lllnesses/injuries affecting nursing school work

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Nursing school is such a hyper-regimented environment, and a lot is crammed into such a short period of time. The thought has crossed my mind frequently what would happen if I broke my leg, got into an accident, or had some other incident that resulted in my inability to participate in school and/or clinicals. I'm always worried that this will happen and will set me back by a year or more, when I am very ready to be done. What experiences have people had with this, or thoughts on this?

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This happened to me, I broke my foot right after I got my acceptance letter and a week before I had to take a required prerequisite this summer before starting this fall. It was just a regular nursing course and not a clinical so I just grinned and beared it and went to class...I was still in pain and getting around in crutches was a major ordeal. I was scared cause my doctor told me that it was a bad spot that the bone broke and often doesn't heal well. I thought my future was in major jeapardy. I was even afraid to tell the nursing heads officially thinking that they would ask me to withdraw not knowing if it would be healed by time for clinicals. I just counted the days and did everything I could to help it heal. I switched my other courses I was registered for online and got another surprise by school that I need another one too so I ended up doing twelve credits this summer!...including chemistry...ugh! But I did it, my foot healed and after a month with a cast and a month with a walking boot I am finally walking normally again. But I have to say it was the worst summer of my life! but glad it all over. I was worried and didn't think I could get through this and worried about losing my seat but it worked out ok....I think if i was in a clinical it would have been alot different though. By law you are not allowed to be in a hospital as a student with any kind of walking assistance or brace or anything. I guess you would have to postpone it until you are healed. I did read that some schools asked them to withdraw but I think it depends on the school. It did totally suck for me but I knew (hoped) it was only temporary and I will get through it and I did. If you really want to do it you will find a way.

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I think I would be pretty devestated if it happened to me, mainly because I"m so close to being done.

A classmate last semester injured his ankle when playing with his son. Sprained it pretty good. Anyway, he used his two clinical absences that week but ended up not being able to continue on because he just couldn't get around like he needed to. He did stay in lecture for the remainder of the semester and handled it well. He is now repeating that semester.

Right now I try to avoid anything that might potentially ruin this for me. So high activity is off....between kids, work and school, the only activity I want to participate in is SLEEPING :lol2: I also avoid sick people when possible- like family members who show up to get togethers even with massive diarrhea, vomiting and fevers :eek:

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

In our school we are not allowed any absences at all. You get a zero for the day. A girl in my class suffered an injury in third semester that made her temporarily unable to participate in clinicals, but for more than just a week or two. She is having to test out of second semester all over again and then can start back over with third if she successfully does that. It stinks. She would have been graduating with us this December.

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