Distant learning nursing school ethical issue

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I am in a clinical of a distant learning LPN to BSN nursing school. We are to attend a weekly clinical of 12 hours for a total of 8.5 weeks, as mandated by the BRN and also spelled out in the med surg syllibus. The university hired advance practice nurse managers to teach our class. The first week we had orientation and were at the facility from 8-3 with a 1.5 hr lunch. The student time sheets (signed off by the instructor) are submitted by the student to the distant learning professor at the university.

At the end of orientation, the instructor had us fill in 12 hours when actually put in 6 hoursplus 1.5 hr lunch during orientation, and we did not accomplish all that was required for that meeting. I objected about putting down 12 hrs instead of the amount of hours we actually put in. The instructor said, "I won't tell, if you don't."

The next weeks have been the same. We are on the floor for 6 hrs (including lunch) and the instructor dismisses to go home but signs the time sheet for 12 hrs. Again, I objected, and again I got the same comment. I don't know what to do. I complained to the school but was told that I had to follow the advice of the RN. The problem I have is the amount of clinical time is required by the BRN, and I want as much time on the floor as I can get to gain clinical experience. I also feel I am being shorted on my clinical experience. Plus, I am not receiving the clinical education I paid for. The nursing professor and nursing director are ignoring my complaint. The other students do not feel it is wrong to submit fradulent timesheets, and they feel I am a trouble maker to object.

What advise do you have for me? I don't know what to do.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

contact the Board of Nursing. They are the ones who determine whether or not a school can stay in business. It can be anonymous. i agree with you 100%.

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This is clearly unfair to the students who are paying for 12 hours of instruction! As a clinical instructor of traditional BSN students myself, I know that sometimes post-conference takes longer and other times finishes earlier, but that only makes a difference of 11 vs. 12 hrs and I've kept groups later when the floor was very busy and then at the end there were things that needed to be discussed/debriefed before leaving. If there aren't learning expereinces 'on the floor' there are always things that a good clinical instructor can do with her/his group to promote learning,such as case presentations and clinical thinking exercises. Perhaps a midafternoon unannounced visit from someone @ BON to see the CI and group of students functioning would end this charade.

The job market is tight right now and no one will hire students from a program that they've heard "cuts corners."

Unfortunately there are not enough clinical instructors, usually a master's is required and the pay is much

Good luck to you- your honesty makes me hope you make it!

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Update: I notified my distant learning master RN instructor at the university and the director of nursing. I received back a letter stating that the Clinial instructor was in charge of the clinical program. All students are to take instruction from the university hired distant learning clinical instructor and not question the clinical instructor's ability, et. So, the distant learning program at the university is condoning "I won't tell if you don't." Essentially, the clinical instructor and the distant learning university's nursing administration is forcing me to go along with the time sheet fraud. BTW I was just got an official warining by the nursig department's chair for complaining of the fraud. Within the warning was statement that I was putting the program in jeopardy.

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Specializes in Hospice.
Update: I notified my distant learning master RN instructor at the university and the director of nursing. I received back a letter stating that the Clinial instructor was in charge of the clinical program. All students are to take instruction from the university hired distant learning clinical instructor and not question the clinical instructor's ability, et. So, the distant learning program at the university is condoning "I won't tell if you don't." Essentially, the clinical instructor and the distant learning university's nursing administration is forcing me to go along with the time sheet fraud. BTW I was just got an official warining by the nursig department's chair for complaining of the fraud. Within the warning was statement that I was putting the program in jeopardy.

They are putting their own program in jeopardy....I am not a stickler for minutes on the floor but most days we go over not under..... I don't leave until we accomplish what we committed to at the beginning of the day...it's one thing to cut out the final 1/2 day or an hour here or there but 6 ours a week is not okay

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This is why I don't believe distance programs are a good idea for clinicals. I would seriously consider finding another program before they lose their accreditation.

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I'm sorry for asking this question but what is a distance learnning clinical program?

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I would definitely hand it off to the BON. It's that kind of operation that gives fodder for the criticism of distance learning programs, and the good ones are tarred with the bad reputation as well as the bad when that happens.

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I'm surprise about your experience. Maybe the best thing we can do is to carefully choose a program that we are going to join.

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I'm sorry for asking this question but what is a distance learnning clinical program?

I hesitate to name the nationally known distant learning LPN/LVN to BSN program because of retaliation.

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I am in a clinical of a distant learning LPN to BSN nursing school. We are to attend a weekly clinical of 12 hours for a total of 8.5 weeks, as mandated by the BRN and also spelled out in the med surg syllibus. The university hired advance practice nurse managers to teach our class. The first week we had orientation and were at the facility from 8-3 with a 1.5 hr lunch. The student time sheets (signed off by the instructor) are submitted by the student to the distant learning professor at the university.

At the end of orientation, the instructor had us fill in 12 hours when actually put in 6 hoursplus 1.5 hr lunch during orientation, and we did not accomplish all that was required for that meeting. I objected about putting down 12 hrs instead of the amount of hours we actually put in. The instructor said, "I won't tell, if you don't."

The next weeks have been the same. We are on the floor for 6 hrs (including lunch) and the instructor dismisses to go home but signs the time sheet for 12 hrs. Again, I objected, and again I got the same comment. I don't know what to do. I complained to the school but was told that I had to follow the advice of the RN. The problem I have is the amount of clinical time is required by the BRN, and I want as much time on the floor as I can get to gain clinical experience. I also feel I am being shorted on my clinical experience. Plus, I am not receiving the clinical education I paid for. The nursing professor and nursing director are ignoring my complaint. The other students do not feel it is wrong to submit fradulent timesheets, and they feel I am a trouble maker to object.

What advise do you have for me? I don't know what to do.

I agree 100% that if you are not getting any results from the Nurse Manager or the university then you should contact the BRN. Clinical experience is an important part of school and you should get what you pay for.

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I hesitate to name the nationally known distant learning LPN/LVN to BSN program because of retaliation.

I don't think Tanacious was asking for the name of the program..but rather what a distance learning clinical program is....??

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