How Do I Apologize to Professor?

[Valr]

Hello everyone,

I may be overthinking this but I need some help diffusing a faux pas I committed with my clinical instructor. I'm always afraid of stepping on a professor's toes and I've already done so with this one by arriving late to clinical twice this semester (I have a long commute to the hospital - I know, no excuses, but it's tough). I work hard and I do not want to be on a prof's bad side.

I have a meeting for another class this week (Wednesday). The meeting, however, cuts into some of my clinical time. I realized tonight (Monday) that I should let my prof know ASAP about this meeting and ask if it is okay that I will miss some of clinical over it. However, I didn't realize that I needed to let her know until 11:50 pm. I decided to text her anyway (all of our clinical instructors communicate with us through text). My reasoning was, "what if I wait til tomorrow? will she see that as irresponsible, that I waited the day RIGHT before the meeting to let her know I'll be late for clinical? Okay I'll just send the text now. If she's sleeping her phone is likely to be off and she'll read it first thing in the morning and it won't look so bad."

So I texted her and got a response along the lines of "I think it's quite inappropriate timing for this text. The issue at hand is not emergent. Please present yourself at the hospital upon finishing the meeting. No further discussion."

Naturally I **** myself a little and replied "I'm so sorry professor. I thought if it was too late your phone would be off and you'd see this tomorrow. Goodnight."

Do I bring this up when I see her this week at clinical? Should I apologize again, in person? Or should I just let it go? I'm afraid of there being tension. I actually admire this professor and learn a ton from her but I feel I keep messing up!

Thanks for whatever insight you guys are able to provide me. I appreciate it!

[caliotter3]

I go for a third answer. Play it by ear the next time you see her. You should be able to tell from her demeanor whether or not she is open to being approached about this again.

[Valr]

Thanks for the answer! That's more or less what I was going to do if I couldn't decide. I'm hoping she won't have that big of a problem with me by the time I see her. My parents always say things like "The other person probably forgot about it by now and you're still freaking out." But you never know!

[elkpark]

I think the bigger problem is your clinical attendance. You've been late twice so far, and now you're telling the instructor that you're going to be late again, and for a planned meeting, not any kind of emergency. This is going to be a problem for your clinical instructor regardless of how/when you informed her. I don't know what your school's attendance policy says, but, in the programs I've been involved with over the years (as a student or as faculty), you would already be in serious trouble.

I suggest you check your school's attendance policy to see where you stand as of now, reschedule the meeting that's supposed to happen Wednesday so it doesn't conflict with clinical, and apologize to your instructor for your attendance issues as well as the communication snafu, with a plan in hand for what you're going to do differently to avoid being late for clinical going forward.

Best wishes!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

I think the bigger problem is your clinical attendance. You've been late twice so far, and now you're telling the instructor that you're going to be late again, and for a planned meeting, not any kind of emergency. This is going to be a problem for your clinical instructor regardless of how/when you informed her. I don't know what your school's attendance policy says, but, in the programs I've been involved with over the years (as a student or as faculty), you would already be in serious trouble.

I suggest you check your school's attendance policy to see where you stand as of now, reschedule the meeting that's supposed to happen Wednesday so it doesn't conflict with clinical, and apologize to your instructor for your attendance issues as well as the communication snafu, with a plan in hand for what you're going to do differently to avoid being late for clinical going forward.

Best wishes!

Agreed late 3x can equal a clinical failure regardless of your reason (traffic, unmotivated, meeting) or at minimum placed in clinical probation. You risk not meeting the minimum clinical hours with chronic lateness and failing the class or dismissal from the program. You need to fix your chronic tardiness first to be successful in nursing

[klone, MSN, RN]

What is this meeting about that it takes precedence over clinicals? When I was in school, nothing short of a death in the family was an acceptable reason to miss clinicals. And yeah, I'd be mightily annoyed that you waited until midnight the night before to tell me. Presumably you knew about this meeting well before that, so the fact that you didn't tell her until midnight suggests you have very poor planning and foresight. Both really bad traits to have if you plan to succeed as a nurse.

