Question about unfriendly preceptor

[cjblu]

Hi all. I am so happy I found this website. I have been in orientation for 2 weeks, and I am not having a good experience. Part of it is me, I am nervous most of the time, and seriously lacking self confidence on the job. My preceptor and I have been organizing our shift by me taking 2 patients, and her usually taking 1 or 2, and she tells me I can ask questions if needed, and we basically separate from there. She seems annoyed everytime I ask her something; about pt care or charting or whatever. Yesterday I asked if she could help me insert a foley (female patient), and she said, "Can you find someone else to help you, I have to get this admit done". Then she marches around showing me things, she never smiles or makes eye contact, and she seems to just be pissed that she has to precept me. I was wondering if I should talk to my nurse manager and ask for someone new, or just suck it up and deal with it. Should I confront her directly about it? (I am scheduled to be with her for the next 3 weeks)

[GrnHonu99, RN]

I agree with asking for a new preceptor.

Good luck.

I agreee, I would just ask for a new preceptor.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

All you rookies that are being given attitude by your preceptors should go to your managers or the person in charge of your orientation program or the nurse recruiter. The people in management need to know how you are being treated. They know that rookies come out of nursing school and don't have enough experience to just step into a staff RN position. Hospitals expend a great deal of money to orient you and any other new hires on the nursing staff. If they are protecting this investment in you they will help you with these preceptor problems. If they don't, and they seem willing to just throw these thousands of dollars to train you out the window then I think that says a lot about their hospital. The problem is that your immediate managers are only medium level management and may not be as concerned with this as the director of nursing or her assistants are. Work up the chain of command. Be polite, but make your feelings very clear to them. If they still don't seem to give a hoot about what you are experiencing then move on.

[loveyourbody]

I cannot believe someone is treating you this way!! Just avoid her as much as you can!!! DO NOT kiss her butt.

[LovelyLady01]

Get rid of her. She is suppose to be there to help you out when you need it not discourage you with her negative attitude. If she keeps flying off the handle and doesnt want to help find someone else. Who cares what people think. You are trying to get your experience so that you can become independent on the job and be more successful. After that you can go anywhere and do your own thing.