Sick... go to clinical or not?!?!

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by RNinJune2007
Feb 14, '07   Views: 1,116   Comments: 6

  1. I am in my final semester, and have only been sick for clinical once before. I didn't even bat an eyelash then, because they made it clear in that semester that we would have a makeup day. This semester, however, it is much more squeezed with ICU, Mental Health, and Preceptorship...


    I woke up this morning feeling bad (achy, dizzy, dehydrated feeling), but decided to go to clinical because I didn't have a temp. and also, I thought that it was maybe because it was the first EARLY clinical I've had since October...

    I had a ROUGH day, and am feeling about 100x worse than earlier. More achy, now a low grade fever, etc. I know the logical answer is to NOT go to clinical, but I'm worried because of the instructor.

    Anyway, this new clinical instructor (for ICU) has it out for us students. She is INCREDIBLY intelligent, and has so much knowledge... she grilled all of us today. I'm worried that she will do something to penalize me ...

    I've been a wreck since I got home from clinical... tomorrow would be our LAST day in ICU and I'd much rather complete it tomorrow, but... Hopefully I can make it up later?

    WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
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    About RNinJune2007

    Joined: Jul '05; Posts: 217; Likes: 3
    Nanny

    6 Comments

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  3. by lovingtheunloved
    Feb 14, '07
    Joined: Oct '04; Posts: 927; Likes: 587
    Well...ICU, huh? Very sick people. Who shouldn't be exposed to whatever it is you've got. I'd call your instructor and ask her what to do. Beg, offer black market organs, whatever. Nursing school is VERY unforgiving, isn't it?
  4. by RNinJune2007
    Feb 14, '07
    Occupation: Nanny Joined: Jul '05; Posts: 217; Likes: 3
    Sadly, the clinical instructor is our ONLY instructor this semester who did not include her home number on our syllabus. (EVERY semester until now, each instructor has listed home phone for situations like these)

    I will have to wait until tomm. am around 5 to call the Clinical unit if i call in....

    Thanks so much for your advice!
  5. by Jolie
    Feb 14, '07
    Joined: Oct '01; Posts: 9,619; Likes: 14,054
    Can you e-mail her? She may check her e-mail from home if she is not in her office today.

    PLEASE do not go to clinical until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours. Hospitalized patients, especially those in ICU are so vulnerable to infection, and certainly do not need any additional exposure. Even the most strict schools have make-up policies for legitimate illness.
  6. by rags
    Feb 14, '07
    Occupation: Hospital Staff Nurse Specialty: PEDS ~ PP ~ NNB & LII Nursery ; From: US ; Joined: Sep '06; Posts: 280; Likes: 30
    Have you tried calling your schools nursing department to obtain a contact number for your instructor?

    If you do end up going to clinical take some OTC flu medicine to help make yourself feel better so you can function, wear a mask and be sure to practice good hand hygiene (might even consider carrying around a hand sanitizer with you)

    rags
  7. by cherokeesummer
    Feb 14, '07
    Occupation: RN (OBGYN) Specialty: OBGYN, Neonatal ; Joined: Jun '04; Posts: 728; Likes: 58
    That is such a hard decision all the time! Schools are very unforigiving in many cases, I got written up (just a simple warning, nothing major) on my record b/c my mom died and I missed time to be at her funeral and at the hospital two weeks before she died. My ongoing joke (morbid as it may seem) is that dad needs to check with me before he dies so I can make sure its not a clinical weekend!

    Yup...not forgiving! But ICU is definately a place to not want to spread germs. I'd call first thing in the morning and ask her what her view is on this and if you can't get her, then go in and speak to her before starting. That way she knows you are putting the effort to be there but make sure she knows you are concerned about the patients.
  8. by RNinJune2007
    Feb 14, '07
    Occupation: Nanny Joined: Jul '05; Posts: 217; Likes: 3
    Thanks for all the wonderful advice everyone. I really didn't want to call any of the other instructors on Valentine's day, but ended up calling the other ICU instructor.. (who is the only ICU instructor... my Clinical instructor is only PT and does clinical ONLY)...

    He didn't even ask what was wrong (when I stated I am sick), but just said to call by 6am to the unit and get the name of the person who takes the messg and they will relay it to her.

    Thanks guys.

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