I recently started working on a fast paced surgical floor (I had been working overtime there when I worked on my old unit). There is a nurse who was hired from a nursing home (she said she worked with people on vents and trachs, not sure of the exact acuity). She has great skills, but she is not fast enough. She has been on orientation for 2 weeks. She is now in her 3rd week, which was extra. She has two more days of orientation. The main issues are documentation and delegation. Her assessments are not documented til after the shift is over. She does not delegate. Her preceptor keeps on trying to talk to her. She feels her preceptor is being tough on her. Her preceptor was saying that she likes her orientee a lot, but she doesn't think she will survive. I went over to her and casually brought up how orientation is tough in this hospital because they are very on top of documentation. I wanted her to realize that it's not just her, it's everyone. I also talked a little bit about how I organize my day. I don't think she realizes that she may be let go and not finish orientation. I don't think she realized the "hot water" she is in. I would hate to see her go. What should I do? I am younger than this nurse and have been nursing for less years I think. I am also pretty new to the unit. I wrote up a little something, which I'm attaching. I also have a great report sheet (also attaching) that I revised based on a report sheet I found on this website.
The preceptor is the one to decide whether or not the orientee is safe to work unsupervised. So the preceptor has a great deal of input into who succeeds and who does not.
It seems like the gossip is extremely rampant on your unit. OP, your intentions are nice, but I hope you take note on what not to do when you one day become a preceptor.
There are quite a few people being oriented on my unit yet none of their preceptors have divulged anything about what has been discussed between them and management when they have their weekly meetings. It's none of our business.
The whole thing reminds me of the prayer chain. One believer going to another with gossip, disguised as a prayer request."Oh, I'm so worried about my sister nurse, oh Lord! She is failing at her orientation. She is well-liked, Lord, but too slow with her charting. I'm so concerned. I've given her my personal written guidance to save her, Lord, but time is short! In Jesus holy name, Amen!"
FYI she is doing much better. They are still on top of her, but she made it off orientation. Nothing to worry about in the end. :)
This isn't about me thinking I'm better than her in any way. Just concerned since I had a similar situation in the past where I was having a difficult time keeping up on orientation.
The impression I got from the OP is that she wants to help the orientee to succeed. Seems like she has developed a little bit of a rapport with the orientee. OP recognizes that she herself is new to the unit, the orientee is older than her, and might even have more experience than OP. So, I think OP is trying not to step on any toes. IMO, OP should simply continue to encourage the orientee, and leave it at that. It's not her place to get involved any further. But I do understand that OP would like to have helped, and I think that's really nice.
I agree that this unit seems too gossipy. Nobody should be privy to the orientee's progress, besides the orientee, preceptor, and mgmt. But, it is what it is. People talk, so people know what's going on. This is not OP's fault, it is the culture of that unit. OP is better off avoiding the gossip, and continuing to just work hard and be pleasant to her coworkers.
They only give 2 weeks of orientation for a nurse coming from LTC? I don't think that's long enough.
I'm not sure why the original poster is coming here for advise. She's not the preceptor, but another newbie on that unit, who apparently is much much better that that over-the-hill LTC nurse.
Give me a break. This isn't a millennial vs baby boomers fight.
The impression I got from the OP is that she wants to help the orientee to succeed. Seems like she has developed a little bit of a rapport with the orientee. OP recognizes that she herself is new to the unit, the orientee is older than her, and might even have more experience than OP. So, I think OP is trying not to step on any toes. IMO, OP should simply continue to encourage the orientee, and leave it at that. It's not her place to get involved any further. But I do understand that OP would like to have helped, and I think that's really nice.
I agree that this unit seems too gossipy. Nobody should be privy to the orientee's progress, besides the orientee, preceptor, and mgmt. But, it is what it is. People talk, so people know what's going on. This is not OP's fault, it is the culture of that unit. OP is better off avoiding the gossip, and continuing to just work hard and be pleasant to her coworkers.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Somehow ...this post sounds a bit like "someone" wants to have someone else lose their job, and is coming here to ask if they have the paper-trail in order to get that accomplished and still smell like a rose. Maybe, a friend is waiting for a position to open?
I just smell something other than a rose.
That seems unfair. She didn't give any indication in her post that she wanted anything other than to help her.
The impression I got from the OP is that she wants to help the orientee to succeed. Seems like she has developed a little bit of a rapport with the orientee. OP recognizes that she herself is new to the unit, the orientee is older than her, and might even have more experience than OP. So, I think OP is trying not to step on any toes. IMO, OP should simply continue to encourage the orientee, and leave it at that. It's not her place to get involved any further. But I do understand that OP would like to have helped, and I think that's really nice.
I agree that this unit seems too gossipy. Nobody should be privy to the orientee's progress, besides the orientee, preceptor, and mgmt. But, it is what it is. People talk, so people know what's going on. This is not OP's fault, it is the culture of that unit. OP is better off avoiding the gossip, and continuing to just work hard and be pleasant to her coworkers.
Glad to read that the nurse being discussed on your unit made it off orientation. Now, you should consider stepping back and learning from this. The next person being the subject of the gossip mill on your unit could be you and you don't want that to happen. Keep your focus on your own practice and don't join in discussing the employment future of others.
Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN
5,047 Posts
True enough.