Would you miss the first day of class?

I just received a job at my local hospital as a NA2. I was super excited about receiving it until I found out that I have to complete a full 2 days of orientation. In order to do this I am going to have to miss my first day of class (am going into my 3rd out of 4 semesters). I keep wondering is it worth missing this day? I had applied for the job at the beginning of July and thought if I received the job I would have plenty of time before school to get everything in order, but they just called and offered me the job yesterday. It is a very part-time position just 12 hours a week so I thought it would be perfect for school and help me get my foot in the door of the hospital. It is known that the hospital offers new RN jobs to their current NA staff that has completed school. Am so worried that I will miss super important info on the first day.

Specializes in CMSRN.
Well it turns out that not only would I have to miss the first day but I also would have to miss a clinical day. I refuse to do that and they can't do it another day. So looks like am going to have to pass on the job (even though it really sucks). :unsure: Thanks everyone for your input. I have to believe that in the end everything happens for a reason. Hopefully when I finish in May I will be able to find a job.

That really stinks. I'm sorry. I would have a hard time missing a first day of lecture but would never miss a clinical day without being SICK. Hopefully you can find another position that will allow you not to have to miss a clinical day. The hospital near me has a mandatory 2 week orientation so it was impossible for people to get on there during the middle of nursing school.

Throughout nursing school I only missed one clinical day and I had a fever so I really couldn't go. My school definitely kept track of attendance, it was state mandated that we sit for a certain number of theory hours. I had to miss one class (which had a test!) because my daughter puked on me as we got in the car. My teacher was very understanding and I got to make up the test. The only other time I missed, I actually showed up to class but when my teacher saw me (and she had known I was sick due to my being close friends with her daughter) she immediately sent me home. I had to miss a test that day too but again, I was allowed to sit for it later that week.

For a lot of ppl, the two absences rule is only for clinicals and/or labs. It is silly to hold adults to only missing two days in two years. People have families, jobs, medical problems, etc. lecture can be recorded and ppl can sit in if they get instructor approval.

Personally, being able to buy food, pay rent, and have a car to get around is just as important as school. Except for if I didn't work full time, I would not be able to go to nursing school PERIOD.

I was just gonna say the same thing. It's impossible to miss 2 days out of 2 years. Lol

I know at my school, you can only miss 2 CLINICALS each semester.

Same situation just happened to me for orientation at one of the big hospitals. It's one day! I would get in contact with them and tell them or meet with them and I'm sure they would be willing to really help you out. These instructors want you to have jobs after graduation. Everyone understands its hard out here . Don't worry

Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

OK, I have to be honest... I did not read all the replies to your question :unsure:, so if I am being repetious, I am sorry.

First, do you have access to your professor's email? Also, do you have classmate that will be present on your first day that can share with you any information? If so, email your professor (I would opt to meeting her in person if possible), explain the situation you find yourself in and how hard it is to find a nursing job and how this is going to help you big time once you graduate, and that you also have a classmate that will be able to share syllabus, notes, etc that day. With the economy the way it is, the professor may allow you to miss one day. It has been my experience that on the first day of the semester, we go over the syllabus and expectations of the class.

If in your situation and knowing what I know now, no job post one year graduation, I would have missed that one class, all the while hating myself for doing so at the same time..... there is not winning.

Whatever you decide, keep us posted. Hopefully all will work out. Good luck.

PS... Just read your update, yes missing clinicals and lecture as well would be a no for me as well. I am sorry things did not work out for you.

I would talk with your hiring manager and your teacher. See which one might be able to help. One of them should give a little bit, I would hope.

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I skipped my first day of my fourth (senior) year (class not clinical) because when I came downstairs to go to school my cat was in labor. But I don't recommend it. It's a sort of "at your own peril" kind of thing.

What about if your sister is in labor? Second day of class is tomorrow and my sister is contracting! (Not really fishing for a response just had to share...)

I emailed my instructor for class and she said she didn't think I should miss class, but that I wouldn't get in any trouble or anything like that. I would choose school over any job. My only problem is that it is very hard to get a job at this hospital, I have been applying all summer since my classes ended in May. Also am nervous that if I call and say I can't do orientation that they will let me go and ruin any chance of future nursing job at this hospital.

I would talk to the instructor and I would personally miss the first day and arrange to pick up the information early on.

Specializes in Public Health.
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I can't believe how lenient these comments are about just skipping class. When I was in nursing school we could only miss 2 days, period, throughout the entire program. I personally wouldn't want to miss one single thing that could make or break it for me

For a lot of ppl, the two absences rule is only for clinicals and/or labs. It is silly to hold adults to only missing two days in two years. People have families, jobs, medical problems, etc. lecture can be recorded and ppl can sit in if they get instructor approval.

Personally, being able to buy food, pay rent, and have a car to get around is just as important as school. Except for if I didn't work full time, I would not be able to go to nursing school PERIOD.

In my program they say you can miss 10% per each semester class, so am not really worried about that. I also am not really worried about getting behind. I had to miss class back in Feb due to a death in my family, and I actually did better on the test after than I did on all my other tests in that class. I could see if someone will up date me on stuff I missed, but am not sure who is in my class yet. They are splitting my class into 2 different classes and we will switch in mid October. I guess the thing that is bothering me is missing the first day. To be honest if it was any other class day then I wouldn't even worry about missing class. I just little nervous that I will miss something important. It was either miss the first day or a clinical day for my orientation. I would rather pick a class day anytime. I have to do the orientation it is the hospitals policy or I can't start.

Also I really need the money! My family is not really getting by too well with just my husbands income. This part-time job will provide just enough that we don't have to worry about getting all our bills paid. Some people can go all through school without worrying about work but am just not one of them.

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I can't believe how lenient these comments are about just skipping class. When I was in nursing school we could only miss 2 days, period, throughout the entire program. I personally wouldn't want to miss one single thing that could make or break it for me

Our school only is serious about attendance when it comes to clinical hours. They don't babysit us for lecture. If you are in nursing school you are an adult...which means you can decide when to miss/attend class. If we miss too much class and fail, that is on us.

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