Covid-19 & Preceptorship

[nurse_grad_2020]

Hi,

I am a senior-level nursing student and anticipate graduating this year. Due to Covid-19, our preceptorship has been shortened from the initially allotted time. Unfortunately, I recently tested positive for Covid-19 and have successfully made a full recovery without complications. Due to our preceptorship beginning soon and the timing of my recovery, I either be delayed or have to complete a "virtual" preceptorship. The worst-case scenario is that I complete all of my preceptorship "virtually." I am staying positive and determined to graduate, but I wanted to get some advice about how an employer will view a graduate who was unable to complete a preceptorship in the hospital. My fear is that I will be behind in gaining experience with fundamental skills and a little unprepared going into my first nursing job. I understand the circumstances are out of my control and that this is a nation-wide issue, but am wondering if this will make me less "marketable." I know new jobs offer an orientation period and I have always been the type to be willing to learn and adaptable. I guess I am just looking for any tidbits or pieces of advice anyone can offer for someone graduating soon and applying for jobs. I appreciate it!

[rn.brii, ADN, RN]

I recently graduated this past May. My clinical rotations ended the week before Spring break because after that school got converted to completely online. I finished my semester doing virtual simulations. Two weeks ago, I accepted a job offer for a new grad residency program.

Obviously I’m not a hiring manager but the managers that interviewed me were all understanding regarding the situation we’re currently facing. In my interview, they didn’t ask me anything about my clinical rotations. I feel that managers are mostly looking for what you bring to the table that’s unique and whether or not they feel that you’ll be a good fit for the unit. If you think about it we all do clinical rotations. The only thing is that the number of hours and where we do the rotations will vary. Whatever skills you weren’t able to do in clinical, your job will train you. In clinical, I never inserted a Foley on a real person but I know that I’ll be taught that on the job.

So just relax and focus on finishing school and knocking NCLEX out the park.

Best of luck!