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day, Valr:

At our school, to be late by by seconds you receive one academic deficiency; a second one, and you are out of the program. You have it easy that you were not kicked out already. When asked what does "on time" for clinicals mean, we were told being 15-minutes early is considered to be on time.

Thank you.

[ParkerBC,MSN,RN, PhD, RN]

Valr,

This is a good learning experience. First, you should learn how to negotiate your time. In other words, does a class meeting supersede a clinical day? If not, I would communicate to whoever is in charge of the class meeting that you have a scheduled clinical and will not be able to make it on that day, but you are willing to attend a meeting on another day that does not conflict with other courses. This is a mature approach to handling potential schedule conflicts.

Honestly, I would choose to be at clinical on Wednesday; on time. When I was in clinical, it was not uncommon for a group of us to travel more than an hour and a half to the site. We were never late, even when we had snow. I’m one who does not accept excuses for people being late. Unless you are dying, there is no reason to be late. My drive to work is 20 minutes- I always leave an hour early in case of weather or traffic. I have yet to be late to work.

If you feel as though you are rushing for time, you may want to assess whether or not you are over committing in both your personal and academic life. If so, adjustments should be made. I tell my students: “Lack of planning on your part does not constitute and emergency on my part.” As harsh as it sounds, I suspect a nurse manager and co-workers will be less suave with word choice if you’re habitually late.

Good luck to you.

[caliotter3]

When I had a clinical placement that was 95 miles from my home, I left in the dead of night to avoid traffic and problems on the highway. I would arrive as much as two hours prior to the start of clinical and just laid low in my car until it was time to report. I was well aware that my commute was no excuse. I attended a commuter school and all of the instructors for all of the courses did not accept excuses for being late.

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

I'm pretty sure you realize the mistake in texting your CI so late at night. However, in the future when someone texts you "no further discussion," don't text them again and address the situation later!

I would apologize and accept all responsibility for it. Don't try to make excuses. Go simply with some like, "I am sorry for texting so late. It was not appropriate." In addition, be prepared to explain why you missed clinical time for this meeting. I know that where I went to school, this would not fly. The school is required to make sure that each student has a certain amount of clinical time. In addition, I'm sure the school has a tardiness policy for clinical, and you want to be sure you don't violate said policy.

[RN403, BSN, RN]

Not to be negative, but, I would just like to add something in to make you aware. Your clinical attendance can and will affect your likelihood of getting a job later down the line. Your clinical instructors will be your references for getting hired upon graduation and your potential employers will ask about them about your attendance/tardiness/etc. That being said, you want to create a good rep for yourself.

[UmmIbrahim]

Frankly you need to watch your rump! You cant be late, your cant send texts and NO EXCUSES! One major role which Nursing Instructors have is "weeding" out those they deem "weak"...because the further you go in any nursing program the more intense, stressful and emotionally exhausting it will become. It took me a few semesters to realise they werent our buddies perse...dont get me wrong I had a few instructors I clicked with and was friendly with but you NEED TO ALWAYS WATCH YOUR BACK! I dont know your schools attendance policy but ours was STRICT! I had clinical at 7am and I took the bus and the first bus from 3 blocks from y house came at 6:30 but I could get earlier buses by walking 25minutes to a main area and you better believe it...if I had a clinical instructor who expected her/his students to be on the floor by 6:30am reviewing their patients chart come hell or high water I was there at 6:15am even if it meant I left my home at 5:30am and walk a half hour to catch a bus...in winter id leave at 5am and often walked more as the roads would be slippery. NO EXCUSES...your not a kid and this isnt like anything youve experienced before. Trust me when I say...dont mess around with them! They will find an excuse to boot your butt out.

Sorry if I sound harsh but it took me awhile to understand this and I had wished someone had sat me down and explained Nursing School before it had started....I grad in July and took the Nclex and am working as an RN so yes I do know...been there, dont that.