Nursing School Clinical Hours???

Nursing Students General Students Nursing Q/A

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency Department.

I will be attending Nursing School this fall and was wondering how long the clinical shifts will be? Also, how often are clinicals, once a week? I am a bit concerned because I have a toddler who I have enrolled in pre-school/day care while I am in school. BUT, the pre-school is not open 12 hours a day (assuming they are 12 hr shifts). I am not sure what to do about this. My in-laws are retired and they live about 20 minutes from the pre-school, but they plan on traveling. I don't think I will be able to rely on them consistently for help every week.

Has anyone else had a similar issue?

11 Answers

The clinicals at my school are 8 hours a day 2 days per week. This varies with each program. This semester I go Thursdays and Fridays 7-3pm.

Schools are all different with how often they have clinicals and the shift of each one. You'd be best to reach out to your school to find out. My clinicals are once a week for 9 hours each. Others have 2 per week and shorter times and I am sure there are longer ones as well. Maybe to to find a sitter on your clinical days? Good luck!

It definitely depends on your program. I'm starting in the fall, and my first semester I have clinical on Saturday and Sunday, 8 hours each. Good luck!

Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

It will depend on the program and may also depend on the term. My first term "clinical" was skills lab and simulation based with 4 hours three time a week. During much of the program it was 8 hour shifts (sometimes with post-conference before/after making for a 12 hour day) and senior practicum term you worked whatever shifts your preceptor worked so depending on the unit/setting you could work either 8s or 12s with most students in the hospital setting doing 12s, and students out-patient more likely to do 8s.

I'd recommend coordinating with your in-laws on when they may/may not be available to help out, and also have neighbors/friends, and/or professional baby-sitter back-ups planned out for when your in-laws aren't around or are unable to help out, or day-care falls through, or if you do end up with 12 hour shifts for a part of clinical.

Specializes in ED, Pedi Vasc access, Paramedic serving 6 towns.

Hi,

I would call the school you will be attending, but in general clinical are usually 8 hours and twice a week depending on the semester.

Annie

Specializes in Case Manager/Administrator.

You should be prepared to be available for clinical from 0400 hrs (think OR rotation) to up to 2300 hrs (think mental health rotation or med/surg). It is your responsibility to attend each clinical. I understand we all have life circumstances and obligations to take care of...school is like a full time job. By limiting yourself based on availability, you are limiting your clinical experiences and your professional career.

It will depend on your school, as others have mentioned. My school has two 6 hour clinical days a week and may be asking for volunteers to take just one 12 hour clinical per week. I am planning on volunteering!

I have two children and daycare has been an adventure. In my area, we have a YMCA and YWCA that offer care, and I am going to use them for after school care. I am still working on securing a daycare spot at a center in their school district so that they can get on the bus there and head in to school. They can be difficult to find, but extended hours daycares do exist! Also, it might be worth asking your current daycare if they could extend hours for an increased fee.

Specializes in Cardiothoracic & NICU.

Yes, as others have said it really does depend on the school and their program. My program had different hours each year.

Fall of Sophomore year: I had 4 hour labs not actual clinicals

Spring of sophomore year: when I started actual clinicals in a hospital . I did Fridays and Saturdays every week . 2 hours on Friday and 6 hours on Saturday .

Fall of Junior year: 1 clinical a week 6 hours on Fridays

Spring of Junior year: we were given the option of doing either 6 hour clinicals or 12 hour clinicals for Med- Surg . I chose to do 12 hours for Med- Surg on Mondays and then I also had to do 6 hour clinicals on Fridays for Peds.

Fall of Senior year: 12 hour clinicals for Med Surg weekly.

My school has clinicals two days a week 8 hours a day. Check with your school to see how they schedule theirs.

Even if you call the school today, they may not be able to provide specific information. Some schools do not provide clinical placements until the beginning of the term. Schedules might be different between locations and you won't know your location until that is determined. Having a general idea of how the program works from the beginning, you should have prepared yourself with solutions for your childcare and other responsibilities. You can't count on school personnel to bend over backwards to accommodate your needs over those of another student.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency Department.

Thank you both for responding. Good to know that every program is pretty different! Hoping that the clinical hours do not end up being 12 hours, that would put me in bind. But! Babysitter for those days would definitely work, I will have to look into that!

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