Isn't this dangerous??

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 19, 2005

You do what you gotta do to get through school.

I gather, that it's going to be a long commute for most people and you're not unique, and they can't accommadate everyone? But it wouldn't hurt to bring your concerns to your instructors.

Lots of people post-graduation work 12 hour shifts and commute long distances. I worked with a nurse who drives in one hour each way and works 12 hours shifts, which of course in the real work sometimes stretch into even longer shifts.

When I was in nursing school I would do 8 hour clinicals, change clothes and report for my 3-11 shift, making it a 16 hour clinical day. Like I said, you do what you got to do, if you want it bad enough and there aren't any other options.

Good luck to you. :)

ICUsleep · Apr 19, 2005

You do what you gotta do to get through school.
I gather, that it's going to be a long commute for most people and you're not unique, and they can't accommadate everyone? But it wouldn't hurt to bring your concerns to your instructors.
Lots of people post-graduation work 12 hour shifts and commute long distances. I worked with a nurse who drives in one hour each way and works 12 hours shifts, which of course in the real work sometimes stretch into even longer shifts.
When I was in nursing school I would do 8 hour clinicals, change clothes and report for my 3-11 shift, making it a 16 hour clinical day. Like I said, you do what you got to do, if you want it bad enough and there aren't any other options.
Good luck to you. :)

Hi, Tweety.

Yes, I realize people make choices about where they wish to work and whatnot. When I'm being paid to be somewhere, I make a choice whether or not I can do that. I wouldn't work somewhere that far away. I can't. And I won't do it for free, that's for sure.

Yes, I am unique. I have a severe phobia of driving. An hour long drive on top of sleep deprivation may be uncomfortable for other students; for me it is crippling. Don't let that reflect on my ability as a student or a future nurse, though. I would never go somewhere that would require me to commute that far.

I guess my question should be what the limits are to clinical days for students, and what grounds can one request "resonable accomodation" if they claim disability. It's ok if you don't know. Just please don't tell me to "do what you gotta do". I can't do it in this case, otherwise I wouldn't be so frantic.

Thanks anyways, though. I'm sure you meant well.

grinnurse, RN · Apr 19, 2005

Did we miss something here? Who doesn't care about what?

Aneroo, LPN · Apr 19, 2005

I don't know what the original post was, but I think I can gather enough from the above posts to say something. We have several students in class with me who commute an hour to class, an hour and a half to some of our clinical sites, meaning they leave their homes between 4 and 6 am, depending on where we have clinical. They knew this was part of clinical from the beginning, and our instructors even gave us the mileage before we started clinical. Lately, they've been wonderful in working with us. We've started adding a few hours in here and there, so we can manage not to have to go everyday (but still get all of our hours in)- this is really helping to cut costs down on gas. The girls that drive from an hour away meet other girls at their house and carpool from there. My carpool has 4-5 people shoved into cars every week, which saves gas $, but we also get to talk about our day and our lives.

If you have a severe phobia of driving, then talk to your instructors.

I think you should re-post. Don't throw away your post on one reply that didn't tell you exactly what you wanted to hear. -Andrea

directcare4me · Apr 19, 2005

nevermind

You gave as your reason for deleting your post "nobody cares". I would not want you to think that "nobody cares"; it's more a case of "yes, many of us commute an hour or more one way for work". Not that this diminishes your problem, just that it's a common situation. Your first post did not make clear that you had a driving phobia. In your situation, I would discuss the phobia with my instructor; possibly something can be worked out.

I have found audio books to be most helpful. Good Luck to you.

NoCrumping · Apr 19, 2005

nevermind

Actually, I came from a more "old school" type school, strict with their policies, and they had made accomodations for 2 students that I can think of.... One had the same issue as you... she was allready driving an hour to go to school everyday, and this one particular clinical site we were going to was another hour away from the school... she simply talked to administration, explained that she simply couldnt, her car was not that dependable, etc. They let her do clinical in another facility that we had allready been to, but she had to find a nurse that was willing to precept her . (it was psych, so not alot of hands on skills). The instructor communicated with the preceptor regularly.... papers to fill out re: her progress, etc. Another student simply could not do our community site clinical that deals with severely handicapped children, and she simply was going to quit... in her LAST year. Admin. even gave her the option to skip that whole clinical rotation, do to weekly computer lab assignments, papers, etc...but ultimately she decided she didnt think it was fair to the others that she do that, or probably that clinical brought up some things that none of us were aware of.... but anyway.... TALK TO THEM!!!! They probably dont want to lose you. And, if you've been compliant in every other area, and a good student, they will accomodate you. Just talk to them...........good luck.