I'm a Bit bummed! (small vent) About This Page:

[Teresa]

I'm thrilled I was (finally) accepted into the nursing program at school. I know I'll be fine, and I'm looking forward to proceeding. BUT - I received my "clinicals" assignment this weekend. I don't the hospital I'll be at (there are quite a few it could be), but I'm a little upset - I've been assigned a 2PM to 10PM shift! They didn't ask which would work best, or allow us to choose, they just set us into them. There are 2 days available (Tuesday or Thursday), and 2 shifts (7AM to 2PM or 2PM to 10PM) - I of course got the one I didn't want!! Thursdays, 2-10.
Now, if I didn't have kids it wouldn't matter. It's just that they've already done the "Mommy's a school all night and I won't see you until later."
This shift means I'll see my kids on Thursday mornings and not again until Friday morning.

I just think they should have asked what times people wanted. Most college students would prefer to sleep in, and work later. I would too, but for the kids I would have preferred the earlier shift.
I think I'll e-mail my instructor and let her know if anyone wants to trade, I'd be happy to.

[iamgrumpy]

Hope things work out!

[Jookiba]

Welcome to nursing school-not to sound mean but that's how it is. Your life isn't yours anymore-it belongs to the school.

We never got to choose clinicals and as you progress to junior and senior levels (and add more clinical days) we had 3 lecture days combined with 2 clinical days.

You have no life....but that's what the payoff is for in the end.

Good luck.

[stretch2864]

Good luck!

You may find after you graduate that you might be working less than optimal hours as well. Generally if you are working in a hospital and you are the new kid on the block, you end up working the less desirable shifts.

[Colexis Mom]

[Nimros]

Sending you pixies that things 'rearrange' themselves for the best.

[Cam22]

[chelle89]

[Teresa]

Thanks ya'll. After your reading your responses, I feel better. I checked the school's website for the schedule I'll be following in a year or more, and like Jooki says, it doesn't get any better - but not as bad as her school was!! It'll be classes 2 days a week, and clinicals 1 to 2 days. Not too bad.

And I know that I may be the "low man on the totem pole" like Vicky said. That I won't mind, I don't think - the kids will be older. DD Kathryn graduates High School the same year I should finish college. And, Lauren will be finishing Jr. High then. Oh My!! We'll all graduate our respective schools at the same time!! Oh, panic time!!

I think my big problem with all of this is that I grew up with a mother who was in school most of the time. And, she worked full time. And, she was single.
I keep forgetting that unlike Mom, I have someone who is supportive and helpful in my educational endeavors.

Thanks again. I'll try to put on my "Big girl pants" now and stop my whining.

[3girlsmom]

Nursing school wa sthe hardest thing I ever did. My kidw 2, 41/2 and 7 when I finished. I can remember putting the kids to bed at 8:00, doing things that had to be done around the house, and studying until 2 am, and then getting up at 6am for clinicals. There were alot of days I wanted to quit, but DH wouldn't let me!!! It has paid off in the long run, but a very rough road.

[lauren-roxy]

Originally Posted by Jookiba

Welcome to nursing school-not to sound mean but that's how it is. Your life isn't yours anymore-it belongs to the school.

We never got to choose clinicals and as you progress to junior and senior levels (and add more clinical days) we had 3 lecture days combined with 2 clinical days.

You have no life....but that's what the payoff is for in the end.

Good luck.

As a nurse, I kind of have to agree. I worked as a unit director and had to put people on shifts that they didn't like. Maybe you will get lucky and someone can change with you.

[chezp]

I hope it all works out for you.

[Huntermom]

Do your clinical shifts rotate? If not perhaps you can see if the school will alternate the shifts so everyone gets days and everyone gets nights. I've also read a lot that the nursing shortage is due in part to not having enough clinical instructors. Maybe the school has to schedule the way the do because of that. I remember the good days when I was in college, the nursing students never worked evenings-all the clinical rotations were days.

Good luck. When I was in law school, I did one late night a week. After the first semester, everyone adjusted.

Diane

[Jookiba]

Originally Posted by Huntermom

Good luck. When I was in law school, I did one late night a week. After the first semester, everyone adjusted.

Diane

Certain specialties have to do it this way; labor & delivery being one of them as more happens baby-wise when the sun starts to set. Our L&D clinicals were always 1500-2300.

[rescuesk]