Editing Herzing Issues: Clinical Placement (section)

=== HU-144: Student A and Student Q: Group K clinical rotation (Vicki K, MCY 5E) cut from 10 days/90 hours to 6 days/54 hours after instructor canceled four clinical days mid-rotation; 36-hour shortfall and compliance risk; instructor directed students to escalate to Starr and Dr. Prashad for a make-up plan; compounds Student A hours problems in HU-141 ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%"
! style="width:12em" | Severity
| High
! style="width:12em" | Status
| CONFIRMED
|-
! Issue type
| Clinical Hours Reduced 40 Percent by Instructor Mid-Rotation (90 to 54 Hours) / Compliance Risk
! Date added
| 2026-06-04
|-
! Owner
| colspan="3" | Starr Williams-Headen (Clinical Coordinator) / Dr. Raywattie Prashad (Program Chair) / Vicki K (Clinical Instructor, Group K)
|}
'''Finding.''' Student A and Student Q, both in the Group K clinical rotation (Vicki K, MCY 5E Ortho/Spine/Med-Surg), reported to Starr Williams-Headen and Dr. Prashad that their clinical hours have been reduced by 40 percent due to clinical days being canceled by the instructor mid-rotation. The rotation was originally scheduled for ten clinical days from June 3 through August 5, meeting Wednesdays 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM at 9 hours per day, totaling 90 clinical hours. The clinical instructor, Vicki K, informed the group that they would not meet during the weeks of July 1 or July 8 and that the final clinical day would be July 22, which also eliminates the previously scheduled July 29 and August 5 dates. This removes four scheduled clinical days, reducing the rotation from 10 days (90 hours) to 6 days (54 hours), a loss of 36 clinical hours. Student Q independently identified the same concern. The clinical instructor herself, Vicki K, recommended that the students contact Starr and Dr. Prashad for clarification on how the lost hours would be addressed. The students asked four specific questions: how the missing hours will be made up; whether additional clinical dates are being scheduled; how the program will ensure Group K meets required clinical hour requirements; and whether students need to take any action to remain in compliance. This compounds the clinical hours problems already documented for Student A in {{HU|HU-141}}, where the Group K 90-hour Med-Surg schedule was already in tension with the NSG 525 requirement of 60 Med-Surg plus 48 mental health hours.

'''Evidence.''' Email: Student A and Student Q to Starr Williams-Headen and Dr. Prashad, June 2026, stating that they were reaching out regarding a significant concern about their current Group K clinical rotation with Vicki K on MCY 5E Ortho/Spine/Med-Surg. According to the schedule provided, the rotation was originally scheduled for ten clinical days from June 3 through August 5, meeting Wednesdays from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM; at 9 hours per clinical day, this would have provided a total of 90 clinical hours. However, yesterday evening, the clinical instructor, Vicki K, informed them the group would not be meeting during the weeks of July 1 or July 8 and that the final clinical day would be July 22, also eliminating the previously scheduled July 29 and August 5 dates. As a result, four scheduled clinical days were removed from the rotation (10 days times 9 hours equals 90; 6 days times 9 hours equals 54). Another student in the same rotation, Student Q, independently identified the same concern. After discussing the issue with them, Vicki recommended they contact Starr and Dr. Prashad as soon as possible for clarification regarding how the lost clinical hours would be addressed. Student: Student A ([email redacted]) and Student Q. Source Group: Email, Student A and Student Q to Starr Williams-Headen and Dr. Prashad re Group K clinical rotation hours reduction, June 2026.

'''Reported statement.''' Student A and Student Q, student pseudonyms, jointly described the schedule reduction, noting the rotation originally provided 90 clinical hours over ten Wednesday shifts at 9 hours per day, and that four canceled days left the group with only 54 clinical hours instead of the 90 originally scheduled. They asked how the missing hours would be made up, whether additional clinical dates were being scheduled, how the program would ensure the group met required clinical hour requirements, and whether they needed to take any action to remain in compliance.

'''Standards.''' ACEN Standard 5 requires that clinical experiences provide sufficient hours and learning opportunities to meet course and program outcomes; a 40 percent reduction in scheduled clinical hours, from 90 to 54, mid-rotation jeopardizes the program's ability to deliver required clinical experience. State Board of Nursing clinical hour requirements require nursing programs to ensure students complete the minimum clinical hours required for licensure eligibility; a unilateral reduction of 36 hours by a clinical instructor, without a documented make-up plan, places students at risk of not meeting those requirements. 34 CFR 668.14 (administrative capability) requires institutions to coordinate clinical scheduling so that students can complete required hours; the fact that the clinical instructor canceled four days and directed students to contact the program for a solution indicates the reduction was not planned or coordinated with the program. The students appropriately requested written clarification on the make-up plan and their compliance obligations, and the institution's response and any make-up scheduling should be tracked.

'''Impact.''' Student A and Student Q face a 36-hour shortfall in clinical hours for the Group K rotation, which could prevent them from meeting course and licensure clinical hour requirements if not remedied. Without a documented make-up plan, the students cannot plan their schedules, including work and childcare, or confirm they remain on track. For Student A, this stacks on top of the hours-allocation and credential-type problems already documented in {{HU|HU-141}} (90 Med-Surg hours versus a 60 Med-Surg plus 48 mental health requirement, plus 24 carryover hours from Clinical 1); the further loss of 36 hours deepens an already precarious hours situation. That two students independently identified the same problem, and that the clinical instructor herself directed them to escalate, indicates this is a real scheduling and hours deficiency rather than a misunderstanding. If Group K students do not receive make-up hours, they risk course failure or delayed progression through no fault of their own.

'''Notes.''' New personnel identified: Student Q (student in Group K clinical rotation). Clinical instructor Vicki K (Group K, MCY 5E Ortho/Spine/Med-Surg, Wednesdays 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.) confirmed the cancellations and directed students to the program. Canceled dates: weeks of July 1 and July 8, with the rotation ending July 22, eliminating July 29 and August 5, four clinical days, 36 hours. This issue connects directly to {{HU|HU-141}} (Student A Group K hours allocation and credential-type mismatch) and the broader clinical placement failures. Note the recurring theme of the 9-hour clinical day in Group K (2 p.m. to 11 p.m.), which also bears on the 8-hour accommodation concerns documented for the reporting student in {{HU|HU-135}}. Cross-reference: {{HU|HU-141}} (Student A clinical placement, Group K hours), {{HU|HU-133}} (Student A rotation error), {{HU|HU-128}} (no placement), {{HU|HU-071}} (placement crisis pattern), {{HU|HU-135}} (9-hour shift, accommodation). Possible follow-up: the program's response on make-up hours and whether Group K students are brought back to the required hour total.

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