your school or your clinical facilities? What other aspects of nursing practice are you willing to be dishonest and deceitful about?

AirforceRN, RN · Apr 6, 2008

ChristineN...

You are right, you probably will get some flames from that one...or at least some very disapproving looks from across the computer screen. What you choose to do is obviously up to you and when you can't work past the age of 30 because you have aggravated injuries rather then let them heal, you'll know why.

I'm all for working through stuff and sucking it up but in the long run you have to look out for your own health...that goes for the OP as well

suanna · Apr 6, 2008

I think you are being VERY unrealistic about what you can do with one hand in a cast. Not only are you not going to be able to do the required care, (and like others have said, wash your hands), but you are going to miss out on valuable clinical experiences. Clinical training is short at best to prepare you for the role of a nurse. You can't afford to be learning at 1/2 strength even for a day. Tough luck, but you will get through it. One semester isn't too much to give up and repeat to be sure you are getting the full scope of your clinical training.