How early do you need to come to the clinicals?

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For those who have started clinicals already, how early do you have to come to the site? Say your clinical starts at 7, do you need just to come a couple of minutes early? or do you need to come, like one hour early to set up?

Is it OK to be late sometime? From my experience of taking pre-reqs at a local community college, there are always students who are late, and there seems to be no problem at all. Not sure about the actual nursing school.

I'm asking since I'm starting nursing school next fall. Already got accepted :biggringi! It's an evening program, clinical starts 4pm. I'm wondering whether it is OK to leave work at 3:30.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Tele/Step-down.

Well with my clinicals, we had to be signed in at 6:30am. We all met at a certain spot and then left from there with our instructors. Mornings were easier because no rush hour traffic. So I could leave home at 605 and get there by 620. I dont know how traffic is around 330p where you live. But after being late so many times a few people were wrote up, had a clinical grade dropped a letter, or had to write a paper on being late.

I tried to be there no later than 625a

I also got everything together the night before and put in the car that night. It was my "clinical bag". So I never forgot something. you might check your policy book about clinical days also. Try timing yourself before clinicals start and find out about parking. They should go over all of this before hand.

Some girls did come early to drink coffee and chit chat. Not me though. I enjoy every extra minute of sleep. But I was never late. Thank Goodness!

Hopes this helps

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The idea of clinical bag is very helpful. I think I'm going to get one for myself and get it ready before I sleep.

So that means about half an hour early arrive on the spot. Thanks.

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Definitely pack the "clinical bag" the night before and have it ready.

As for how early you get there, well, for us, it's personal preference. We start at 6:30, so as long as we're sitting around the meeting table by then, it's OK. I like to get there at least 15 minutes beforehand, just so I'm not running in there at the last minute. If I feel I need extra prep time because I'm doing something new that day, I might get there a half-hour beforehand just so I can go over notes and books and such (and ask questions of the other people who come early).

Congratulations, and I hope you enjoy nursing school and clinicals :)

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We had to be there by 6:45. Some of our clinicals are an hour's drive or more. This semester the traffic on the tollway was really bad one day and I got there 15 minutes late but the instructor was cool on that. It depends on each instructor though. I know some where if you're 15 minutes late, they will lock the door and o-so-sorry but you missed clinical for the day. Best to discuss it with each instructor to get an idea of what her expectations are. As far as other students who are chronically late, that won't fly in nursing school...but then again, that's not your problem is it?

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Specializes in Cardiac.

You'll want to be there a minimum of 15 minutes earlier than the sheduled time. Not just because of any policy, but because your clinical instructor will take notice.

If we were late twice it counted as an absence. We were only allowed one absence. My clinicals started at 7am which meant 645am, and if we arrived at 650 then we were late.

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Specializes in Maternity & Well Baby Nursery.

I am in an ADN program. Our clinical starts at 6:45 am. No lateness. If you show up at 6:45 am and are not ready to go out onto the floor, it counts as being late. You only get two "lates" or you are out. I don't know if this will be enforced or not because I haven't been to clinical yet (this Wednesday is my first day) but I have been reminded and reminded of this policy. First with psychadelic pink paper, white paper, and now orange paper with black print (Halloween I think).

I plan on being on the floor by 6:30 am at the latest. I get too stressed thinking about how late I could be if I'm stuck in traffic or something. I also like the idea of having the clinical bag ready to go. Seems less stressful to me.

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Never be late. A freeway accident etc is unavoidable. Bad weather, unless it happens all of the sudden or if you are a bus ridder and its unavoidable.....you should plan ahead.

I would always try to be about a half an hr early. Time to get settled, put things away, take a deep breath and listen in on how the last shift went (things that they don't go over in report) and maybe check the chart on my own. Just remember to stay out of the nurses way...end of shift is very hectic time.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Tele/Step-down.

When I told you about the "clinical bag". I always make sure the things I use for clinicals are for clinicals only. Less chance of taking something out for class and forgetting to put it back in the bag. Plus I'm a germ freak now and don't want to bring anything home.LOL

Here is my quick list

Few black ink pens

pen light

extra pony tail holders if you have long hair

Scissors

Tape (in ziplock bag,keeps fuzzy away)

Expo maker (dry erase boards at the desk and pt rooms) hard to come by.

Extra change and dollars for the coke and candy machine (leave valuables locked up in you car trunk)

Extra set of scrubs in the car (after getting C-diff on ya,you might want to change)

Stethoscope

couple of note pads(In case I lose one)LOL

Black sharpie

I also had one of those clipboards with an handle and you could open it up and put paper in it. (came in handy)

I also had one of those assessment books you get from Barnes&Noble

Label everything that belongs to you! Including you lab coat. 2 people laid down their jackets and only 1 is found. who gets it?? Happened at clinicals one day. It was mine! Had my name in it. LOL

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Never be late. A freeway accident etc is unavoidable. Bad weather, unless it happens all of the sudden or if you are a bus ridder and its unavoidable.....you should plan ahead.

I would always try to be about a half an hr early. Time to get settled, put things away, take a deep breath and listen in on how the last shift went (things that they don't go over in report) and maybe check the chart on my own. Just remember to stay out of the nurses way...end of shift is very hectic time.

Don't forget parking! Usually, the students have to park in BFE...

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I will graudate in may and our clinicals have become very intesnse. THey start with pre confrence at 645 but we must get current MARS, Nurses Rounds, and Lab Values before pre confrence. We usually get to the floor around 600. If we are late twice we are out of the program and no absences

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My clinicals officaial start at 7:00AM. We do not have preconference. We must be in report from the night nurse by 6:45 AM. Everyone in my clinical group beats the instructor. If you get there 1 minute late you might as well had stayed home in the bed because you are counted absent, unless you have an excellent excuse (tow bill or repair bill for your dead car or an accident report). I have only been late once and that was when I got rear ended sitting at a stop sign. I had to wait over an hour for the state tropper. While waiting for the state tropper I got up with my instructor to see if she still wanted me to come in. I was able to complete the clinical day, but had to provide a copy of the traffic accident report with my clincial paperwork. Thank goodness I had an awesome instructor first semester who understood it was not my faught for being late.

So pack that clinical bag the night before and plan on arriving early.

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