Clinical Hours

[MommyJoy]

I just started my junior year of a BSN program! I am wanting to know how many days per week, and how many hours other students will be spending in clinicals. I don't want to know lab hours, but specifically how much time you will be spending in clinicals each week.

At my school, you either go on Thursdays or Fridays from 6:30am to 2:00pm. This is only 7 /1/2 hours, minus lunch, making it 7 hours. I have a friend in one of the more prestigious programs in our state, and she spends about 20 hours per week in clinicals. I am afraid that I will not have enough time in clinicals (compared to my friend) to learn everything.

[jenrninmi, MSN, RN]

Hi there,

In my BSN program we spend ~16 hours a week in clinicals. Is this your first semester with clinicals? If it is, maybe the hours will increase as you move on through the program?

[NewEnglandRN, RN]

In my ADN program, we go Thursday OR Friday 7:30-4pm... so eight hours. Next year, we go 16 hours/week.

[LeesieBug]

12 hours a week for 6 semesters...except during the eight week preceptorship senior year, which is about 30 hours a week.

I read a post on another thread about this topic that I agree with....don't worry as much about the QUANTITY of the clinical hours as the QUALITY, as usually the more hours you have the more you wind up standing around trying to find something to do, anyway.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

ADN program in Florida here. We have four semesters of 12 clinical hours/week divided into two days. The part time/weekend program gets to do all their 12 hours in one day.

[JudithL_in_NH]

I am wanting to know how many days per week, and how many hours other students will be spending in clinicals.

ADN program. 16 hours per week (6:45a-3:30p with 1/2h lunch x2 days/week). We have four 15-week semesters.

[mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP]

At our ADN program the 1st semster we have clinicals 1 day (12 hours) a week for 4 days (48 hours). The 2nd - 4th semesters we start clinicals the 2nd week of school and have a min. of 12 hours per week for 14 weeks.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Our first semester has 6 hours of clinicals/week (for about 14 weeks)

Second semester has 8 hours (x 14ish weeks).

Third semester has 12 hours (x 14ish weeks).

Fourth semester is the preceptorship, with 36 hours/week for about 6 weeks.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I read a post on another thread about this topic that I agree with....don't worry as much about the QUANTITY of the clinical hours as the QUALITY, as usually the more hours you have the more you wind up standing around trying to find something to do, anyway.

Add to that the fact that almost every new nurse I've spoken to has said that the REAL training comes after you're working as an RN, not during your clinicals.

[wonderbee, BSN, RN]

Add to that the fact that almost every new nurse I've spoken to has said that the REAL training comes after you're working as an RN, not during your clinicals.

This is so true. Now in my third semester, I have yet to insert a single foley into a live patient. I can count the number of IM injections I've given on one hand. A huge chunk of my time is standing over a chart, writing care plans or standing around waiting for an interesting or new procedure that some primary nurse on the floor would like to involve the students in. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen often.

[UTRN2005]

BSN program

1st semester- 8 hr/wk

2nd semester- 8hrs mental; 8 hrs med/surg=16 hrs/wk

3rd semester- 16 hours/wk pedi for first half of semester then 16 hours/wk L&D for second half; 4 hr/wk public all semester= 20 hrs/wk

4th semester- 8 hrs/wk community health and 8 hrs/wk med/surg/leadership= 16 hrs/wk PLUS last 3 wks are preceptorship at 40 hrs/wk in area of choice (only a few options though)

I agree though on the quality rather than quantity. I've seen people slack off during clinicals or work they're butts off. Depends on the individual.

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

1st sem-6hours/week

2nd, 3rd, 4th semester-12 hours/week