Can they do this to me?????

[Nurse_Lightning]

OK

SO, to make a very long story short-

I was the VICTIM of a crime. I was at my FIRST day of my OB/Gyn clinical practicum (FNP Program) and State Police showed up to notify me. If was very discreet and I stepped outside of the office to talk to them.

Needless to say, I was very shook up about the whole ordeal. I told my preceptor IMMEDIATELY what was going on and YES- that I was distracted! Wouldn't you be if on your first day of clinical State Police showed up and informed you of traffic news?

Anyhow, my preceptor re-assured me over and over again that everything was OK and that she was sorry I was going through that. I finished the day to the best of my ability and told her I'd see her next week.

TWO DAYS LATER I receive notice that because of that day, I'm being KICKED OUT of that clinical location! Don't get me wrong- I know that we as students are guests in any facility/ institution that helps us to succeed in our learning- but I had this site set up almost a YEAR in advance (you all KNOW how hard it is to find preceptors), AND- I didn't do anything wrong!

Now, as a result. I have no preceptor and its in the middle of the semester. Because I can't finish, I fail the course and its not offered for another YEAR. Meaning my graduation is now pushed back a year.

Can they do this to me??? Do I have any sort of rights or protections as a victim to a crime? IS there some sort of morality clause in the contracts that our learning institutions set up with those who agree to be our preceptors? Or are we all at risk? Can any preceptor for no good reason just screw us out of a grade and tuition whenever they feel like it?

[klone, MSN, RN]

I don't understand. Why did the state police show up where you were?

[sadiemae1123]

I have no answers as to the legality of the situation.

However, I would suggest that you speak with your professor and advisor about the possibility to either withdraw from the class and retake it next year (a W on your transcript) or be given an extension to complete the class at a later date. You'd get an "I" on your transcript that would be replaced with your final grade once the extension is over. Either is better than an F.

I'm sorry this happened to you. Best of luck.

[Nurse_Lightning]

I don't understand. Why did the state police show up where you were?

Because they were looking for me to notify me of the crime and ask if I potentially knew who the culprit could be

[Nurse_Lightning]

I have no answers as to the legality of the situation.

However, I would suggest that you speak with your professor and advisor about the possibility to either withdraw from the class and retake it next year (a W on your transcript) or be given an extension to complete the class at a later date. You'd get an "I" on your transcript that would be replaced with your final grade once the extension is over. Either is better than an F.

I'm sorry this happened to you. Best of luck.

I've spoken with my professor, adviser, and program director. I'm fine on their end. I want to know if anything can be said or done on the practicum site end.

[Courtney Nurse Writer, BSN]

What crime are you talking about?

If it had nothing to do with you then maybe you could write an email to the manager and explain the situation. Perhaps even get a letter from the cops who interviewed you.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

So it was something like vandalism or theft? You weren't assaulted or anything? The problem must have been that you were super distracted and it interfered with your ability to do your job. If it was affecting you that much, you should have asked to leave that day. People's lives are in your hands and if you can't recognize your inability to perform your job, it might have been best.

You need to be able to recognize when you can and are not able to perform your job in this profession. I think that is where the problem was. I would say you need to find a different site to precept at and retake the class. There must have been a huge problem that day. Since you are not an actual employee of the hospital you have no protection. Also realize that even if you were an employee if you live in an at will state, you can be fired for pretty much anything. Crime victims are not a protected class.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

I feel that the OP is being vague about the "crime". Also, I thought about it from the preceptors POV. If the police showed up looking for my preceptee on their first day I would take it as a huge red flag. Not saying that I would cut them loose but I would have to ask how much more of their personal life was going to show up at my place of business. If their car was vandalized for instance, is the crazy ex going to show up at the clinic waving a weapon?

[elkpark]

My experience is with undergraduate nursing education, not graduate programs, but, in my experience arranging clinicals, clinical sites insist on reserving the right to refuse any student, at any time, for any reason. Unfortunately, I doubt you have any recourse with the clinical site. I hope you'll be able to find a solution to the situation.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Honestly I would not do anything more about that clinical site, let it go. Your education and career, and time and money you have invested in it, are worth more than making waves about a single clinical site.

I am still not sure how the state police knew where you were at a clinical site, and it was apparently very bad/random timing, but it is understandable that a practice manager would have concerns, victim or not.

I precept more than a dozen students per year. I have no contract and I could refuse any of them at any time for any reason and the school would just say "ok, anything we can do?" and that would be it.

[Dranger]

I don't think we are getting the whole story. While the OPs post was long it was very very vague.

[elkpark]

I don't think we are getting the whole story. While the OPs post was long it was very very vague.

(We never get the whole story on AN; at least, not the first time around. :))