I'm still finishing off my pre-reqs and will be applying for nursing school next Fall. I have 3 children who are 4, 5, and 7 and I was thinking yesterday what on earth will I do if they get sick! I would have to miss school and stay home with them if they did get sick, my hubby is in the army and couldn't take time off easily. So if you have kids what do you do if they get sick...do you have a plan in place? Do nursing schools tend to work around those with children or is it no excuse?
I had to miss clinical on one occasion for my son and my instructor was understanding. I would find out what the attendance policy is in your program. For my school it is very very strict. One absence is all you can have without failing. I would just ask someone in the department about your concern.
I would have to say my school is pretty liberal for illnesses. At the time I turned in my medical paperwork the advisor told me that when we become ill, as I'm sure we all will sometime, to take the time off and become better. Instructors may be a bit more understanding out here, they seem to be very lenient and considerate, as long as we don't take advantage of it. I have a friend who is my plan A daycare as I have one child in school and 1 not in school (that my friend will have) but I have another friend as a plan B too.
Sittercity.com has short notice care available and free for military families because of their partnership with the DOD.
I am hiring a housekeeper to be at my house on my heaviest days. Definitely Monday and maybe 2 other days. Their job is to keep my house spotless, laundry done and dinners prepped. If I have a sick little one then I will already have someone at home. I then have a list of backup sitters to call. My school has zero tolerance for missing due to sick kids. I get to miss twice before we get kicked out. Period. My husband travels and we have no family near to help. Hiring help is the price we have to pay to ensure i can go to school. I have three kids I'd rather spend any free time with them anyway instead of cleaning toilets and doing laundry. It is only 4 semesters so we r just biting the bullet. And as of right now I do all the cleaning and laundry and cooking. :)
That was the determining factor in school selection for me---I went with a part-time program because I couldn't reconcile how I'd deal w/ sick kid situations.
There isn't a nursing program out there that is understanding about kids. You MUST have a plan, a backup plan, a backup for the backup etc...
There is a required amount of hours you MUST be in clinicals. Yes, normally you can miss a day, or a day and 2 hours or whatever...but for goodness sakes don't use it unless you have to!!!! If you miss if for a sick kid and then get a flat on the way the next clinical day..well your out.
I know this isn't easy. I'm a mom. I ended up w/ a little kid w/ kidney stones the second semester. I called in every favor I could, have my oldest son, the grandparents, neighbors and friends all helping take care of him because he couldn't go to school on narcotics.We did that for almost 3 weeks. Dr visits, ER and specialists... It was a horrendous experience for him especially when I couldn't really be there much...but it did work out. I found out who I can really count on when I need help and I didn't miss a day. NOT ONE.
Being that happened. I did keep my instructor informed on the big stuff..like his Diagnosis and when he had to do follow ups..not every little thing..they hate that...but it showed my commitment to school. So if I did need to take some time off they knew it was a major thing not just 'gee I don't feel like going today'. When I'm out, even from class...I am sicker than a dog and always try to bring a dr note showing that I was being honest about being sick.
Colleen84
14 Posts
I had to miss clinical on one occasion for my son and my instructor was understanding. I would find out what the attendance policy is in your program. For my school it is very very strict. One absence is all you can have without failing. I would just ask someone in the department about your concern.