Preceptor issues - should I be concerned?

pie123 · Feb 2, 2006

I am about halfway through a new grad internship/orientation to an icu unit. Had an assessment session last week and I am wondering if I am keeping up to their expectations or if I am missing something between the lines. I'd appreciate input. . .
The format was a self-evaluation to indicate where you thought you were in various nursing areas as far acting independently or still needing help. Guess what? I put needing help in all the skill/practice based areas.
I am confused about their process and where they expect new grads to fit in. I feel that I am making progress (they agree) but would wonder that they would expect anyone with only six weeks under their belt to be independent yet. We did have a classroom portion that was completed before being assigned for the floor, but there is nothing to prepare you for the practical work of charting, patient care/family communication, vent and IV alarms, computing 3+ critical drips, running lines, procedures, admit and transfers, etc. until you are actually doing it. I know I'm slow and taking my time, but I also need to make sure that I am not making mistakes and understanding what I am doing.
The orientation doesn't end for couple of months and I really do like the unit. I'm just wondering if I should be asking more of my preceptor or how to handle it from this point forward so that I am pulling my weight and ready.

I constantly asked my preceptor for feedback when I was on nightshift. That's how I learned what I could improve upon. I also told her the areas that I felt weak in, and she worked with me on them, and with getting me more exposure to those things. When I went to days, it was a different story, even though I was still on orientation.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Feb 2, 2006

If you are puzzled as to your preceptor's expectations of you, or you feel they have not made them clear, then you need to ask questions until it is clear to you. Confused about their process. . .then ask about it until that is also clear to you. What kind of relationship do you have with your preceptor? You are supposed to kind of be connected at the hip with your preceptor and able to talk freely with them about your concerns and feelings and they should be letting you know exactly where you are in your orientation. Ask for that if it is not being given to you. Your preceptor and other nurses you work with should have told you what I am about to say in my next paragraph.

All new grads, listen up! 6 weeks is very little time. You cannot expect to be functioning as a confident ICU nurse in 6 weeks just coming out of nursing school. It is going to take months--at least 6, but probably more like 12. And you are right. . .nursing school doesn't prepare you for what the job of an RN is actually going to be. All new grads are slow and take their time so they don't make mistakes. Preceptors understand this. Welcome to the "first year in nursing" hell. Every single RN who comes to work in an acute hospital after graduation from nursing school goes through this regardless of what unit they work on.