They changed the clinical attendence policy on us today...

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I'm attending Tidewater Tech in Norfolk, VA. I'm in the LPN program. Today we had a student/teacher meeting for all LPN students. They decided to change the attendence policy for clinicals. From Monday on if you miss 30 minutes or more of clinicals for that mod. (we go on five week mods) then you are dropped from all classes for that mod and will have to return and start that set of classes over. Not to mention pay to take all those classes over again. Now my problem is that this was not the policy when we started atttending school. It was you couldn't miss an entire day without making it up the next Friday (no school on Fri.) This seems totally unfair to the current students. If they want to make it policy for new students great. But I most likely wouldn't have attended the school if that was the then policy. I'm outraged by this. Am I wrong????

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.

sounds a little harsh to me, especially given that you came in under a different set of expectations.

is there any leeway if you call ahead, or are excused for a medical reason?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Did something happen to trigger that change?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

There are no excused absences or tardies period. There wasn't anything that really triggered it besides people were missing days and making them up. Because before if you didn't make it up that Fri. then you had to repeat the mod.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Maybe people took the make up days for granted?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Guess so but still think that the change is unfair. 30 mins. total for 5 weeks and you're done. And I have to pay you people more. What!! I'm already really unhappy with the teacher situtation there. I'd transfer if I wasn't so in debt to these folks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds.
Maybe people took the make up days for granted?

:yeahthat: I would have to wonder the same thing. We had to have 98% attendance at clinicals. If some emergency arose then you could make up a certain number of days but you had to pay the clinical instructor out of pocket for coming in on his/her day off. That deterred people from taking advantage of the make up time. After all, these are their days off too.

There were quite a few of us that had 100% attendence for the program (class & clinicals). It's not that hard to do....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

It does sound harsh, but unfortunately that's what happens when people take advantage. All of my classes have had a policy where if you missed a certain amount of class/clinical, you could only get as high as a B, or a C, or you fail completely depending on how much time was missed. Policies such as this are necessary, unfortunately. So far I have only missed one clinical day when I was sick as a dog, and I made sure to bring a doctor's note with me when I came back the next clinical day.

It can be done. Just grin and bear it for the rest of your program, whether you agree with it or not. Getting mad will not get you a degree - showing up for clinicals will.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.

No, you're not wrong ...that is an absolutely absurd policy. Thirty minutes?? Give me a break!! I do agree with you that they should have enacted this for "incoming" students, and left the "current" students alone.

Heck, it probably takes your instructors 30 minutes just to pull up their pants. Just kidding...but seriously....

Do your best...finish on top!!

Good luck.

vamedic4

Missing Virginia

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You could try asking someone higher up at the school (deans, directors, etc.) if the nursing dept is allowed to change the policy like that after you've already entered the program. You came to this school under the condition that you could make up clinical days. You have no control over accidents, traffic, illness, or whatever other unforeseeable circumstance that may arise. I've heard of students fighting similar situations and winning. Its worth a try!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Yes, that IS pretty harsh, and changing a policy in the middle of a term isn't very nice. But it's good preparation for life, because life isn't always nice..........in fact, sometimes it's downright unfair, and the sooner we get used to that, the better off we are. There are no "makeup clinicals" out in the real world---either you go to work (and get paid), or you don't.

Besides, nursing school is fraught with obstacles and challenges.......I've never met a nurse who didn't have to jump through a bunch of hoops to get through their program. It's just part of the game, and to win the game you have to play by the rules.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Yep, there's ALWAYS some silly rule/item that you can try to appeal or go "What?", but as a student you are EXPECTED to know every aspect of your program's policies. However, for them to change the policy without notice may not be applicable to current students, under college's own policy. I'd go in and ask the dean of the nursing program about it, then go from there. However, a lot of syallbi usually have the phrase "XXXX reserves the right to change any item within at anytime..."

the 30 mins seem excessive, I'd ask if the class could petition it to 2 hrs. That would eliminate most traffic, accident, kid missing school kind of emergencies. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment