What a week! Withdrew from clinical...

[Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN]

OK, so I could not begin to explain the issues in my life right now! I won't even spend time on yapping about that! Basically, so much has went on. This summer semester is 8 weeks, instead of our usual 15-week semesters. I was Mighty Mindy and decided I could take on Med/Surg I & II, as well as both of their clinical portions as well, in this 8-week period, along with everything else on my plate. I have bombed the first two exams in Med/Surg I and I now have a 62 average. Clinical was adding stress that I could not describe, along with my current financial situation...let me just say, last week...I was close to snapping in half and it was going to be far from pretty...I cried my eyeballs out enough for 5 people last week.

Basically, I knew I wanted to drop clinical two weeks ago, after I noticed how unwell it was mixing with my studies for theory. This isn't just something I want to zip through in four weeks at a time, you know? I feel this is information I really need to focus on and retain. SO, I knew I wanted to drop clinical, but I also knew that meant half of my Pell refund would be going with that decision as well. I am having car issues and just many financial difficulties...but, I decide I need to drop clinical anyway, or I was going to have many more problems on my hand in the coming weeks. The day I decide I am going to officially drop clinical, I get a call from a home health care business that I put in an application for well over a month ago for a CNA. I have an interview tomorrow.

I am still not sure if I am regretting this decision or not...but this will be my first healthcare job and I feel this is an important part of my career as well, you know? I don't want to pass it up. I must say I really do hate getting one to two semesters behind in my LPN program as well. Maybe this is all a blessing. Only time will tell! I just had to rant a little bit. Carry on!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Just make certain that your state board of nursing doesn't require that clinical and theory be taken concurrently . Your program adviser should be able to assist you.

Otherwise you need to be able to take care of yourself, so if you feel this decision was best then clearly it was. Best wishes as you progress in your studies.

[Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN]

Thanks for the tip! I talked with my adviser and she says I will have no complications with the state board from withdrawing from clinical this semester.

I got the job, so I am hoping everything else is on it's way to falling into place as time passes.

Thanks again! :)

[pixiestudent2]

How will you complete clinical then? Won't you move onto a different specialty if you pass medsurg theory?

[Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN]

I'll try to explain this as simply as I can.

I will continue doing Med/Surg I theory now and if I pull my grade up, I will then be able to go on to Med/Surg II theory in July -- if I pass both, I will make up clinical portions in August and complete Med/Surg III and IV the following semester, along with their clinical.

If I do not make it through Med/Surg I this semester, I will repeat it in August. Basically, dropping clinical put me one to two semester behind depending on my progress, but it is what it is.

There are a lot of circumstances, financial aid-wise, financially (in general) and personally, for my reasoning and I am thankful that my adviser took the time to explain all of my options to me. If I would have kept everything on my plate that were on there, it would have all just been downhill from there. Everyone has different circumstances and different ways of handling them. I can only hope everything is going to work out for me through this journey.

[pixiestudent2]

Good luck to you! I just thought you had to take theory and clinical at the same time.

[Iridescent Orchid, CNA, LPN]

Thank you very much! I am thankful that for our area, it does not matter if they are concurrently taken or not!