Precepting my first new hire.

[Mandychelle79]

I should have seen it coming. The writing was on the wall. I was told today I would be the preceptor for the new, just licensed, never had a job in health care before, nurse. While I see this as a excellent opportunity for me to grow as a nurse ( only have had 1.5 years on the job) I am scared ummm crapless.

So can any seasoned preceptors/ recent hires, give me any hints on how to make this a good experience for the both of us. I already know things that I didnt like from my training that I am going to try to limit doing (but understand that some needed to be done to prepare me for what was coming).

[MessyMomma]

We both survived our first week. Yesterday while we were talking through things, she said the best thing to me. She said I didn't make her feel like a burden.[/quote']

If there were more preceptors like you, and preceptees like her, the orientation thing would go a whole lot better/smoother/easier!!!

Keep up your awesome work.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

We are now a few weeks into orientation. She has 4 more weeks of orientation to go, but in all honesty I would feel totally comfortable if they counted her towards the staffing numbers. She has been making the assignment sheet ( part of the charge nurse rule) and she has been giving herself a full assignment. After I watched two of her admissions I asked if she felt that she was ready to try one on her own, and she was and the manager told her ( in front of all the staff) how well done her admission was. We are still working on calling the doctor ( when he needs called vs what can wait till the next call/ morning) and we have been writing down what she needs to say to the doctor when she calls. Things that I still do at times.

[CaitlynRNBSN]

Know what you don't know. I've been a nurse for 2 years and I've precepted 2 people already. Both people knew I've only been a nurse for 2 years, and they were both fine with that. I've admitted I am still learning. If there is something that comes up, a question or a scenario and you don't know the answer, don't pretend you do. Just say its a good question, you are not sure but can figure it out together.Both of my orientees had more experience than me. One had been a nurse probably as long as I've been alive, the other has been a nurse for 4 years at another facility. They were easy to train, and never ever got upset if I didn't know something.

When I started, my preceptor had been a nurse for 26 years. She was wonderful, but even then there were things that came up that even she didn't know. You NEVER stop learning as a nurse and new scenarios will always come up.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

So we are at her last two weeks of orientation after today. We have survived. For these last few weeks, she is doing all the aspects of charge, and is filling the rule very well. Now if something out of the ordinary happens I do step in (if we have to call an RRT/ Aggressive patient) but for the most part, Im just there observing and helping when asked. I do have to say though her face went white on Tuesday, when I told her what we were going to do these last few weeks.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

Well I did it. And apparently my boss thought I did a good job, since I am going to be the preceptor of the next newbie to the unit also.

And my minion ( thats what decided to call her) is doing awesome. Cant wait till I get to work with her again. But she has been changing shifts to help cover since we had a surge in census.

[HeatherGurl84]

Just remember....no "eating your young"

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

Just remember....no "eating your young"

I tried my best not too. However she was willing to do a trial by fire her last week on orientation, so with my bosses blessing, she was doing everything and pretending I wasnt there. So if staffing didnt call for a second nurse, she did both meds and charge. Well, she got slammed, started sinking and was completely overwhelmed. I stepped in, told her to leave the unit to get herself calmed down, got things back on track, and when she came back she stepped right back into the role, even though I told her I would take over if she wanted me to. That night when we were charting I told her not to worry about being late and that if I was in the same situation I would have been there late and no she wasnt going to lose her job for not getting out on time.

Later that week, when her orientation was over, she offered to go in and be the only psych nurse on the floor ( we had a call off and the float staff cant do charge) and had a good night. She told me she knew she could do it since she had done it earlier in the week.

[HeatherGurl84]

You sound like one great preceptor and she is lucky to have you :) sounds like a new nurse who is willing to jump right in!!

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

You sound like one great preceptor and she is lucky to have you :) sounds like a new nurse who is willing to jump right in!!

Thank you and yes she is type to jump right in.