[scrubs2716]

I'm a senior doing my capstone within a level III trauma ED. My first day was yesterday and 7 hours into my shift I started crying!!! I was only supposed to "shadow" my preceptor but I jumped into things and started taking other nurses patients, stocking supplies, starting IV's, really taking initiative!

Then we had a code...my preceptor yelled at me to grab supplies (I've only been in the supply room twice to grab ice for a couple of patients) one of the things she wanted could only be found in the Pixxus (sp?) which I don't have access to. I took so long that she threw a fit, grabbed a zillion supplies threw a bag of NS on a desk and told me to prime the tubing stat. Which I did. When I got in the room to attach the tubing, I realized she didn't grab a butterfly clip (am I supposed to be psychic?) and the whole team rolled their eyes b/c she made it sound like I'm the one that forgot it. Now I'm the unit idiot that forgot an alligator clip.

Was your first day this hard? I was looking forward to capstone and now I'm dreading my second day. A monkey can go fetch this stuff, but come on - how am I supposed to memorize an entire stock room on my first day?

[hikernurse]

Let it go, there was a lot of tension in the room due to the code and once cooler heads prevail (if anyone is thinking about it at all) they'll realize it's your first capstone day.

You're definitely not an idiot ; you shouldn't have been asked to participate so quickly in a code--at least watch one first.

Tough day and it won't be the last where you feel like you know nothing, but it does get better--really.

[angelwingsamy]

wow i feel really bad for you. i would have been terrified thrown into your situation.

[BSNDec06]

I suspect that most reasonable people, realizing that you are a student in your first code situation, would excuse the fact that you don't know what to grab and where to find it... Your preceptor was probably stressed out, but be aware if that blaming type behavior continues. If it does, I suggest that you ask for a different mentor.

As a student, you should not be expected to do anything but watch during a code. Congrats to you for jumping in and trying to help- that takes guts!

The biggest favor you can do for yourself right now is to give yourself a break and allow others to cut you some slack while you're learning. If some nurses are rude, impatient or otherwise unsupportive, seek out the ones who like to work with students. There are plenty of us out there

[Dempather]

LOL. You sound like you have the same ER preceptor I had when I was an extern in college!!!!!

Man, she screamed at me for everything. When I "wasn't thinking" or when I moved too slow (because I forced myself to think about what I was doing.. which was taking longer!) She demanded I get stuff, and yelled even more when I didn't get it in time because I didn't know where it was (Because I didn't really work there for that long, it was a summer job!)

Anyway, I thought I was retarded until, during a hypoglycemic situation, the charge nurse on the floor asked me to grab her an amp of D50. I, of course, had no idea where it was and took a while to find it. When I returned, she looked impatient but said, "I know how difficult it is to find something you're asked for when you don't know where things are...". From that point on, I realized my preceptor was just really uptight and the charge nurse (and pretty much everyone else in the ER) was cool.

Just try to allow this to roll off your shoulders. Yeah, it's embarassing, but if this preceptor is the way you describe her.. I guarantee you're not the only one with a problem. Tomorrow will be a better day.

BTW: Being proactive is great, just maybe sit back on your heels and observe for a bit. Of course, that's completely up to you, though

[berry]

Originally Posted by scrubs2716

Then we had a code...my preceptor yelled at me to grab supplies (I've only been in the supply room twice to grab ice for a couple of patients) one of the things she wanted could only be found in the Pixxus (sp?) which I don't have access to. I took so long that she threw a fit, grabbed a zillion supplies threw a bag of NS on a desk and told me to prime the tubing stat. Which I did. When I got in the room to attach the tubing, I realized she didn't grab a butterfly clip (am I supposed to be psychic?) and the whole team rolled their eyes b/c she made it sound like I'm the one that forgot it. Now I'm the unit idiot that forgot an alligator clip.

To hell with her....

First off grab a crash cart, I assume that almost anything she could want should be in it(a personal pet peeve of mine people running for stuff we stock in a crash cart just for the explict purpose that you have it on hand when you need it and dont have to look for it).

Second any good ER RN should be able to think on their feet so It is sad if a whole team of people sat waiting for you to retrieve a clip instead of starting the iv without one and giving the needed meds.

I would guess you preceptor lacks confidence in her ability and feels better by making you and others feel like an idiot. Keep your head up

[Dolce]

I did my senior capstone in the ICU. I "helped" during the first code (getting NS) but was never considered a part of the code team. The staff that I worked with were sensible enough to never ask me to run complex errands. In fact, they were so calm that they still had time to teach me things, even during the code.

[AirforceRN]

2 Things...
First...as posted above, you should never have been asked to participate in a code on your first day. Watching is fine, but even being gopher on your first day is too much, you have to learn what first before you need to know where and how.
Second...in my personal opinion, you can't jump into ED so quickly. Taking patients on your first day without knowing the way things work, the layout etc can be dangerous and potentially fatal to someone. I know you want to dive in there (believe me, I know) but take a few days to ORIENT! If they expect you to take patients from day one there is something wrong...frankly I'm surprised they allowed it.

[loricatus]

You did nothing wrong----It was your preceptor who didn't know what she was doing!

You stated it was a level III, so I suspect that she was not that well trained in codes. A good code team will pre prepare and function in sync as a team. Once you learn ACLS, you will find out that some of a code leader's responsibilities are to communicate properly and respect all members of the team. Assignments are to be made for each member of the code team based upon the knowledge and capabilities of the particular members of the team. Basically, everyone should clearly know what their role is and that role must be within their scope of capabilities. It is also a team member's responsibility to be honest in their knowledge and capabilities. It sure seems that this code did not even come close to ACLS guidelines. You should have had no responsibilities put upon you for that code. However, you should have been told to watch and learn. Except, in that place, I don't think there was much you could learn other than what not to do during a code

Now, there are times when people snap out in frustration; but, an apology is usually made/received after the code. If no apology was made, I stand behind what I said earlier-your preceptor is the one with the problem, not you. Please, don't let this place's actions make you think that all ER are like that. A properly run code can be a fantastic experience and help get you through the tedious days until the next one comes along.

[traumaRUs]

Sounds like your preceptor isn't used to codes! In a busy ER, codes should run very calmly with all supplies in all rooms so that if ANY patient goes down the tubes, things can be addressed in an orderly and calm fashion.

You did fine, your preceptor did not. Sorry for your frustration and embarassment. However, they are the ones who should be embarassed - you are a student, not a trained staff nurse. Keep going. It gets better.