PLEASE HELP Before they kick me out!

Nursing Students Student Assist

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I am in my 2nd semester of nursing school. My school has never been big on strictly enforcing attendance rules. So imagine my surprise when I get called into the DON's office to be told that they are failing me for missing 2 days in this term! Come to find out, they are also doing this to 4 other students. No warning, or anything.

I have 3 kids so things come up and I may miss a day here and there but I put in MORE than enough study time to make sure I do not fall behind. I am a straight A student and I do not think this is right! Two of the other students they are doing this to had doctors notes for being absent, but they were told that absences are not excused under any circumstances.

I don't know what to do. I have put so much time, energy, and money into this program and I am not ready to give up.

Is there any advice anyone can give to help me out??

Have you been communicating with your professors? People are right, stuff happens in life. BUT things have to be dealt with responsibly. That means knowing and working within the rules. That also means being open and honest with your faculty about your situation.

A whole lot of stuff happened while I was in nursing school. A classmate was hospitalized with a DVT, another with mono, people had been in car accidents/gotten hurt, people had babies, and a fair amount of us had family members die. We had a classmate die in a tragic accident. Classmates had kiddos hospitalized, classmates kiddos had surgery, and other family members of classmates had serious issues. Our school was understanding in all of these cases, but sometimes there were consequences. My friend who had mono, unfortunately had it too closely to when our class was gonna start OB clinicals and the school couldn't allow her to go to clinicals and be around babies with no immune system. It sucked for her but it ultimately wasn't the end of the world, she graduated with a very useful Spanish minor with the extra time she gained in college.

I was told my grandmothers cancer was terminal the day of an exam in my psych nursing class (an hour before the exam). Misspelled my name, incorrectly bubbled my name on the form. I passed the exam, without the curve, but it was not my best grade ever. I didn't want to beg for special consideration and delay my exam, which my advisor later told me would have been to my benefit and would have been granted. Looking back I didn't want my situation to become "real" which is what talking to my professors would have made it. Sure, not a horrible consequence, but my grade could've been better.

At my college, attendance was only taken on exam and quiz days. The catch, you never really knew when quizzes would be and couldn't make them up unless you had previously communicated with your professor (ex phone call or email sent before class should have started) and if it was serious enough a situation that they permitted it. We could miss clinical once per term but had to have extenuating circumstances and had to make plans with our clinical instructor or class facilitator to make the time up (sometimes tagging along with another clinical group, sometimes 1:1 time with our clinical instructor, sometimes another make up time). Clinicals were only cancelled if your facility was closed (ex during community placement when schools closed) or if the college closed... And you still had to make up the time later.

I guess my point is, communication is KEY. Yes things happen, but you can't just drop a school or work responsibility because something else came up. Change the situation some - say you're a nurse working at a hospital. You generally stay over or come in early for meetings or to help coworkers. But you don't show up to work two days with no call to work, no email to your boss. All four hospital systems I've worked in, that is grounds for termination. There is a commitment to your coworkers and patients to be available when scheduled. I've called off twice since becoming an RN (over two years). Once was because I needed emergency surgery and the other for a day after something really bad happened at my house and required me to be off to deal with my insurance company. Both times I called off as soon as I knew and for the minimum time possible.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

DesireeRN2011....post is RIGHT on point :yes:

I actually had a vacation planned that I couldn't get my money back for; luckily it was during a mid semester break and I arranged to have a clinical makeup and I was able to arrange an assignment as well. I made sure any issues that had to come up relating to any illnesses, etc we communicated prior to ANYTHING. I didn't get kicked out or was on a list it in danger of missed hours because I made sure I made contact with my instructors each time.

I think the issue here is if communication was utilized in the first place, would this have been an issue-and if it was, then the OP MAY have a chance.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I didn't say you should be allowed to break rules and if someone calls you on it it's lateral violence. I said the response's on here strike me as lateral violence and I still stand behind my opinion. [/quote'] I am unaware of the "lateral violence tone" in posts; the reality is being aware of what's right; we carry a huge responsibility; as we as integrity; knowing and adhering to rules, even when it's not being enforced is the best path to prevent issues, especially libelous ones in the future.

I would like to know how many people on here had similar situations in their own program and were not cut any breaks so, they don't feel the need to be kind to anyone else with a situation.

Again, I would like to know where someone wasn't being "kind", since we can't hear anyone speak...as far as if any issues that came up, reread my last post. :yes:

Nursing is a mostly female dominated profession and unfortunately, women are horrible to each other and there is no need for it. If I was one of the first to answer this post, I would have simply empathized with this person's problem and try to come up with a workable solution -- even if the solution was "consider whether you are in a place to study nursing at this time in your life." Not, "well tough," "read the rules," "figure out something for your kids because I have 5 kids, a full time job and go to school full time," (and I still say these people must have some kind of support system if they are never home and not everyone has that kind of support). For example, my mother died a few years ago. Everyone's situation is different and it's unrealistic to compare everyone's life as if we have the same obstacles.

