Experienced preceptors

[MJB2010]

I could use your advice. We have a new grad on our floor and she is about a month into orientation. She is not going to make it if it keeps going this way. She has given up hope. She has been training with the BEST preceptor on our floor. Problem is, it is clear to me that this preceptor and her don't click personality wise and because of this she is not getting the BEST training even though she is with a great trainer. The preceptor (who I love and is definitely the BEST one on our floor) is sending her off alone to do things she does not feel comfortable doing. She has made a lot of comments about her orientee and I know she does not like her. She declared she was not going to make it after about a week and is no longer trying to train her. She is not spending the time to show her how to do things. She just keeps sending her off to get away from her. It is not working for anyone. I do not normally work this shift, I am just filling in for a few weeks and one day I took the newbie when her preceptor was out. In 12 hours I did not see any red flags. Other than a lack of confidence and wanting to be shown how to do things (which is normal) I think she will be a great nurse. She just needs practice. I think she needs a new preceptor. If she came to my shift I would take her but she can't work nights she has small kids. She said she can't do nights. After working with her that one day I have been watching and her preceptor is NEVER with her which is not normal for this preceptor.

I am stuck in a place where I see how this is going to end if I don't say or do something, but there is no good way to do this. Should I approach the preceptor and ask her about it? I don't want her to think I am attacking her, but I think she needs to just realize this is not working. I love her to pieces, but I think this trainee needs someone else. I think they would both be happier. Should I talk to the preceptor? Should I talk to the education person on our floor who sets up newbies with their preceptor? Should I ask the new nurse to speak up for herself? I just do not want any hard feelings from anyone. I hate to see someone not make it when they could. I also hate to upset a nurse I enjoy working with who really is USUALLY the best person to train the new nurses. Just a bad match this time.

Advice?

[julz68]

I agree that the new nurse needs a different preceptor. The one I had for the first few weeks made me feel terrible at times. She did a lot of eye rolling and sighing when I would ask questions. She was one of those that had an orientee with her a lot and I think she was burned out too. When I got a different one for my last couple weeks of orientation, I did much better and my self confidence soared. :)

[hurleygirli1]

I would definitely speak to management to make them aware of the situation and/or the educator! You would advocate for patients having a rough time, so I would definitely advocate for a co-worker!

[netglow, ASN, RN]

I think the preceptor is at her wits end. Maybe you will lose her too.

She may have said yes to precepting because she felt she had to in order to stay in good light with her NM, and, maybe she has a soft spot for newbies (or used to). People who have a hard time saying no, sometimes dangle that bright red sock over that white load in the washer and think, hmmmm, all I need to do is drop this sock in and nobody will ask me to do their laundry again - I won't have to say no...

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Why does this preceptor think this new nurse isn't going to make and has given up on her?

If she (the preceptor) is really as great a trainer as you say, I doubt she'd be so capricious as to totally give up on someone just cause their personalities don't click. Maybe this orientee really isn't cut out for the job. Maybe the preceptor has seen lazy/dangerous practice and is trying to distance herself from someone who she can see is going to be a hot mess on the floor.

Not saying this is necessarily the case, but I'd find out exactly what the preceptor is so concerned about before you do anything else.

[avaloncar, BSN, RN]

You know that is why I had a hard time during my preceptorship during school. My preceptor wasn't very nice. She has a lot of experience under her belt and a lot to offer. I am a very eager person. I ask a lot of questions. I was excited to start. But for some reason she didn't like me or the way I may answer her. She told my teacher that she thought I was a know it all. Or something like that. It was so ridiculous Because I knew I was there to learn. But at the same time she would get on me if I didn't know something, it seemed like she forgot I was still a student even though I was graduating. I cried nearly every day but I stayed strong in front of her. The staff didn't really like her much either and always asked me if I was okay when she would talk to me harshly. There were a lot of other things but I won't even get into it. It was lateral violence at its finest. I felt that like my actual hands on experience was hindered because of this because I was worried about saying the wrong thing or making a mistake. But I came out stronger because I know how to deal with that type of person. But for the orientees sake I think you should say something because my teacher was somewhat of an advocate for me and it helps knowing someone is on your side.

[MJB2010]

I spoke up yesterday and I am not sure it was helpful I am hoping I did not make it worse. I spoke with the preceptor, she admitted she is just tired of explaining every little thing she does over and over. She wants to just work and be by herself for awhile. She wants a break from training people, and had asked NOT to have a trainee. The educator on out floor told her she would not have one, then she arrived at work one day to find this new nurse. She had a grand total of one shift without an orientee. She spoke to the educator about it while training her last 2 orientees and both times was told she needs to do it there is no one else. Yesterday we spoke to the educator together and basically the choice is this, the new orientee can come to nights and work with me or stay on days with the same preceptor and they can "both suck it up". Preceptor, educator, and nurse maanger had a meeting and the Nurse Manager basically said the same thing, there is no one else so she needs to do it or the newbie can come to nights. The orientee again said she cannot come to nights she has small children and would have no one to watch them overnight. Now the preceptor is upset because she feels like no one is listening to her, but she is aware she is not being fair to this new person and said she will try to do better. But she also said on the other hand if she keeps doing well she will keep getting stuck training people and she does not want to do it anymore. This concerns me a bit. There are a lot of new people on days (which is why I was filling in a few weeks) and a few who have been around a long time but they don't train people. So I guess the ball is in the new nurses court, she can either come to nights or stay in the situation she is in. Is it fair? Not really. But it is what it is. It is the big hospital machine. No one cares how many nurses get burnt out or quit, they just hire another and pay them less.

[Nurse_Jessie]

Good for you for speaking up. Sounds like an unfortunate situation all around, and it sounds like the education program needs a revamp if they can only get on preceptor for the day shift. It sounds like a situation where nobody is going to be happy