Here's the thing, I was told not to come back to my clinical site because my instructor said there was a management meeting about me "sitting to much". I had an 8hr night shift in the ER paired with an agency nurse who was sent home early due to lack of census. I am a disabled veteran with back/foot issues who has notified both my school and the charge nurse on duty that night of my potential limitations, and if she saw me sitting it was because I was in pain.. ( if we are not busy I rest my feet, however, I make sure that if we have patients I see to them). After the beds were turned over, and all of the nurses were at the desk I proceeded to do paperwork. 20 min before my next shift my instructor called me and told me not to come in and I would be getting an action plan. I am terrified that this is going to get me kicked from the program as I need another 36 hours to complete this class. BTW I am 1 month from finishing my program. I have gotten multiple job offers and I have NEVER received a complaint from any clinical site before!
What can I do? My instructor did not talk to the nurse I was paired with or the other students that were on the floor with me that night. I was told that there was no reason fo the complainer (no idea who it could be) had no reason to "make it up".
Sorry about the rant, I am just so worried and at a loss..
As an older nursing student who has worked my whole life in retail my feet hurt too! Fortunately, our instructors are in charge of us not the facility. And unlike some others on AN who only have negative things to say to everyone, I truly thank you for your service and hope that everything works out for you.
Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.
I'm definitely getting soft in my old age, and at the same time, more and more discouraged at what I see and here from my fellow 'colleagues'. I wasn't born yesterday, and have been teaching nursing for half my adult life/ nursing career. I've heard many a 'story' from students, some are completely bogus, and some are heart wrenching. I don't believe everything I hear, or every story I read on allnurses, but if this person is truthful in his/her story here, I'm sadly disappointed in many of the responses.
If you look at this person's profile, you see that he/she is an LPN and an EMT. I think there is a safe assumption that he is physically able to handle the tasks of a nurse, with some limitations. There are many nurses practicing with limitations, and there are many areas in the nursing field that are suitable for persons with physical limitations.
Having said that, to the OP: I trust that your limitations are documented. If they are not, this is a lesson to all that may choose to conceal their disabilities (whether physical or learning) until it comes up in a negative way (like this). I get why people do it; they don't want to deal with the stigma and the attention, which is a shame. If it is all documented, then there should be no issue with the school. The institution does reserve the right to complain and dismiss students, but the school does not have to abide by their regulations (sure, you may not be allowed to continue clinical there, but the school ultimately gets to decide how to handle this with you.
I hope this gets straightened out for you. Thank you for your service.
I had this reaction the other day to All Nurses post from a NP who was worried about being exposed to different things while she was pregnant. People ripped her a new one, all because she was a worried first time mom!! It was disheartning to see. I too do not fall for every gulliable story or am naive but just believe that a little compassion never heart anyone. We demand change from healthcare administration, that they see we are human, make mistakes,. and they need to let up on us. Yet we fail to do that for our fellow nurses. Just odd.
I understand how grueling standing for 8 hours straight can be, but it comes with nursing school. My instructors were VERY strict, we couldn't even lean on the nurses station because it looked unprofessional. I do understand where they're coming from, and all the nurses we followed said we were their school, and we did look better. But, it sucks.
I actually broke my foot and had to show up to clinicals the next day with no sitting time allowed. Pretty brutal, but like I said it comes with the territory.
Here's the thing, I was told not to come back to my clinical site because my instructor said there was a management meeting about me "sitting to much". I had an 8hr night shift in the ER paired with an agency nurse who was sent home early due to lack of census. I am a disabled veteran with back/foot issues who has notified both my school and the charge nurse on duty that night of my potential limitations, and if she saw me sitting it was because I was in pain.. ( if we are not busy I rest my feet, however, I make sure that if we have patients I see to them). After the beds were turned over, and all of the nurses were at the desk I proceeded to do paperwork. 20 min before my next shift my instructor called me and told me not to come in and I would be getting an action plan. I am terrified that this is going to get me kicked from the program as I need another 36 hours to complete this class. BTW I am 1 month from finishing my program. I have gotten multiple job offers and I have NEVER received a complaint from any clinical site before!
What can I do? My instructor did not talk to the nurse I was paired with or the other students that were on the floor with me that night. I was told that there was no reason fo the complainer (no idea who it could be) had no reason to "make it up".
Sorry about the rant, I am just so worried and at a loss..
thanks for any advice in advance -
a discouraged, wounded warrior
What program are you in? You must already be an RN, because it is in your title "CplRN".
Are you talking about Graduate school clinical a for an MSN program?
