Hi there,
I'm a relatively new grad and have a target date of Sept 18 to be off orientation on a busy medical/tele floor in a big city hospital.
I've had a few different preceptors due to scheduling--no big deal. Lately, I've been with one that can sometimes be really supportive (you're fantastic!) and sometimes really harsh (you really need to multitask. you're distracted. you have to be able to keep more than one thing in your head).
Basically, I try to stick to a routine (check on patients in am, do assessments, get meds out starting at 8:30am). Well, sometimes that plan gets all out of whack! Yesterday, I had 5 patients and all 5 of them had to go for procedures in the AM and none of them had consent for anything! The OR called for someone to go at 8:30am and the pre-op checklist wasn't done and consent wasn't obtained. Plus, the patient is screaming for pain meds (starting the calls to OR,"can I give the meds or can't I?). It's a teaching facility so it always takes a while to figure out which intern/resident to call for what and you have to wait until he/she gets back to you.
Anyway, I ran around the whole day (5 minute lunch at 2pm) trying to manage interruptions, track down missing lunch trays, get consents, hang blood (had to do own vitals-techs nowhere to be found), fetch ice water, put people on the potty, medicate for pain q2 hours etc. Plus, I had a transfer and an admission in the afternoon. I didn't get my assessments charted until 2pm and didn't start my notes until 6pm before night shift came in.
So, here comes the comment about multitasking, etc. from the preceptor. I'm a bit sensitive as I've always worked very hard and have never been told that I can't multitask. She mentioned at end of shift that I didn't do some things she told me to (like hook someone up to IV). I did need help w/the blood and I didn't get to a dressing change. and my charting was late. She said that these 5 patients were easy.........how is it going to be when I have 6 hard ones? As for being distracted..maybe so. I was exhausted by 6pm and couldn't remember a blood pressure I took and, yes, I did forget a few tasks as other things seemed to be a priority.............I felt like saying, "If I cannot multitask, how did I get all the meds into people at the right time and remember to do those assessments and not stay after an hour for charting, etc.". I just said, "uh, huh".
Anyway, I'm really discouraged at this point and really don't know what is going on. On other days, I've had 5 patients and things have been fine. Other preceptors didn't really have any complaints and mentioned that I'm pretty independent.
I CHOSE this preceptor because I thought she was supportive. I guess she's looking out for me in a way and making sure I'm ready to be on my own but I sort of feel like I'm being whipped. I have a feeling she wants to extend my orientation and I feel that there are some good days and some bad days.
This is the first day following a shift that I'm thinking and worrying about work and nearly in tears.
Perhaps M/S isn't for me?
Any suggestions?