My First Clinical, Nursing-Student Woes

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Hello everyone,

I'm new to allnurses.com. I am an RPN student and about to start my first clinical placement. I have an issue with commuting to the location that I've been assigned to and I am dumbfounded as to how to handle it... or if I even have a choice anymore. I feel like my only option is to face the music of a dangerously sleep-deprived semester.

I liveand attend a practical nursing program in *******. Being punctual for my classes has never been an issue; however I knew that to be punctual for placement I would need somewhere more to the west. Several months before my clinical placement, I politely put in a request to my clinical coordinator to consider placing me somewhere in the west or at least central downtown; I followed up on this request in an equally polite manner one month ago to confirm. So late this evening I finally got an email from my assigned clinical instructor telling me that I will be working alongside her in a hospital in Scarborough and have a 07:00am start time... meaning I need to be there by 6:30am to prepare for my shift.

Thank you in advance :)

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Can you check with any of your classmates and see if they'd be willing to trade locations with the approval of your instructor?

That commute sounds miserable. How many days a week would you have to do that, and for how long?

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I would be working Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 7 hour shifts each day

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Get a yearly bus pass, and get to bed early. Nursing school isn't all that accommodating, just as having a nursing job isn't . It stinks, but it is what it is.... if you want it , you'll have to just do it- it's one semester. I'm sorry it's a hassle, but at least you know the shift starts the same time every day, so no surprises there. AND, public transportation does tend to be much less likely to be late- it may be a long ride (get homework done on the way home- don't wait until the a.m.). Pack some snacks, and get ready for a hectic semester... It didn't sound like you are working as well as going to school- so it may be that the closer locations were given to those who are... IDK.... You can try to ask for a change again, but if you want to stay in the program, I wouldn't push it too much . :heartbeat:up:

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I do work in addition to going to school. I get home from work around 10pm most nights and then do homework and get about 3-5 hours of sleep, if i'm lucky.

Thanks for you insight and the tips. You're right about alot of it. I suppose I'll just deal with it because I don't want to rub my faculty the wrong way by asking again...'cause that will open up a whole new set of problems.

Unfortunetly, public transit isn't always reliable (here in Toronto/GTA there are always delays) and I am just worried about being late. I don't want to let my patient(s) and my clinical instructor down, or set a bad impression.

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I do work in addition to going to school. I get home from work around 10pm most nights and then do homework and get about 3-5 hours of sleep, if i'm lucky.

Thanks for you insight and the tips. You're right about alot of it. I suppose I'll just deal with it.

Unfortunetly, public transit isn't always reliable and I am just worried about being late. I don't want to let my patient(s) and my clinical instructor down, or set a bad impression.

Yeah- you need to talk to the instructor, because (if it's like it has been for years) if you are late, you are gone. Find out all of that, and explain how much bus time you'll have, in addition to work. That adds some degree of need (mostly, nobody cares, but if you get lucky with an instructor who is still human, you may have a shot). You can't do a full semester on 3-5 hours of sleep and do the best you can. No harm in trying to talk to the instructor...or maybe have to postpone the semester until you can get something closer. :)

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Specializes in ED.

I would ask one more time and explain the seriousness of the time crunch honestly. Nursing schools invest a lot in each student and they want you to succeed, if you approach them with that understanding maybe they will be responsive to you. You don;t have to be rude or demanding - you can show them the professional you are becoming by confronting this very real problem in a calm and systematic way!

I do hope it works out! Sleep is like gold when you're in nursing school!

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I know this is a long shot, but any chance of renting a room for clinical nights? I know that could get pretty expensive though. Or maybe you have a buddy in class or family, friends etc who live closer who might let you stay over?

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I can't afford to rent a room. But I'll start asking classmates who live nearby if they can offer a couch to sleep on for clinical days.

How about this as an option... I was thinking instead of asking for a placement change perhaps I ask my clinical instructor if there is any possibility of changing our start time by an hour or two (to 8am or 9am instead of 7am). That would be a tremendous help! If this is a good idea... Should I send her an email tonight or speak to her in person when I meet her on Tuesday? Would that be shooting for the moon or do you think this would be a reasonable request?

One of my classmates has a clinical instructor who has instituted a later start time (9:45am) to accomodate students who commute.

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Specializes in Neurosurgical ICU.
Nursing school isn't all that accommodating, just as having a nursing job isn't.

Nursing is also not about burning yourself out. You have to be realistic. To me, a 3.5 hour commute one way would not work. That time could be smartly reinvested into studying or preparing for clinicals. Personally I'd politely bring up these issues with the coordinator. Maybe she forgot and got distracted scheduling everyone else. Regardless if you don't speak up for yourself and try to take care of yourself, no one else will do it for you. They will just assume that things are fine and keep on using and abusing. I'm amazed by how many nurses have such a low sense of self-preservation. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, I'm just suggesting be practical and level-headed.

Welcome to the profession :) :yeah:

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.

It makes more sense (to me) to ask for a change of placement. I doubt changing the start time would be accomodated; the instructors have to go when they have to go and getting you started with a new shift makes more sense than having you come in the middle of one. I have personally asked for a change in clinical when they placed me to somewhere that was as nearly impossible to get to as your situation is. They accomodated me after I sent a politely worded email and there were no problems. I would FIRST ask for a placement change, then check out your options if they are unable to do this for you.

I really wish you the best of luck. Nursing School is no good if you graduate dead. :D

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I can't afford to rent a room. But I'll start asking classmates who live nearby if they can offer a couch to sleep on for clinical days.

How about this as an option... I was thinking instead of asking for a placement change perhaps I ask my clinical instructor if there is any possibility of changing our start time by an hour or two (to 8am or 9am instead of 7am). That would be a tremendous help! If this is a good idea... Should I send her an email tonight or speak to her in person when I meet her on Tuesday? Would that be shooting for the moon or do you think this would be a reasonable request?

One of my classmates has a clinical instructor who has instituted a later start time (9:45am) to accomodate students who commute.

I don't think that's gonna fly- they have to coordinate with the hospital, and other classes. They're not going to change the entire class for you. This isn't any different than classroom hours- you're either there, or you're not. Do try and talk to the instructor or coordinator or whoever sends you to the place you're supposed to go- and let them know again. Asking to change the whole class is NOT reasonable.

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