Medical exemption for nighttime capstone shift

Hoosier_RN, MSN · Feb 24, 2020

On 2/21/2020 at 11:21 AM, tonyl1234 said:
That's not necessarily true. It depends on where it is. A lot of places that give good shift differentials have nurses competing for night shifts while days is the one that nobody wants to do.

Not sure where these places are, but they are far and few in between as well. In most places, day shift is highly sought after regardless of night shift differentials, d/t the effects of night shift on most (not all) people. I'm just wondering if OP has thought this through

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2020

OP:

Night shift messes with everyone. Sleep is important for all of us kids or no kids, meds or no meds. For whatever reason you were given a night shift clinical.

What are the hours? How many shifts?

Start thinking outside the box on child care.. are there other students in class that have children as well? can you nanny share, or after school care. his is just one clinical, it won't be forever.

I realize you want to spend time with your children, but this is just one night shift clinical, you are in nursing school, it is one of those things which you just have to adapt. Other students have other things outside nursing school too that are obstacles.

I had a clinical once about 40 minutes from my home. I didn't have a car and public transportation was not possible for this location. So I asked a general question about accessing clinical sites and public transportation accessbility for those of us without cars. The answer was that we were responsible for attending and accessing the clinical rotation we were assigned car or no car. The answer was find someone who does. I asked around and was able to find a carpool. To get to the carpool location it was an additional 15 minute commute. Just made my days loooooong, but I was able to work it out.

Perhaps talk to your PCP or mental health provider and ask what steps you can take to be successful in your clinical. it will be hard work but this is something that you can overcome without any special accommodations.

Mergirlc, MSN, APRN, NP · Feb 24, 2020

On 2/21/2020 at 8:21 AM, tonyl1234 said:
That's not necessarily true. It depends on where it is. A lot of places that give good shift differentials have nurses competing for night shifts while days is the one that nobody wants to do.

I don't disagree w/ you. There is always a chance for a new grad day shift, but it seems these are less offered than night shifts. I based what I wrote on what I see here on AN a few times a month from new grads. It's always the same story/post: they're on night shift, cannot see their boyfriend/spouse, they miss their kids, no social life, etc. This is sometimes even the case w/ experienced RNs who transfer to new jobs and/or units also.

Unfortunately when you're a new grad or newly hired, you don't have too much pull (although sometimes experienced RNs fare better for getting days). As for the OP, I just hope she is aware while this may work for nursing school clinical, it's probably not going to work for a new job once she graduates.

KCMnurse, BSN, MSN, RN · Feb 24, 2020

You are dealing with a problem that many parents face during school and into their careers. If you think that your medical exemption will fly give it a shot. This is only short-term (during your capstone) so perhaps you can pay someone to come to your home and stay with the kids during this rotation.

Nursing is a 24/7 gig and if you haven't figured out reliable child care already you will have to face this problem again and again. Most places work 12-hour shifts, so this is going to be an issue.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2020

On 2/24/2020 at 7:26 AM, RNNPICU said:
OP:
Night shift messes with everyone. Sleep is important for all of us kids or no kids, meds or no meds. For whatever reason you were given a night shift clinical.
What are the hours? How many shifts?
Start thinking outside the box on child care.. are there other students in class that have children as well? can you nanny share, or after school care. his is just one clinical, it won't be forever.
I realize you want to spend time with your children, but this is just one night shift clinical, you are in nursing school, it is one of those things which you just have to adapt. Other students have other things outside nursing school too that are obstacles.
I had a clinical once about 40 minutes from my home. I didn't have a car and public transportation was not possible for this location. So I asked a general question about accessing clinical sites and public transportation accessbility for those of us without cars. The answer was that we were responsible for attending and accessing the clinical rotation we were assigned car or no car. The answer was find someone who does. I asked around and was able to find a carpool. To get to the carpool location it was an additional 15 minute commute. Just made my days loooooong, but I was able to work it out.
Perhaps talk to your PCP or mental health provider and ask what steps you can take to be successful in your clinical. it will be hard work but this is something that you can overcome without any special accommodations.

I cannot love this enough.

OP - how many shifts? It was my experience that I did not have to do night clinicals. However, if you have to and you haven't already, you need to work this out with your program. We random strangers on the internets wish you well but the only help you'll get (besides suggestions) is from the program.