preceptor giving wrong info.

Nurses New Nurse

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I started in the Emergency Room as a new grad a few months ago. My preceptor started as a new grad herself last January (which is an issue in itself). She is very good, I will give her that, however, there have been a few times when she gives me info. that is wrong!! like she will question me about a drug and it's effect and I will answer her correctly and she will say no, and give me some other answer. I dont argue with her but always look it up afterwards and see that I was right and it it so aggrivating!! My mom is a very experienced nurse as well so I have her as reference and although I am still obviously a new grad, my knowledge base is a little broader because she teaches me a lot. I dont' want to get into an argument with my preceptor when she tells me I am wrong like that but at the same time I get furious inside because I know I'm right and she just tried to make me look like I didn't know something that I DID know!! granted there are plenty of things I dont know and I will fully admit that when I dont and welcome the teaching. But how do I get past this issue? it's driving me insane!!! thanks ;)

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Specializes in ER, Medicine.

If you know something is right and your preceptor is doing someting or saying something wrong then I would correct her. There are ways to be nice and nonconfrontational about it. This is nursing and it is doing a disservice to the patients that need help if you aren't doing the job correctly. And you are doing a disservice to your preceptor as a fellow nurse by not acknowledging her mistakes. Your preceptor could cause harm to someone and/or lose her license if her mistakes are not caught and corrected.

I know if I was wrong about something I would want someone knowledgable to correct me. How would you feel if you were wrong about something and no one ever told you? Especially if harm came to the patient? The margin for error is slim in this profession.

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Specializes in NICU.

Honestly, I don't think she has any business in precepting anyone.

She's still new herself! She started last January, as in 10-11 months ago? Definitely not ready to precept yet. Is there no policy that states a preceptor needs to have a certain amount of experience?

Gosh this is a tough one though. If it were me I think I'd try and get a new preceptor. Maybe just go to your nurse manager and/educator and tell them it's not working out with this particular preceptor.

It's good that your mom is a great resource for you, but this is your orientation and you need to be getting everything out of it that you can!

I really commend you for knowing to look stuff up and asking another resource (your mom), but just think about other people in the future that this girl could end up precepting ..... isn't that dangerous?!

This girl isn't safe! Why is she not looking the meds up herself?! This just screams out *DANGER* to me.

Please let us know what happens, good luck to you!

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

Re: new nurses being preceptors...where I work, many of our nurses are new because of our isolation, so it is not uncommon to be two years out and be a preceptor here.

When it comes to drugs, the way I deal with this is to say that I'd like to look it up. Then when I find it is correct, I can show the person, in a nonconfrontational manner. I had that experience with insulin recently, where the nurse I was with tried to say that novorapid doesn't act as quickly as actrapid, which was totally wrong. I looked this up, and showed her, and she was willing to accept it.

You are signing your name to that drug. You are taking the responsibility. You need to protect yourself and your patient. End of story.

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Specializes in NICU.

We have to have 2 years of experience to precept a new grad too. But this girl hasn't even been there a year .... and she's precepting? Some might be able to handle that, but honestly I would want a more experienced nurse as a preceptor.

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You need to go to your manager (and nicely) ask for a different preceptor. A year in the ED is not nearly enough time to be knowledgeable enough to be a preceptor. That is just scary.

As others have suggested, you can gently let your preceptor know that she is incorrect. Showing her the book is a great way.

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Specializes in Transplant, homecare, hospice.

It sounds like you should probably request a new preceptor. That has happened with a few people on our floor. Not everyone matches up well. And as someone else said, it sounds like she doesn't need to be precepting. I would talk to your NM.

Best wishes.

I started in the Emergency Room as a new grad a few months ago. My preceptor started as a new grad herself last January (which is an issue in itself). She is very good, I will give her that, however, there have been a few times when she gives me info. that is wrong!! like she will question me about a drug and it's effect and I will answer her correctly and she will say no, and give me some other answer. I dont argue with her but always look it up afterwards and see that I was right and it it so aggrivating!! My mom is a very experienced nurse as well so I have her as reference and although I am still obviously a new grad, my knowledge base is a little broader because she teaches me a lot. I dont' want to get into an argument with my preceptor when she tells me I am wrong like that but at the same time I get furious inside because I know I'm right and she just tried to make me look like I didn't know something that I DID know!! granted there are plenty of things I dont know and I will fully admit that when I dont and welcome the teaching. But how do I get past this issue? it's driving me insane!!! thanks ;)
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