Despite being at the top of my class (I have straight A's) I was passed up for my first two choices of preceptor assignment and given my thirs- which I obviously didn't really want! The only explaination I was given was that spots were tight and it was hard to place people. I know other people were given spots I would have got, and I know that some people who she had trouble placing were given the opportunity to change their plans. I was never given that option.
After she told me that I got my third choice she said, "It was really hard to place everyone. Is that okay?" to which I responded "do I have a choice?" and walked away.
I am so disappointed and have cried for hours now.
I am fairly positive that she won't halp me find another placement and I wonder what I should do. If they won't help me find something at the larger hospital, should I look for a spot at a smaller critical access rural hospital or nursing home- otherwise I will be stuck in behavioral health.
I just want to quit- all this work to get skrewed out of a good spot in the last stretch. I have never hated nursing school as much as I do now.
Just because someone is an A+ student academically does not mean that they are an A+ student in clinical.
Could it be that the other people are stronger in clinical so they got the better positions?
We had a student once who was an A+ student - but could not cope clinically. Give her more that 1 pt and she fell apart. Her preceptor tried and tried with her. After 6 weeks it was clear that she needed more education than her preceptor could give her and she had to repeat a semester of clinical before she was permitted to try her final placement. She was smart - she just could not apply that smartness to direct pt care.
If you dislike behavioural health so much, why did you indicate that as a choice?
At the time we made choices I did not know that they only take patients that are stable. Patients are kept at the hospital until then. I fully admit I made a mistake putting that as a choice without knowing the detail. I only wanted the opportunity for clinical experience.please stop beating me up-and-down don't respond anymore thank you
Just wanted to let you know that this happened to me when I was a student. I always knew I wanted to work in critical care and excelled in clinicals and was top of all of my classes, but I didn't get my first or second choice either.
They worked with me though, and gave me PACU which gave me incredible experience that helped me have an edge in ICU when it comes to airways and fluids. I got hired in the ICU as a new grad because of my conscientiousness, not because of my preceptorship.
Most hospitals arent even hiring for internal employees who have passed the NCLEX, so the odds of them picking a student are low anyways. Maybe you can get a job at that psych hospital as (no offense to psych nurses) they often aren't a first pick for nurses.
Plus, you will use psych in any field of nursing. I agree. It's not fair and it sucks. When you work hard you think you will get what you deserve, but that isn't always the case.
Why would you put someplace that you don't want to be at?
I know for a fact that spots for prreceptorship are limited, and chances are if one for behavioral health came up and you were the only one in your class who listed it as an option, that's probably why you got stuck there. There is not one person in my class who would put down behavioral health, but I'm sure if someone had, that's where they'd be going because it makes it easier to fill more popular spots. The only thing I can suggest is to just talk to you instructor to see if there is anything else, although it probably would have been better to do this as soon as she told you. I made sure that when I filled out my request, all three of them were places I wouldn't be disappointed with (ER, NICU/PICU, OR/Plastic Surgery), however I do know there were a few people in my class who didn't get anything they requested. But we did have a lot of ICU and a lot of Maternity which probably made it hard when you have the limited spots.
I have explained already that when we made the list I was not told they only take medically stable patients. Everyone goes to the hospital for detox, etc and then comes to behavioral until they can be placed at a treatment facility. Didn't know this before making my picks.I am tired of everyone acting like nursing school is some favor to me. I earned the spot to be here, I earn the right to stay by performing well, and I am paying to be taught. I admitted I was not aware of all the circumstances surrounding picks and asked for help to resolve the situation. I am not complaining because I didn't get icu over ob- I want an opportunity to use/learn clinical skills.
I can understand your frustration and disappointment at getting your last choice. I don't want to make light of your situation either, but I know that if you made it this far in nursing school, you can do 6 months in mental health preceptor. You might hate every minute of it, you might find out its okay after all, or you might really enjoy it. (I doubt it from what you have said, but maybe)
I think in that situation I would attend preceptor hours to start off, and if it is just absolutely something you can not do, go to the placement adviser once and ask for another assignment.
I have learned time and again that life is not fair, and certainly nursing school is not fair, but those who put their head into it and move on with the assignments with a smile on their face are the ones who come out ahead.
Keep telling yourself it is only 6 months... or 12 hours down, 888 to go, or whatever mind game you need to do in order to get through. You are so close, don't let this overwhelm you. You can do it.
You have to take what was handed to you and make the best of it. I think you will be amazed at how many of these people have many other problems besides behavioral....those nurses have to be on top of a lot of things, including medical.
I have over 25 years experience and believe me, disappointment in the workplace is going to come, learn to constructively deal with it. Also, think about how you are presenting yourself to your children...they need to see that mom can deal with a curveball gracefully. Yes you are disappointed, and maybe do a few weeks and see if they can move you. But I honestly can say if you really, really hated behavioral nursing then you shouldn't have put it, even if the advisor said to do so. She may have been looking for a way to fill those slots. Lesson learned. Just like on a resume, don't put somewhere you hate, or that is where you will interview.
Also,this rotation will work with you at interviews, you can bring up that you did this preceptorship and how, even though it isn't what you wanted, it really improved your customer service skills :) Always a bright spot!
Again- this has nothing to do with not liking behavioral health. It has to do with opportunity to learn clinical skills. In a program where I have only had 8 clinical days, this is a needed opportunity to learn. Behavioral is just a pit stop to a treatment center.I am teaching my kids to stick up for what they believe in and work hard. And that the world isn't all about getting screwed and taking it- sometimes you have to work for what you want and fight for what you want.
Can I ask what type of program you are in? If you only had 8 clinical days, well you should be filing a complaint over that! And you aren't getting screwed,you put it on the paper and you got one of your choices. Not one you wanted or should have been cohersed into putting down, but there it was. Sometimes you have to take what is handed to you. And you will encounter this plenty when you are in the work place....not getting vacation, days off, weekends off, shifts or floors you want come with the territory unfortunately. You have to learn to roll with it. Like I said, I have been thru a lot, have been a manager and dealt with a lot of things, and there are times when I am like...well, it is what it is. Move on.
Like I said, do it for a few weeks, see what it is like, maybe they can move you. But word to the wise...don't go to the BHU and have a bad attitude, that staff will pick up on it and remember, they usually are the ones that are giving feedback to the instructors/schools.
I have excellent critical thinking skills and excellent grades in clinical. And I am old enough to have 2other children in high school. Maybe you all need to work on your therapeutic communication instead of ripping fellow students apart- be encouraging and uplifting. Everyone on here is mean spirited.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i have excellent critical thinking skills and excellent grades in clinical. and i am old enough to have 2other children in high school. maybe you all need to work on your therapeutic communication instead of ripping fellow students apart- be encouraging and uplifting. everyone on here is mean spirited.
everyone on here is mean spirited? or just those of us who disagree with you?
charlotte.anderson.
4 Posts
Go in with an empty cup, and see how greatly you can fill it. You might be surprised what this new challenge brings your way. Embrace it!