Nursing Med-Surg Clinical

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Jun 27, 2012

If there is another clinical slot that you can switch to, that might be a better option for you, if you're really concerned about sleeping.

You really get to school over an hour and 40 minutes before your class starts? Wouldn't it be worth it to sleep an extra hour and park a little further away from the school building? Even if you have to walk ten minutes to get to your class because of parking, you'll still be 30 minutes early if you leave an hour later. Seems like getting to school nearly two hours early is a bit excessive just to get a good parking spot- especially if you're worried about getting enough sleep.

But it's only one night per week, and I think it's perfectly manageable to get buy on four hours for one night. You can take a nap before your clinical to get a little extra rest. When I was in school I worked a few shifts (my job, not clinical) that were 9pm-6am. Then I had to go to class at 9am the same day. So I would go home, sleep for an hour or so, get up and go to class. It wasn't ideal, but I did it.

Stephalump · Jun 27, 2012

Help...... I am signed up for evening Med-Surg Clinical on Wednesdays, which are from 3p-1130pm my drive two and from my clinical site is a good 30-45 min. drive one way. The following day (Thursday) I have my Med-Surg Lecture at 8am my morning commute from home to school if I leave the house by 5:40am is about 30-45 minutes. I like to get to school before 6:20am because of parking. So basically my plea for advice is what is the best way for sleep or will i get sleep, if I finish clinical at 11:30pm probably get home by 12:15am, shower and get everything packed for Thursday by 12:45, and sleep by 1am only to get up at 5:15am thursday.
Should I beg to change my clinical time?
Should I keep my schedule?
How do you guys stay up?
The BIG PLUS' of keeping this evening schedule are
--the clinical instructor hires half of the hospital, which allows this clinical for a good rapport
--the clinical instructor is very knowledgable
--the clinical site for this evening clinical time is at a major hospital, a magnet hospital, and also this site is highly recommended to do clinical at

I don't know that I would ask to change clinicals because you don't get enough sleep...because you're getting to school close to two hours before you need to be there. Everyone else has to deal with parking as well...not exactly an extenuating circumstance.

I would keep the schedule and deal with the lack of sleep if you so choose. One morning surviving on coffee won't kill ya :). As long as you areenl prone to falling asleep on the road.

kaydensmom01 · Jun 27, 2012

I would deal with the lack of sleep, or go into school closer than the time that you need to be there. Its only 1 day a week that you would be getting little sleep. I know at least a few that would work 7p-7a and then be at school at 8a.

QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 27, 2012

1. Suck it up. We all have survived on 4 hours or less. If feels like crap, but you'll live.

2. Pack your stuff before you leave for clinical so you can go to bed earlier when you get home.

3. Like someone else above me said, leave for school a little later. I know you said parking sucks, but will leaving 20-30 min later make that much difference? Is it a big deal to have to walk a little further?

With # 2 and 3 alone you could probably add an extra hour of sleep.

shay&lynn, ASN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

Agree with everyone else...keep the schedule.

I had classmates last semester that worked 2nd shift, got off at 1130pm and had to be back in class at 800am, it's manageable...plus it's only one day a week, will you be tired? Yes, but you can do it :)

Also, why do you like to get to school so early? I like to be early too, but not by that much!

KimberlyRN89, BSN, RN · Jun 28, 2012

I guess I'm the only person in the world that prefers parking farther away from the building. It's good exercise lol! I agree with everyone else, it's just temporary and if you forgo getting to school early, you could possibly sleep an extra 45 min-1hr. Trust me, you'll need every minute of sleep that you can get.

VictoriaMareah · Jun 28, 2012

To me the pros of doing your clinical far outweigh the negative of no sleep! It sounds like you have a great opportunity and will need to invest in a great timed coffee maker so you don't need to add another thing to your routine! Good Luck :)

VictoriaMareah · Jun 28, 2012

Also, do you really need to get to school and hour and forty minutes early? Couldn't you just sleep in more and walk the extra few minutes instead of getting a good parking spot?