Can they do this to me?????

Nursing Students NP Students

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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?

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

OP says he/she is the "victim of a crime", but the State Police show up to inform him/ her of "traffic news"? As always, here's more to this story than meets the eye, OP has not returned to answer questions.

Methinks he/ she is using this as an excuse for poor performance- the real reason for being booted from clinical site.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.
OP says he/she is the "victim of a crime", but the State Police show up to inform him/ her of "traffic news"? As always, here's more to this story than meets the eye, OP has not returned to answer questions.

Methinks he/ she is using this as an excuse for poor performance- the real reason for being booted from clinical site.

OP hasn't returned to answer questions because I'm in grad school, have 3 jobs, life goes on, and I posted on here to receive help and support. Not be questioned about whether or not I'm "telling the whole story." I don't owe any of you of you a defense to my claims. Afterall, I was there. You weren't.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.
I don't think we are getting the whole story. While the OPs post was long it was very very vague.

Yep, you got the whole story. Sorry it wasn't juicy enough for you.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.
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.

Thank you for your kind words and non judgemental spirit. I've gotten everything cleared up.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.
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.

This was the best advice. Thank you. I did this and everything worked out.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.
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.

Thank you. Everything was cleared up.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTACH, FNP.
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.

Thank you for this. I contacted the officer who I spoke with and he sent a letter to my university. =)

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