Any advice on precepting?

vanilla bean · Feb 13, 2015

Take initiative & don't wait to be asked to do something. Maintain a positive, pleasant attitude & be open to corrections/instruction. Not sure if you're used to working at night, but do NOT complain about being tired. In fact, do not complain about anything. Ask questions if you're not sure about something, offer to help others when you're caught up on your assignment, and never pass up an opportunity to practice a skill that you're allowed to perform. Remember to say please and thank you (seems like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised). Good luck & enjoy!

springchick1, ADN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

Don't make enemies out of the nursing assistance. They can be your biggest asset. Also, if another nurse beside your preceptor has a skill, ask if you can do it. There's nothing wrong with wanting to get as many skills in as you can. And a lot of the nurses (at least where I precepted last semester) were happy to help and to let me start IVs and stuff like that.

jj224 · Feb 14, 2015

Be eager to help and don't be a know it all!

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Feb 14, 2015

Besides what PP's have said keep in mind that classroom "perfect world" nursing is NOT real life nursing.

For exams and NCLEX remember everything is always perfect in your nursing world.

As you'll see in your preceptorship things aren't always so perfect and that's ok.

And you won't know everything. You may feel like a fish out of water. As you may have read on these message boards it's a normal feeling and will pass a few months into whatever job you get post graduation.