[Hopefull2009]

I'm working this summer as an Extern in a L&D unit.

For the first time, I am at a loss for words.

Because it's a self-contained unit with a well-baby nursery, post-partum, OR and delivery area, I was working in well-baby and post-partum.

I'm a little PO'd because the hospital "sold" this externship program to us by telling us, that whoever we percepted with, WANTED to be with us. These perceptors were supposed to be pre-screened.

The first part of my summer has been grand...I was put with a great lady, learned ALOT.

Well, this week I was put with someone new. My manager didn't discuss it with them first, so I just showed up at the beginning of the shift and explained to her that I was going to be with her.

The first day was frustrating. I did everything I could to keep up with her, but she would say, "Stay right here, I'll be back in one second" and she would stay gone for over an hour. I would go into a patient's room with her, and the same thing would happen...and I was sitting there with a patient asking alot of questions.

Several times throughout a shift she would have these "secret" meetings with other workers, such as going into the lounge and shutting the door behind her (which isn't generally done), etc.

Well, I was around the corner speaking with another nurse that knows my Dad and recognized me from when I was very young. We were chatting for a minute (this was during another one of her disappearing acts), and this woman didn't know I was around the corner.

I heard her come into the nurses station and said, "I don't know why they put me with a student! I can barely keep up with my own work and I sure don't have the time nor the desire to watch someone else behind me!"

You get the picture..she went on and on and wasn't even quiet about it.

The last straw for me was when she said she was going to start an IV (something I am permitted to do, and haven't done yet) and she said, "You stay here and help the other ladies do the cervidil, and I'm going to go do the IV." Ok..I am not allowed to do a vaginal exam nor administer meds, and she KNOWS that.

Again, over an hour, she disappears.

When she came back, I was sitting at the nurses station, and I stayed there for the next 2 1/2 hours until my shift ended.

This puts me in a very difficult position, b/c I feel like I can't say anything b/c I don't want to seem high maintenance to mangement and I don't want to start a war with anyone before I work there.

The problem is, it is costing me A FORTUNE to commute to this place.

I am constantly asking her if I can help her, she always tells me no. I was exhausted this week b/c all I did was stand around.

[stilltrying]

You can't asked to be with someone else? And just for the record about 5-15% of all the nurses on any job WANT to have a student with them,because it does slows you down. I don't act that way toward students. We all were students some of us just forget after we grad. Don't let that discourage you. I am a ten year LPN I will be an RN student very soon

[kat von b]

Sounds like a miserable person to me. I'm sure she was asked by management up front if she wanted a student and she should have just said no. If I were you I would bring it up to someone, you're there to learn not be told to stand around and if someone sees you standing around then that won't look good (not that it's your fault). If they want interns they it's their job to place them with the right person and correct it if it's not working.

Good luck!! Keep us updated!

[MeghanRN]

Just go to the manager and ask for a new preceptor.

It happens all the time, people clash and dont get along for various reasons.

Is the lady that you first precepted with still there? If so, I'd see if she was willing to take you back.

If not, dont sit around - ask the charge nurse which RN prefers teaching, and on the times that this so called preceptor disappears for an hour, go with that RN.

Good luck!

[Hopefull2009]

Originally Posted by MeghanRN

Just go to the manager and ask for a new preceptor.

It happens all the time, people clash and dont get along for various reasons.

Is the lady that you first precepted with still there? If so, I'd see if she was willing to take you back.

If not, dont sit around - ask the charge nurse which RN prefers teaching, and on the times that this so called preceptor disappears for an hour, go with that RN.

Good luck!

She is...but she works in well-baby nursery, not in the delivery section of the hospital.

I would be ok if this person just told me she didn't want to work with a student, but I just think it was very unprofessional of her to voice this that openly...b/c to me honest, I would have been less offended if she just discussed it with me directly.

[Jules A]

Originally Posted by Hopefull2009

She is...but she works in well-baby nursery, not in the delivery section of the hospital.

I would be ok if this person just told me she didn't want to work with a student, but I just think it was very unprofessional of her to voice this that openly...b/c to me honest, I would have been less offended if she just discussed it with me directly.

I agree 100% about her not having the decency to say it to you or allowing you to learn more. Perhaps you could address it with her and ask her to have you relocated if she isn't comfortable with a student? That way she can do it for you because no way would I make waves and yes imo no matter how politely you phrase it not only does it make the nurse look bad it makes you look ungrateful. I know you weren't really too psyched about this externship to begin with but once again I would just what I needed to finish it and get to the end. Bottom line is you are their guest and whatever you can learn is a bonus.

[caliotter3]

The way I see it, you can go three ways. Do nothing, and you won't learn much and might make a bad reputation for yourself as others see you just sitting or standing around doing nothing. Talk to the preceptor who doesn't want you and try to get her to get you resituated. Or you could go to the manager and try to get resituated yourself. You must realize that you are the one who will have to be proactive about this or else resign yourself to just keeping quiet because you don't want to make waves. I don't think you will learn much if you take this course of action. I don't think that anyone will put you into the troublemaker category because you try to be proactive about learning your job. Just the opposite, they will respect you for taking the initiative.