Are you sure you are in the right profession? Seriously. I'm honestly asking. 3 miles is not that much. It's less than 10000 steps and I'm betting those were your steps for the entire day. I'm saying these things to be mean, but how does being a vet make your feet hurt, because I've heard of lots of disabled vets have very horrific and not so horrific injuries but I've never heard of I have to rest my feet. The majority of nurses that work for years have painful feet. My years of retail gave me sore feet. We suck it up and deal.
Is your disability documented? Are you considered a disabled veteran by the government? I ask, because there are huge differences here. You have more assistance available to you if it is documented. But I also see many self diagnosis on here.
And yes, you are trying to play a wounded vet card here, you signed your name as such. I have the utmost respect for every one of our veterans. I will pay for a meal for our active veterans. But what I don't like, is people who try to use an excuse to not work as hard as the rest or those that think the constantly deserve special treatment. If you cannot be on your feet for hours on end, you are in the wrong career. If you are disabled from service, there are hundreds of careers that do not have the demands of nursing. You can't expect to choose whatever and sail right through as a disabled veteran. And I hope that makes sense. Your service to our country is invaluable, but recognize your limitations. That is the difference here.
Again, thank you. You have done something I could never do.
Really?? Wow. Just wow.
"How does being a vet make your feet hurt". How can you even ask that? As a nurse you shouldn't be so judgmental, there are plenty of various complicated injuries that can cause foot pain, do I really need to be saying this? Maybe he/she was shot in the foot for goodness sakes??
And yes, there are PLENTY of nursing jobs where you can sit, and not be on your feet all day.
I work 12 hrs shifts and never go over 10k steps.
OP, sorry this is happening to you. Good luck I hope you get things sorted out
Are you sure you are in the right profession? Seriously. I'm honestly asking. 3 miles is not that much. It's less than 10000 steps and I'm betting those were your steps for the entire day. I'm saying these things to be mean, but how does being a vet make your feet hurt, because I've heard of lots of disabled vets have very horrific and not so horrific injuries but I've never heard of I have to rest my feet. The majority of nurses that work for years have painful feet. My years of retail gave me sore feet. We suck it up and deal.
Excuse me?!?
What makes you qualified to question whether the OP is in the right profession? I'm honestly asking.
3 miles is completely appropriate for an 8 hour night shift in the ER. I pull 12s in the ER at night and often do less than that.
OP, it sounds to me like you inadvertently rubbed somebody the wrong way. Maybe you sat in someone's favorite chair or they just didn't like the cut of your scrubs. Just go to your meeting, stay professional, and ask for another clinical placement, and continue to do your best.
There are all different types in nursing- some are more casual and don't really care if you're sitting as long as your patients are cared for and you're pulling your weight on the unit, while others will bristle at the sight of anyone's butt in a chair, regardless of whether you literally just sat down for the first time in six hours.
Every unit has its own culture and its own "Queen Bees", and the sooner you suss that out at your clinical placement, the better, so you can avoid missteps that could result in trouble for you such as what you're experiencing now.
Good luck, and feel free to update us on your situation.
my "action plan" is to write a paper on professionalism... (ahem the irony is truly laughable considering the situation). I was able to come back so the day charge nurse could have a sit down (weird since i worked the night shift.. but ok) She told me that the other nurses didnt want to work with me, i had a poor attitude, i sat down for hours (seriously? hours?) when i tried to clarify and yes to some extent talk with her she told me it wasn't a time to talk but I needed to hear her... got it.. I promised to be on my best behavior and proceeded to work a 12hr shift (7p-7a). My instructor checked up on us every so often (you know how they hid around corners, lol) and at the end of the shift the charge night nurse as well as several other nurses said I did great (one was the nurse I was assigned to that night). next day I was off, when I went to my next shift, again 7p - 7a I met my instructor at 1830, put my stuff in the break room, and went on the floor. at 1905 i was told by my instructor to go home, i was not welcome on the floor, my attitude was still off-putting, and i was still lazy and earned many complaints by both staff and patients... again I asked if any of the nurses were talked to by the instructor, if he had seen any of this behavior, or if any of the students also working that night were questioned - the answer? NO.
I understand that the hospital doesn't have to justify why I'm not welcome. However, if this is from a person I have never worked with while the nurses I have worked with speak well of me, how does this make any sense?
Yes I am listed by the government as a disabled veteran... and the reason it matters is like one person said... while I can't run 5 miles and I may have to sit at short intervals I am still able to do my job. Also, there are many types of nursing jobs, not all of them require the nurse to walk 10miles a day. Thank you for your concern though.
I was devastated when I wrote my original post as my critical care class ends on Thursday 11/19, and all I have left is my leadership class - I literally get pinned on 12/19... or I should have been.
I have called my AW2 rep., the Dean of my college, and tomorrow I am calling the director of nursing to see if somehow this is all a mistake and she can fix this on her end.
