Missed clinical! :(

APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Feb 9, 2015

Try and look at this from a different perspective;

Some people were informed by you that you would be there today and you were not present. They don't have to know what happened unless you seek them out and inform them.

I would find it to be very strange if your instructor went around and told everyone that you were not present because you overslept.

Ask any Politician, they rely on people having a short attention span and a busy life in order to ignore what they are getting away with. I would let this slide, and just apply yourself during your next clinical day.

tbear1206 · Feb 9, 2015

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all of your advice!! I will surely make use of it all and hopefully this doesn't happen to me again!

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2015

Just don't give a bunch of excuses. Own your mistake and be accountable. No one in the medical field wants to hear excuses. Being reliable in nursing is HUGE. I don't care how good of a nurse you are...if staff cannot count on you to be there you are worthless to them. Wait until you are about to go home and your relief is late or doesn't show. It is a nightmare. Learn from this.

Anna S, RN · Feb 9, 2015

I have been using the same battery operated Timex alarm clock with he same battery in it for years, and it's never let me down.

I set it across the room so I have to get up to turn it off. It starts out low and slow, and beeps louder and after til I get up to turn it off.

I have been a natural over-sleeper all my life and this little clock has saved me more than once.

Red Kryptonite · Feb 9, 2015

If you were in my program you'd be out. Zero clinical absences allowed. Glad you have another chance. As RuPaul would tell you, "DON'T..... **** it up!"

Nibbles1 · Feb 9, 2015

We were allowed to miss 2 clinical day however you had to pay for it. I never missed clinical days. Even when we had to be there at 0300.

Don't let it happen again. I'd still go on to the clinical site, maybe the instructor will let you do some of the hours. Or maybe call her and ask. Apologize once and don't bring it up again.

xopanda91 · Feb 9, 2015

This is my greatest fear! I always set like 3-5 phone alarms. Plus now I set one on my laptop. I'm always so scared one will fail! I think I'll get a third- a regular alarm clock.

If you have no previous missed clinicals and are a good student, I'm sure your instructor may work with you. Definitely speak to the Dean or Chair head of your program as soon as possible. Be proactive about trying to make up the day.

I know my school had a zero missed clinical policy also, but there is a makeup day scheduled as well, and in the event of unavoidable absence they may or may not allow us the one absence. Every case is evaluated individually.

suzw · Feb 9, 2015

So you didn't go at all? I think I would've contacted my instructor and maybe the clinical site (but only if my instructor was not already on site) and just gone in as soon as you could get there. Let them decide then if they are going to send you home.

I actually did the same thing just 2 weeks ago. Set my alarm for PM instead of AM, and woke up 10 minutes after I was supposed to be in our pre-conference. It was the first time I have been late for clinical, and am almost in my last quarter. I was mortified but texted my instructor immediately, and she said don't even sweat it. I got there almost an hour late, but just after report, so didn't really miss much, and my preceptor was totally cool about it too. I worked through lunch and breaks (though they didn't ask me too) and not another word was said about it. Nothing to make up, no worries. I hope you contacted someone to ask what to do before just not showing up. They probably would've preferred you come in an hour late than make up a whole day, but I could be wrong.

Red Kryptonite · Feb 9, 2015

suzw, the OP posted previously that the instructor told them if they were more than ten minutes late they shouldn't bother to show up.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2015

I'd have shown up anyway, just to show I was trying hard to do the right thing. If they sent me home, so be it, but I tried.

suzw · Feb 10, 2015

Yeah, I understand that what they SAID was don't show up if you're going to be 10 minutes late, but that may not be what they meant. I am just hoping she contacted someone and confirmed that before not showing up.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Feb 10, 2015

I'd rather you had showed up for half the clinical because I had experiences planned for you that I wouldn't want you to miss. Even if you got only half of it. But that's just me, I'm a new adjunct and not jaded yet.