Is having a car absolutely necessary for clinicals?

[xInspiredx]

How many of you guys have gone by without having a car to drive to and from clinical sites? I don't want to rely on buses or trains, since they usually don't run at all times (and especially since clinical hours can be late or really early).

If you have lived out of your city or state, has anyone found it better to lease a car than to buy one? I am wondering what your experiences were with that.

[Abigail612]

I knew someone who didn't have a car and she lived in town so when her clinicals were in town she walked, when they were out of town she usually got rides from others who where in her same clinicals rotation and paid for their gas.

[xInspiredx]

she usually got rides from others who where in her same clinicals rotation and paid for their gas.

That's a great idea!

Thanks for your reply. :)

[elkpark]

I've taught in programs where lots of the students carpooled for clinicals, even students who had their own cars, just for the convenience and savings. No point in driving eight or ten cars to a clinical site if you can just drive a couple, esp. if the clinical site is far away.

[Wrench Party]

Lots of people at my clinicals carpool, take scooters, the bus, or some of us get there under our own power.

Most hospitals around here are on the bus lines, and they run 5 and 6 am bus starts so hospital workers

can get to work.

Where I grew up, a lot of people would also take the trolley in to town.

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

I dont have a car, and i get around just fine on the bus.