Need to vent about externship...

[Nepenthe Sea]

I was supposed to start my nursing externship tomorrow morning. I just got a call from my preceptor, who said that everybody was wondering where I've been for the last two days. Turns out that the person who sent me my externship schedule sent me the wrong schedule!!! I was supposed to be there on Monday. I am SO upset right now, words can't even describe it. I guess I look really bad right now to all those people for not showing up. I did send a copy of the e-mail that was sent to me (with the schedule in it) to my supervisor so that she can see what I was given. I just can't believe they didn't call me sooner if i was a no-call no-show! I hate this. I was originally told that my NICU rotation would be for 6 weeks, and it turned out to be five because of hospital orientation. Then I can't even start until Thursday because of this fiasco, and that may be my only day in NICU this week! I asked my preceptor to please see if any of the nurses working tomorrow would agree to let me shadow them because I was so anxious to start, and she said she would try. Now I'm so upset I don't even know if I want to do this externship thing anymore...

Thanks for listening.

[Tara:)]

Everything happens for a reason! Keep your head up, something good will come out of it. :)

[icechick, RN]

Yes it sucks that you missed a few days, but don't let it get you down. it was not your fault & you should not let it stop you from making the most of your externship. In today's economoy, be grateful you found an externship, learn from this experience to double & triple check schedules & move forward. Good luck!

[Nepenthe Sea]

Thanks for your replies. I'm feeling better now. The preceptor called back and said that I can go ahead and work tomorrow, and that somebody else will let me shadow them for the day. Then I will get to work with her Thursdayand Friday. I've been excited about this externship, especially the NICU part, because that is where I want to be after graduation. It just seemed like I was never actually going to get in there! LOL Hopefully things will turn out alright, but I just am really nervous after this event.

[Chapis]

good thing you have that email that backs you up for not being there on Monday. Keep us posted on your adventure at the hospital!!

[Nepenthe Sea]

Here's an update on my externship: I just finished my first week in NICU and I LOVE it! I feel much more at home there than I do with adults in clinicals, and even the babies in newborn nursey (which I didn't care for). I'm sure I am more at ease since I was a NICU parent, so I'm a little familiar, but still. Were were pretty crazy busy for two of the three days I worked, but it was still fun and interesting, and I enjoyed it. My preceptor is cool, too. Just letting you all know...