Again, what tone??? Nursing has been VERY kind to females in terms of having flexible hours to accommodate work-life balance; unfortunately to get there is very time consuming and has very strict requirements in order to obtain licensure. As another posted stated; with the flux at of nursing students, there are programs that cannot make up clinical times due to constraints by facilities and have to adhere to the rules set by the BON or be in violation; it's not that someone is being "unkind", it's the REALITY; that's the issue when reality sets in; everyone is NOT going to like it. :no:

I'm not sure if you are a nursing student or a nurse; if you are, perhaps you can be the change that you seek and propose a way for facilities to be more "family friendly"; right now in this market they are no incentives for some facilities since there are plenty or nurses that have a great support system or arrangements or have older children or no children at all. In most of the facilities that I have worked, there was only ONE with an onsite day care; and three have daycare/nanny assistance; not every place has any options and that stinks; however, as many posters pointed out, including myself; there are many rules in play; especially in adhering to requirements.

We were told up front that we could not miss clinical for any reason. I missed my grandmothers funeral. I went to clinical in tears with a raging ear infection. They did not let me go to the ENT and have it looked after until I almost passed out. Now this was in 1992. I am now in education and working at a teaching hospital and the rules are less stringent. They have had student nurses in some schools that have missed days and their graduation was postponed until they could make up the day or two they missed. Things happen that are outside of our control. The best advice is to make sure you know the policy and procedure. This is always true. After reading if you are right, then talk face to face with DON. If no luck you go up the ladder the next step. If you are wrong, the best idea would be to get the others to go with you and try the lawyer bit. I hate to do that, but they can make life easier at times. Also, remember it is not always what you know(straight A's) but who you know, manners and how you care yourself in this very political world of healthcare. Please if things do work out for you, always stand strong on policy and procedure and you will always be fine.

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.
I am unaware of the "lateral violence tone" in posts; the reality is being aware of what's right; we carry a huge responsibility; as we as integrity; knowing and adhering to rules, even when it's not being enforced is the best path to prevent issues, especially libelous ones in the future.

You didn't know that lateral violence = telling someone a truth they don't want to hear? Not agreeing with asinine irresponsibility?

I reread the OP and am not clear whether it was lecture/class time, lab time, or clinical time she missed. We hear so much about how little clinical time students get and how unprepared they feel when they graduate, but that's not my concern for the OP. The deal is that the state Board of Nursing approves your program with a minimum number of clinical hours. I have never heard they gave a damn about classroom or learning lab hours per se (which is Latin and means "of itself" and is not spelled "persay"), but they sure as heck do care about clinicals. It is very likely that your program has the number of clinical hours for which you are scheduled to be ::this close:: to the minimum, so there's a real small margin for you to say, "Uh gee, I have kids, things happen."

I think it very likely that they did get a pop survey and discover that their entire program could be in jeopardy because they have not been rigidly enforcing their own rules. Or perhaps there's something else you aren't telling us, like you missed clinical on short or no notice because, gee, something happened. Do that much and you'll find yourself not only out of school but out of a job.

Sorry, OP. If you could clarify what you missed, specifically, and what you have discovered about your school policy and procedures it's remotely possible that the OP'll find some mitigating information and be in a big hurry to share it c us. But somehow I doubt it.

I don't think you really read what I posted LadyFree28. Either that or you didn't read many of the responses the OP received towards the beginning of this post that basically said "tough" and "read the rules." I think it's a nasty way to respond to someone having a problem and just not how I handle situations. But that's just me :)

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I don't think you really read what I posted LadyFree28. Either that or you didn't read many of the responses the OP received towards the beginning of this post that basically said "tough" and "read the rules." I think it's a nasty way to respond to someone having a problem and just not how I handle situations. But that's just me :)

Oh, I have read all the posts; and I AGREE with the posts; actually I am very clear in terms of "read the rules" posts; like I had to state to another poster who claimed posters were on a "high horse" life does get in the way; however, the world keeps turning...it is reality; no lateral violence; it is what it is; and rightfully so at times; unless you have worked short, have people show up late or not at all when you want to leave your shift, then I think you can understand that, if you are a nurse or have engaged in the working world.

Again, if you are a nurse, then you understand the gravity of an attendance policy and following through with rules as much as possible; there are far too many examples of the rationale. GrnTea gave a great example of the reality of working as a nurse as well as the challenges that nursing schools have in this climate.

And again, since we are on the Internet, there is no "tone" implied; it is at the discretion of the reader. ;) I claim no responsibility of offense; I will only claim responsibility of realistic information and enlightenment. :yes:

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
You didn't know that lateral violence = telling someone a truth they don't want to hear? Not agreeing with asinine irresponsibility?

I totally forgot Bortaz...thanks for reminding me. ;)

I could not agree more. I am also a mother and have only missed a class because of the recent floodings in Colorado where we had roads washed out. Of course I cleared this with my professor, and luckily it was a lecture day, not a clinical. Quite honestly I really don't feel like it is any of my business why another student misses class, if he or she misses a class, it doesn't affect my experience or learning. I don't understand why someone would feel so slighted by this. OP good luck with the situation, I'm sure you have learned from this experience.[/quote']we'll said! I'm shocked but not surprised with some of the comments I just read. Were here to support. If you don't agree move on and stop your wining. Not all single mothers WINE and cry. Hope it all works out for you.

@allycat... I agree with u

Specializes in CDI Supervisor; Formerly NICU.

I don't wine, I whiskey.

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