Is my school risking my safety?

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I am in the final semester of my RN program. My graduation is in 5 weeks. I was supposed to start my preceptorship last week at the hospital. Due to the virus spreading, hospitals had originally told students they cannot come for clinicals. However, the nearby hospitals around me have said it is a possibility they may allow students to come back on Monday. My school said we are going to have to complete our preceptorship at the hospital instead of doing virtual clinicals (like first, second, and third semester are doing). This really upset my class because we feel as if our safety is not being prioritized. I understand that as a nurse I am responsible for caring for these patients, but I feel like it is slightly different when I am not actually employed and do not have an RN license yet. I don't know if I'm overreacting. There are active cases in my county. If I become exposed to the virus, I will have to take an "incomplete" for the course and graduate in a different semester. The other two nursing programs in my city (in Florida) are completing their senior preceptorships through virtual clinicals. I would like some opinions on this situation please. We have emailed the dean who is responsible for the decision, and she says her decision is based on the fact that we won't be ready to take the NCLEX and work without doing preceptorship.

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This sounds messed up. If prestigious universities all across this country, as well as medical schools, have shut down, why does your dean your schools is any different? What about all those students in your cohort who have little kids, live with parents, immunocompromised? I would like to see your dean show up to the hospital with you guys.

The moment someone in your cohort becomes infected and ends up in the ICU, your dean will be homeless by next Fall.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

They have said it is a possibility they may allow students to come back. This is a rapidly changing situation, and it may indeed be that the facilities will not allow students to return. The facilities are also stating no students or orientees may care for these patients due to the use of PPE and conservation efforts. Hang in there- I'm sure there will be more changes to come.

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22 hours ago, Rose_Queen said:

They have said it is a possibility they may allow students to come back. This is a rapidly changing situation, and it may indeed be that the facilities will not allow students to return. The facilities are also stating no students or orientees may care for these patients due to the use of PPE and conservation efforts. Hang in there- I'm sure there will be more changes to come.

THIS!

I'd say this will change soon. I do think you should have an alternative choice. Hang in there!

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Honestly, with the rate of infections still going up, I really don't see them letting students return. For your safety, you're going to be a nurse, you have to learn to be OK with being around stuff like this. But on their side, the more people they have in contact with the patients, the more chance they have of the virus getting spread to patients.

I think it's a safe guess that most sites are just going to stick with no students at least until the fall semesters start up. We're a huge liability in hospitals when there isn't a major outbreak.

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22 hours ago, tonyl1234 said:

Honestly, with the rate of infections still going up, I really don't see them letting students return. For your safety, you're going to be a nurse, you have to learn to be OK with being around stuff like this. But on their side, the more people they have in contact with the patients, the more chance they have of the virus getting spread to patients.

I think it's a safe guess that most sites are just going to stick with no students at least until the fall semesters start up. We're a huge liability in hospitals when there isn't a major outbreak.

No student-nurse or nurse should be "OK" with being around a deadly virus without proper PPE. Don't make OP feel guily for not wanting to expose himself or his loved ones to a deadly virus. Hospitals are running out of PPE and now OP's nursing school wants to send them to hospitals as well?

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I would rather go to the hospital to do clinicals than do virtual clinicals, even with this virus going around.

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@karmachameleon So what happened? Update please.

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5 hours ago, Mergirlc said:

@karmachameleon So what happened? Update please.

The higher ups at my school ending up telling the dean that she can't send us to the hospital. So I am currently doing virtual clinicals. I am still going to graduate on time. Things worked out!

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Seems all schools are going virtual during this time. I think the majority of BONs had to be flexible.

CONGRATS on things working out and graduating! Good luck to you in all of your future endeavors!

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2 minutes ago, Mergirlc said:

Seems all schools are going virtual during this time. I think the majority of BONs had to be flexible.

CONGRATS on things working out and graduating! Good luck to you in all of your future endeavors!

Thank you! Countdown to 24 days

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