Clinical Hours Liar??

[Kylie Standfest]

OK, so I'm a new graduate as of 2023 and I just passed my NCLEX and am getting ready to start a new job. However, I've been feeling guilty about lying about some leadership clinical hours that I completed. Now before you think I'm a horrible person, let me explain. My leadership hours were done at a high school where I would go in and teach about different healthcare topics. We were instructed to count 4 hours each week as "preparation time.” Later in the semester I told my instructor that there was no way I was going to get my hours because it was not taking me even close to 4 hours to compete the prep. She told me it was fine because she considered the quality of the leadership work we were doing to be worth more hours than just going and shadowing at a hospital. She told me to think of it like getting paid salary vs hourly. It made sense to me and I felt better, but once I graduated I began to feel really guilty feeling like I lied to the state about completing my requirements. I emailed another professor about it explaining what happened and she also told me it was fine and not to worry about it. I just feel like a fraud and a liar, help!

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

Kylie Standfest said:

OK, so I'm a new graduate as of 2023 and I just passed my NCLEX and am getting ready to start a new job. However, I've been feeling guilty about lying about some leadership clinical hours that I completed. Now before you think I'm a horrible person, let me explain. My leadership hours were done at a high school where I would go in and teach about different healthcare topics. We were instructed to count 4 hours each week as "preparation time.” Later in the semester I told my instructor that there was no way I was going to get my hours because it was not taking me even close to 4 hours to compete the prep. She told me it was fine because she considered the quality of the leadership work we were doing to be worth more hours than just going and shadowing at a hospital. She told me to think of it like getting paid salary vs hourly. It made sense to me and I felt better, but once I graduated I began to feel really guilty feeling like I lied to the state about completing my requirements. I emailed another professor about it explaining what happened and she also told me it was fine and not to worry about it. I just feel like a fraud and a liar, help!

You are twisting yourself in knots over a non-issue. You school would not have promoted you and given you a degree if they did not feel you completed the requirement. You will encounter many things in your career to worry about this is not one of them. 

Hppy

 

[marienm, RN, CCRN]

If your program has already okayed it, take them at their word!  We are assigned educational modules and training classes at work that don't always take the full time but we get paid for the full amount anyway.  I'm not advocating for padding your time card, but if I'm assigned an ACLS renewal with 4 paid hours and 4 hours for prep (the time the AHA says is needed) and I get through the prep in 3 hours, I don't worry about it.  Your school determined that, on average, 4 hours was needed to prep these presentations. Some students probably took 6 hours and only got credit for 4, but then it gets too complicated when you are assigned very specific clinical days/times.  I think this is just a case of "practicality" supercedes "exactitude."

BTW if this is your real name or profile photo you should change them!  Internet stuff sticks around forever and you might want more anonymity for future questions.  Congratulations on your graduation! 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

As others have pointed out, it's accepted by the program that your hours include preparation time so you are not lying when including agreed upon time. If you were able to complete your preparation in less time, then it worked out well for you. Good luck!

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Totally agree with everyone's responses. The 4 hours is an estimate. Some people take more, some less. Also you may have spent more time than you're taking credit for, mulling thoughts around in your mind, driving to the location, etc.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I agree with the above.  I bet you're not the only one that did the work, fulfilled the requirement but didn't quite take up the hours.  

I just took a bunch of CEUs to renew my ANCC Certification.  I took multiple courses that were 15 CEUs each and it certainly didn't take me 15 hours each course to complete.