Awful Preceptor

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 25, 2017

I am a nursing student in my final semester which is preceptorship. I was placed in the pediatric ER, which I was thrilled about! However, upon the first day of meeting my preceptor, I was diapointed to say the least. I introduced myself, I handed her a packet that included everything for her understanding, and we went through paperwork. She then said to me, " I hope you don't mind cursing", I responded, "no, I don't mind". She then replied, " good because when I heard I was getting a student I was like ****!" I knew it would be difficult but by my 4th shift, I couldn't take anymore. This girl has a negative attitude towards work and me. I have watched her make up vitals that she forgot to get, call the wrong patient's to the back out of triage, and then ask me on my 4th shift what we are supposed to be doing. I asked her if she read the packet I gave her and she said that she hadn't and it is in her locker. I have contacted my faculty liaison over this....has anyone else experienced this?

Perhaps you don't understand that most preceptors aren't given any notice about precepting nursing students, any choice in the matter, any extra pay or any time at work to go through your packet of paperwork. Precepting takes up time and energy -- it's at least three times as much work as it would be to just come in and do the job without the nursing student. The preceptor's life may preclude her taking the packet home to read it. She just may not have the time or energy for this right now. Perhaps she has asked to opt out of it but was forced into precepting anyway.

I don't know what your faculty liaison is going to tell you -- perhaps she has a good feel for this unit and it's staff; perhaps not. All I can tell you is that you CAN learn from a less than stellar preceptor, and you may have to. "Reporting her" is likely to make her unhappy with you and even unhappier with the situation, which may be reflected in your evaluation.

I know you won't like this advice, but suck it up and deal.

EDNURSE20, BSN · Jun 25, 2017

I agree. Suck it up and deal with it.

And instead of given her stuff to read and more work, take initiative. Your about to be a RN. Go in there tell her exactly what you want to do that day. Do as much as you can, and don't wait around to be told what to do.

Complaining is not going to make you look good, sounds like you've gone in expecting your Preceptor to do a lot for you and this will just make things worst. Also ruin your chances of getting employment there too.

oops I bradyed again · Jun 26, 2017

I have watched her make up vitals that she forgot to get, call the wrong patient's to the back out of triage, and then ask me on my 4th shift what we are supposed to be doing.

Have you been taking vitals or offering to check the vital signs the preceptor forgot? Even though you are new to the unit there are plenty of things you can take initiative on to help lighten your preceptor's load (which might improve her attitude) and enhance your own learning. In my experience, most nurses are appreciative if you take vital signs, record I&Os, grab supplies, set up rooms, etc. I've also found that starting the day by telling my preceptor what my goals are and a quick report of my plan for our patients is also helpful. Take initiative and always keep in close communication with your preceptor, good luck!

Career Columnist / Author · Jun 26, 2017

Every day think about what you want to learn that shift and not so much on what your preceptor is not doing right.

It's not ideal, but it is what it is.

Make it easy for her to sign whatever forms are needed- she is most likely not going to read the packet. Best wishes.

Volley88 · Jun 29, 2017

RN's are usually told that they are getting a student 1-2 days before. I agree with Nurse Beth. Spend less time critiquing your preceptor and be more proactive in taking the weight off her load. Take vitals, ask to start IVs, follow her workflow, see how she actively assess patients, have her cosign your charting, etc.

Precepting is an opportunity for a senior nursing student to be off the leash and get a taste of the real world nursing. Remember, she has her license you don't.

Think about it this way, (especially in ER) the more active you are in precepting, the more stories you can share with your classmates and possibly future job interviews.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 29, 2017

RN's are usually told that they are getting a student 1-2 days before. I agree with Nurse Beth. Spend less time critiquing your preceptor and be more proactive in taking the weight off her load. Take vitals, ask to start IVs, follow her workflow, see how she actively assess patients, have her cosign your charting, etc.
Precepting is an opportunity for a senior nursing student to be off the leash and get a taste of the real world nursing. Remember, she has her license you don't.
Think about it this way, (especially in ER) the more active you are in precepting, the more stories you can share with your classmates and possibly future job interviews.

While it would be nice if RNs were told 1-2 days in advance that they're getting a student, sometimes it doesn't happen until after report when you've already started your day.

caliotter3 · Jun 29, 2017

I would think that if a better person to precept had been available, (for whatever reason), you would have been provided that person as a preceptor. Get through the experience, then be truthful if asked to critique at the end of the term.

RN Grad 17' · Jun 30, 2017

Have you been taking vitals or offering to check the vital signs the preceptor forgot?
So you think faking vitals is ok?

RN Grad 17' · Jun 30, 2017

Have you been taking vitals or offering to check the vital signs the preceptor forgot? Even though you are new to the unit there are plenty of things you can take initiative on to help lighten your preceptor's load (which might improve her attitude) and enhance your own learning. In my experience, most nurses are appreciative if you take vital signs, record I&Os, grab supplies, set up rooms, etc. I've also found that starting the day by telling my preceptor what my goals are and a quick report of my plan for our patients is also helpful. Take initiative and always keep in close communication with your preceptor, good luck!

You must think that faking vitals is ok? Also, this is the Peds ER, she didn't want me turned loose with her patients. I am a student, thus I am there to learn. Not only is ER different from other floors, Triage is completely different. However, by my 6th shift, my preceptor changed her attitude and it turned the whole experience around. Instead of critiquing every thing I did, she began allowing me to do more by myself while she stayed in the area to make sure everything is ok. I am now assessing, charting, giving meds, transferring, and discharging on my own.

oops I bradyed again · Jun 30, 2017

No, I don't think falsifying vitals is ok. I was only trying to offer suggestions for what you could do on your part to help the relationship with your preceptor.

saltyninja · Jul 1, 2017

You must think that faking vitals is ok?

There was no need for the snarky reply. You posted on a forum to vent and to receive feedback from others who may have been in this situation.

Also, this is the Peds ER, she didn't want me turned loose with her patients. I am a student, thus I am there to learn. Not only is ER different from other floors, Triage is completely different.

As students, our job of "learning" often entails doing more than simply peering over the shoulder of our preceptors. When someone makes a suggestion of being proactive in taking vitals, it's likely because this is something they've done in order to improve their relationship with their preceptor or to aid in feeling more comfortable with the task. If the suggestion doesn't fit with your current situation, just move on. Most people commenting on these forums are either in your shoes as a student or have been there before, so there isn't a need to dramatize the difference between departments. We get it.

It honestly sounded like she was initially trying to be herself by admitting her feelings to you. It might help in the long run to bear in mind that these nurses often work short-staffed, with awful ratios, and are most often given no notice before they're tasked with precepting a (sometimes arrogant and slightly demeaning) nursing student. They are people, too, you know?

If you have proof that she falsified her documentation (above and beyond hearsay) then that would justify reporting it, but if you've got nothing to show except a complaint about incompatibility in personality and work ethic... it's an unfortunate world that we live in where we can't always pick out coworkers/teachers. I'm glad to see in your most recent post that your relationship has improved... let's hope that you make no errors!