For those in NS/clincials

Cilantrophobe · Feb 17, 2009

I wouldn't think that you would have to worry about getting stuck in a clinical that falls on Saturdays, only because people that have friends and family to watch their kids on those days, are more likely to snatch them up.

You should try to get in touch with somebody who attends your schools nursing program, to see what they have to say. Schools always seem to be very vague. They don't want it to seem like they are promising you anything.

RN BSN 2009 · Feb 17, 2009

Find out how your school does the class registration. Oftentimes you have a lot of choices for clinical days. The way our school does it, is that the students that have the highest number of credits get priority in registration... soo it's usually the same groups of us over and over again getting the best choices of instructors, facility.. etc. That will make a difference. Good luck!

MissBrahmsRN · Feb 17, 2009

i'm an online student so i only go to campus for labs & exams & practice in the lab, then to clinicals. it's fantastic! i'm a super-great learner on my own, i tend to tune out of lectures, i get alot more outta the text and NCLEX books. i also have a hubby & two kids so i know how hard it is to have time. in my school we do either 2 8hr days in a row or 1 12hr day (per week) for clinicals.

on the plus side, if you are a fulltime student you can get deductions from your taxes for your childcare costs, whether it's a daycare center or a friend that you pay. i learned that courtesy of TaxAct. (note: not a CPA) be aware though, i did all my prereqs before i starting core nursing so technically i have 9 credit hours and it takes 12 to be fulltime, i recommend a super easy 3 credit course if you need to pump up to fulltime, many of my fellow classmates do that so they can take the childcare deductions.

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2009

Great tip! I think i will be in a situation like yours where I will be hovering around 10 or 11 credits. I've always thought it would be fun to sign up for a PE elective like aerobics or something. Would force me to get some exercise :rolleyes:

MissB08 · Feb 17, 2009

Well it just depends on your school. My ADN program, seems so erratic for this first sem. i had class and skills, mon, thur and fri, sometimes 8-12 or 1-5pm. Now i will have clinicals thur 6.45-6.45pm. So i guess the plan is to have as many backups as possible for daycare.

amers_here · Feb 17, 2009

It really varies per school. Try asking about particular schools in your area in the regional forum.

I got no choice in my schedule at all.

We have a cycle of 2 weeks of lab, then 2 weeks of clinical, etc.

On lab weeks I have:

Lab Tuesday: 8am-2pm

Lecture Thursday: 2pm-6pm

On clinical weeks I have:

Clinical Tuesday: 6:45am-1:45pm (eek....first one is tomorrow!)

Clinical Wednesday: 5:45am-12:45pm

Lecture Thursday: 2pm-6pm

I'm in my first semester. Things will change each semester.

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Feb 17, 2009

Yep varies greatly. First semester for me was brutal.

Mon- Lecture from 830-420

Tues - Lab 9-12

Wed. Lecture 8-530

Thurs- Clinical 6-1 Lab 130-6

Friday - Checkoffs - 8-12

This was how it was every week, no breaks at all.

TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP · Feb 18, 2009

My school's on the quarter system, so the first quarter (the one I'm in now) of my grad-entry program we're learning some of the very basic skills, then in the last three weeks of the quarter we have 4hrs of clinical time. Starting next quarter that'll go up to 8hrs, and at some point by the end of the program we'll be up to 12hr clinical slots. As for the other classes, this first year of the program it looks like all the quarters have three classes with lectures, each lecture lasting at least three hours, with four-hour lab blocks being scheduled throughout the week (as needed for various courses). Lectures, as they're taught to the entire cohort, have no scheduling choices, while labs are taught to smaller groups and have some flexibility in scheduling. Next year the lecture hours go down some, but we'll also be doing research for our Master's thesis which'll more than make up that time.

intuition · Feb 18, 2009

Well I am in my 2nd to last semester right now. My schedule is as follows-

Monday-off

Tuesday- Clinical 8-4:30

Wednesday-Clinical 6-2:30

Thursday- all day is lectures- 9:00-5:30

Friday- Clinical 6-3:30

I hope this helps.

caliotter3 · Feb 18, 2009

Our school had a day when everyone met and the clinical stuff was sorted out. They did a method where it was by chance. There were like 10 or 11 groups that usually went by the last number of your social security number. Like if your SSN ends in 9 and the 9 was chosen for the first choice, then you would get the first choice that term. If 9 was chosen for the fourth choice, then you would get the fourth choice. This method was ok to a point. There were still some people who always got what they wanted and those who never got what they wanted. I would think that you could arrange a trade with someone in order to mesh up with your childcare needs. I don't remember how my school handled necessary changes or if they allowed changes at all. I'm sure they did. Meanwhile, you should be preparing for any contingency and lining up your caregiving options now. Then hope for the best. Good luck when you get to that point.

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2009

Thanks everyone for responding! It is interesting to hear how other schools have arranged schedules/clinical picks, ect. Even if every school does it a little bit differently, it is pretty obvious that NS is very time consuming!!