Clinical rotation age discrimination

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Nov 21, 2015

Can you ask for a new preceptor? I would if you really think you can't get thru the next few weeks. I am a fast walker too, and I will say I get impatient waiting for slower people.

What feedback did your instructor give you and did you tell her what you said here?

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2015

You say she "speed walks". Ok is this discrimination? Is she required to walk a certain speed per hospital regulations? You need to learn to pick your battles. Being upset at the speed someone walks is one you need to let gooooooo. Using terminology like "ambushed" ok...are you being a little dramatic for effect? Maybe you are not. Maybe you have evidence of an actual ambush?

You say you have received "nothing but high praise"...so what? This means you are above poor performance or not meeting the standards?

Finish the 2 weeks working hard and being polite..LISTEN to what she has to say. Then thank her for her time and for precepting your. Then move on.

caliotter3 · Nov 21, 2015

The fact that your preceptor waited so long into the term to complain about your performance says something about her as a preceptor. If such were the case with me, I would have made a comment to you before the end of the shift where I determined that you were not walking from point A to point B fast enough. No complaints whatsoever until two weeks from the end? I can see how you feel ambushed. But that doesn't change the fact that your preceptor and your instructor hold your progress in their hands. Give them what they seem to want, or you will not pass. See your advisor and ask them what they suggest you to do in only two weeks. And I would ask for a different preceptor. Hopefully a new preceptor will have an open mind and treat you fairly.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Nov 22, 2015

Discriminated over her walking fast? I think not. You better learn to get from point A to point B quickly. Me thinks you are having a problem being precepted by a 23 year old. Was she supposed to grant you special treatment on the computers and walking because you are over 50? No. But that is exactly how you sound. Well the other preceptors who are in their 50s and 60s aren't rushing around..... Let me tell you, they are already on the job with years of experience. They earned being slower than the 23 year old if indeed they are. I'm sure they have their routine so down pat they don't have to rush. You do not. You haven't even graduated yet.

You are not being discriminated against. But go ahead and bring it up. See how far that gets you.

pasdequoi · Nov 22, 2015

Interesting. Your preceptor sounds a bit immature, but despite the poorly handled delivery of her message, she raises a very valid point and you need to pick up the pace.

From reading your message, it sounds to me that while she is complaining about you not keeping up physically, she is conflating that with your overall performance and perhaps that you don't seem to be getting it. It's a busy med-surg unit, yes? Then quite frankly you should be running your butt off. Don't compare her or yourself to seasoned RNs in their 50s/60s - they probably know how to delegate better and also are probably much, much better than either of you at multitasking this work that they have been doing for decades.

Bottom line here is that your preceptor likely wants you to show a sense of urgency because 1) that demonstrates that you get it - there is a lot to do and it matters that it get done expediently, accurately and well; and 2) she is responsible for her patients and your perceived dawdling is interfering with their care.

You are older and presumably more mature and wiser than this hardworking young woman, so take the high road: understand that she is still early career and has lots to learn about time management herself; pick up your pace, thank her, learn from her, and finish your two weeks with some grace. BTW, I say this as someone who is no spring chicken and with a bum hip.

LPNtoRNin2016OH, LPN · Nov 22, 2015

I tend to agree with the previous comments. I am a pretty patient person and want to give any student who is with me a fair chance but I will admit that when students are slower, I find myself becoming frusterated. Even with a student, I am still expected to get all my usual tasks done so sometimes I just have to ping pong everywhere and if the student can't keep up then I may not be able to show them as much as I would have liked too. I don't think you should be failed out of the program but I would be aware that perhaps the hospital pace of nursing will not be for you, but that's ok! There are many other fields that will have more sitting involved and you will not have to run around like a chicken with your head cut off :)

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Nov 22, 2015

Is this another instance of the instructor dumping her work onto a very busy staff nurse? You just may be caught up in the middle of the argument some staff nurses have with being forced to accept a student as part of their patient care assignment. Some staff nurses love teaching, others not so much and can be quite angry about being forced to do what they think your clinical instructor should be doing.

You are in such a vulnerable position with your entire future in their hands. Try to suck it up and do the best you can to safely pick up your pace. Admit you are not as athletic as your preceptor but are really learning a lot about time management or some such. Find something to praise her about and count it as one less day to your goal.

featherzRN, MSN · Nov 22, 2015

I'm in my upper 40's and I'm a really fast walker too, as is my team leader who is in her 50's. We can bowl people over (which is fun when you are pushing a WOW). :) I run up and down stairs because the elevators are too slow for me. It's not all age-related, some of us just like to move quickly.

She might be able to slow down a bit, but as others have pointed out, you need to be able to haul butt on a busy floor. Have you been with her long? I know you said it's the end of your rotation, but I wasn't sure if this was a recent assignment within your last rotation. Can you get a new preceptor?

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Nov 23, 2015

This is not age discrimination. Just pick up your pace a little.

Emergent, RN · Nov 23, 2015

At 52 you should still be in good shape in my opinion. I'm 58 and I snowboard, hike, I'm very active. I could easily beat my younger cohorts in an arm wrestling match.

If you have let yourself go with poor dietary choices and lack of exercise, then perhaps you aren't in good enough shape to start a career in a physically demanding career.

Alisonisayoshi, LVN · Nov 23, 2015

I kind of wonder if you weren't the one with an age issue here. I'm in my late 30s, have a chronic illnes, and run marathons. My mom will be 60 this year, she runs them with me. The speed at which one chooses to move has little to do with age for a lot of people. I get the impression that you might have simply not liked having a woman much younger than you in a teaching role, and perhaps you showed that...