As one person said, not everything you see/hear is true, maybe she got some bad information and this is all a misunderstanding.. I hope so as all I want to do is graduate next month!
So, did you sit because your legs hurt too much, or because the census was low and there was just nothing to do, or you were doing something you might do sitting or standing and you were sitting at that time?
I was sitting because our census was low, my legs were aching so I sat to give them a break while all was quiet. Downtime is far and few between and one thing I learned in the army is if you can get it, make sure not to waste it.
It wasn't any one thing... if we would have been busy I would not have sat down. If we were not busy and my feet didn't hurt, I would not have sat down. however considering we were not busy and I was aching I did sit. Honestly, I can't imagine not sitting down at all during a 12hr shift.
Was this second request to leave by the same staff as the initial request or different? Either way, clearly you are (seemingly unintentionally) sending off some sort of vibe that is very unappealing to both staff and apparently patients? ESPECIALLY if it was different staff!! You need to take a strong look at yourself and see if you can picture what others are seeing that you aren't aware of.
I would suspect it may be a cocky/entitled attitude. As I know that this is one of the most unappealing things in a student, that is my first guess. Try to be very humble and earnest in your approach. When you meet with the school/the staff try to listen well, and not bust in explaining yourself and blaming others for this. Perhaps say something along the lines of, you have been doing some self exploration (and please, actually do so!!) and you see how perhaps you have sent off the wrong message, but this was not your intention at all, and you are very willing to change and learn.
I see you are an EMT and an LPN. While this is great experience, be cautious you aren't over-speaking re: this experience. For example "I don't know why I can't insert IV's here. I have inserted 1000 IVs as an EMT and I was one of the best out of all my coworkers! I once got a 14 gauge in a 3 year olds hand" *(Yes this is an actual conversation an LPN student said to me during her clinical placement where I was an RN on the floor ). No matter what experience you have, if you brag or sound cocky, or try to make it sound like previous jobs/hospitals/work sites are superior or "we didn't do it like that at ____ hospital...", you will definitely piss people off- guaranteed. NO ONE likes a cocky bragger, and they are one of the most unsafe students to have around.
So with that being said, try to look at yourself very critically and think "have I ever acted in this way?" "have I projected an attitude of superiority/cockiness, etc" ??
I would also personally speak with your instructor, and humbly ask what it was about your attitude that was off-putting to her to pull you off the floor. Show you are very eager and willing to change and progress with your learning and education and you may receive some very helpful advice.
Whether or not this is an accurate observation, I got from your update post that your problem stems from your clinical instructor. When the clinical instructor makes up their mind to sink a student, that student is sunk, no matter what. You would be fighting an entrenched situation to get anyone to speak up for you should you try to mount a rebuttal. Sorry this happened to you.
I would also personally speak with your instructor, and humbly ask what it was about your attitude that was off-putting to her to pull you off the floor. Show you are very eager and willing to change and progress with your learning and education and you may receive some very helpful advice.
From my personal experience, people never will honestly answer questions like these. "Attitude", while can be a problem, is more common a general covering of something that cannot otherwise be said in our politically correct society, like "I do not know why but I just cannot stand this person's (color/accent/height/weight/gender/smartness/stupudity/quickness/slowness/whatever)". Likewise, the sudden complains from everyone around but "I just cannot let you know who, why and for what exact reason was so suddenly unhappy about your every breath of air" quite possibly can be, let me say this, speculations from the instructor's mind. Or, they may be not. We need to be there to know the truth.
Here I sit with only 5 hours left of my makeup clinical. I was told that I would have to take an incomplete because I would not be able to complete the required hours on time. However, this will not stall my progress as I will have them completed before the start time of my next and FINAL class.
At the new clinical site I had rave review from not only the workers there, but my stand in clinical instructor. I mention this because once agin I have no idea what I did wrong.
As some people posted I feel that I have rubbed my instructor the wrong way and he has decided to "teach me a lesson". It's OK though. I can shut my mouth for the next 120 hrs with a smile on my face because soon I will be done with this program and on to better things.
Thank you so much to those who offered suggestions and support.
I strive to remain positive for the last leg of this program, secure in the knowledge that I have the unwavering support of my loved ones. In truth I feel blessed to know who I can count on when things get hard.
). No matter what experience you have, if you brag or sound cocky, or try to make it sound like previous jobs/hospitals/work sites are superior or "we didn't do it like that at ____ hospital...", you will definitely piss people off- guaranteed. NO ONE likes a cocky bragger, and they are one of the most unsafe students to have around. 
futurepsychrn, ADN
188 Posts
As an older nursing student who has worked my whole life in retail my feet hurt too! Fortunately, our instructors are in charge of us not the facility. And unlike some others on AN who only have negative things to say to everyone, I truly thank you for your service and hope that everything works out for you.