When do you plan to schedule your clinicals?

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I work full time monday to Friday from 8 - 4pm (basically when doctors offices are open.) Going part time is not an option for me. These work hours see to eliminate the vast majority of clinical opportunities. That leaves the weekend with urgent care as the only option....which is what most students will be trying to get. . Do you guys plan to work night shift to free up clinical opportunities? I am considering this even though it kills me to do so. Just wondering how people here will fit in clinicals when so many work the hours clinics are open (day shift).

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

Most of us who work in my program work per-diem for the flexibility, there are a couple who work full-time set schedule with exclusively weekend-shifts. Preceptors frequently have limited availability; it's easier to find a flexible job with non-traditional hours than a preceptor with non-traditional hours.

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Thanks for the reply. Another option would be to work the swing 2- 10 pm shift which would free up mornings for clinicals. Between my work schedule and the thought of having to find preceptors, it's pretty daunting. I am starting my MSN this fall but ultimately want to complete a post Masters NP program down the road.

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Specializes in MS, Emergency.

I will end up working full weekend shifts only. But if I will be miserable, which is likely, I will have to go per diem. I start clinical August, Tuesday and Wednesday, and class at 6:30-8pm same days.

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Well I did full time nights until clinicals started and quickly realized that it wouldn't work for me. Weekend option was perfect but it wasn't being offered on my unit so when clinicals started I switched to PRN and my unit is always short so I could easily work 2-3 days if I wanted. I do 2 12's thank goodness because the preceptors will let you know what days they are available and doing PRN allowed me more flexibility and allows me to do clinicals 2-3 days per week to get my hours in quicker. Also check with your program to make sure urgent cares are ok not sure what program you are in but some programs mainly want you to be in a primary care setting unless it's a primary care/urgent care office. If you can do urgent care center then maybe you can do weekend clinicals as they are open but working M-F with clinicals on the weekend would be hard cause you still need time to study. The swing shift is a good option but most offices are 8-5 hrs.

Good luck

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.
Thanks for the reply. Another option would be to work the swing 2- 10 pm shift which would free up mornings for clinicals. Between my work schedule and the thought of having to find preceptors, it's pretty daunting. I am starting my MSN this fall but ultimately want to complete a post Masters NP program down the road.

Swing may or may not work. A lot of clinical placements are standard working hours. I have 3 placements lined up (fortunately my program helps with placement), current placement is 0930-1830 schedule, and my other two are 0800-1700 and 0700-1900 all are 2-3 days per week, one is a 6 month placement, one 10 month placement, and one 6 week placement (yes, this does mean there will be times where I have 4-5 days of clinical/week).

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

I am currently weekend staff (night shift) and I intend to stay on that schedule once I start cilnicals. That frees up time during the week for clinicals. I'm hoping to do Tues, Wed, Thurs for clinicals. If it gets to the point where working three 12-hour shifts on the weekends is too much with school/clinicals, I will drop to per diem.

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I started my clinical rotation 3 weeks ago, had a job with bankers houra but went to weekend only midnights for clinical purposes...it stinks because i get off monday morning amd go straighy to clinical, but hey

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