Not enough students to give me a group

[LilyRN99]

I am a clinical instructor for a LPN program that is a one year program with 4 quarters. I have been working with quarter 1 and quarter 2 students which meets on Mondays and Tuesdays. My boss said not enough students passed quarter 1 to make 3 clinical groups and I have the least seniority. So my options are to not have a group this quarter (then no pay) or change to a third quarter group. The third quarter group meets on Thursday and Fridays. I have a home are care on Fridays which I feel is my only true hands on work and I enjoy working with the child. I don't want to give that day up and even if it was possible to switch days there isn't a guarantee that I would be able to get the Fridays back after the quarter is finished. Has anyone been is this situation?

[doctoral_candidate17, BSN, MSN, RN]

Hi LilyRN99,

This is a difficult situation no doubt and you are not the first and won't be the last to face this dilemma. It is important for you to evaluate your own situation (personal, career, and financial) and make the decision you feel is best for you ... not what the LPN program expects of you.

I have faced this situation. My decision was to go ahead and take the risk of putting my part-time career as a new instructor first and foremost. I made the decision to do that because I did not have the responsibility of a family, my husband was supportive both mentally and financially, and I thought that if I wanted to end up making it in the area of nursing education this would be a risk I would have to take. It ended up serving me well. I am now doing well and have a steady full-time nursing education contract year to year and currently am working on my PhD so that I can begin the promotion and tenure track at my university.

I have worked with many part-time nursing instructors that come and go semester to semester. Some take a few semesters off and then return later when the numbers are right and we need them. This is not all that uncommon - seems to be the nature of clinical education in my area.

Best of luck to you and I hope you can make the best decision for yourself that you feel comfortable with soon.

[JaxJax5423]

I have also been in this exact situation. Not enough students, so my adjunct position was cancelled. I was adjunct for 2 semesters prior so I was used to that extra income. I was disappointed and made the decision to move to another campus as a Full Time LVN Instructor. I left my staff nurse position to pursue this. I'm still deciding if this was the right move. You have to decide what your future professional goals are and that will help you decide.