[AliRae]

I was just reading a thread about a student accepted into an externship program, and realized I should ask for some of my own advice on the subject. My director asked me the other day if I would precept an extern this summer. I said yes, but am now left wondering how exactly I'll manage it. I've only been working for a year and a half, and I still feel like such a baby myself!

Any tips for how to be a successful preceptor? I've had lots of nursing students and cross-training employees to take under my wing thus far, but that's only for a day or two. This is all summer, and I want to make sure she gets the most out of her experience.

[janfrn]

First find out exactly what the extern will be legally permitted to do while in your care. Here, grad nurses awaiting their licenses cannot administer and IV push meds or neuromuscular blockers, collect CSF from an EVD, take verbal orders and so on. Then make a learning plan. Start by making a list of competencies starting with the most basic... assessments, blood gases, respiratory care and so on. Then work your way through your list with your extern. Every new competency you introduce should build on the previous ones. In other words, go from the most simple to the most complex and use the principles of the preceding lessons to help make sense of the subsequent ones. Allow for time to consolidate the lessons so that a comfort level is achieved before moving on to more difficult topics. Do frequent evaluations (formal or informal) of how well the learning is going and how s/he feels about things. Ask for feedback from your extern and your immediate supervisor. Above all, remember how being the new kid on the block feels, and then take a big breath and relax.

[Semele]

See one,do one, teach one. Welcome to the world of nursing.