Crummy ICU orientation EVAL

[poppy07]

I finished up my ICU orientation in November. I had a preceptor, who was only an RN for a year or so herself, and only stayed at my side for maybe a couple weeks-if that. She seemed to have assumed I had a good grasp on everything, as if there was nothing she needed to teach me, and so went off wandering around talking to other nurses the whole time. Whenever a problem or question arose, I had to seek out another RN or look all over for her. She wasn't readily available and didn't try to really teach me anything. At about 7 weeks, my manager and charge RN tried to take me off orientation early to meet their own needs, disregarding mine. I demanded that I get the 12 weeks (which is already minimal) that they told me I'd get, and did. I also told them some basics about my preceptor always being off somewhere talking, but they did nothing to address that. I then had a mixture of random nurses, including that preceptor, for several more weeks orientation. I made it a point to always look up stuff I didn't know and learn on my own, since I needed to make up for what the orientation lacked.

Today, a fellow experienced RN said to me, 'don't you feel like you were jipped out of your orientation?' and then went on to tell me how they noticed that same preceptor was toward another orientee. He suggested that I evaluate her honestly.

I don't want to wreck havoc, but it is also a consistent problem with this preceptor (who is SOOO highly looked upon by management and, even the Director of Nursing). How do you suggest completing the EVAL? It will likely be seen by the manager, preceptor, etc.

[meandragonbrett]

I would complete it honestly. I certainly wouldn't pad the eval to make her look better or to take the heat off yourself. If they cannot handle constructive criticism then that is a personal issue that they need to the bottom of. Good luck!

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Be honest. Stick with the facts. "I needed guidence and had to seek out other RN to assist with my patient." I have seen some preceptors do that and it makes me cringe. Mine would do that but I was a experienced nurse before I went to the ICU.

Remember things will not change if you aren't honest.

Good luck to you.

PS, I noticed she was only a RN for about 1 year, and she was precepting. I think a preceptor needs more experience before precepting someone. She is still learning herself.

[Christie RN2006]

PS, I noticed she was only a RN for about 1 year, and she was precepting. I think a preceptor needs more experience before precepting someone. She is still learning herself.

I agree. I have been out of school for almost 2 years and I don't feel like I am anywhere near being ready to precept. I have had students with me doing observation, but thats it.

The preceptor I had when I first started had only been out of school for about a year and I had nothing but problems. I went to my NM about things going on and she put me with someone else.

[poppy07]

thanks for your replies. i completely agree with the idea that she shouldn't have been a preceptor with so little experience... sometimes, you have to take what you can get and just learn from who WILL teach you, I've found. I constantly seek out those who I've realized have that knowledge and know-how to share.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

This may be cynical, but... is there a time period past which you cannot be fired without cause? If there is, I might wait until that time is over to turn in a poor eval of your preceptor. If she's in as tight with management as you say, you could just create more problems for yourself. I had a really rough orientation on a personal level with my preceptor, and went to one of our leadership people and our CNS about it. They basically told me it would be in my best interest to stick it out because of the politics of my unit.

[poppy07]

that's my concern...i don't want to jeopardize any aspect of MY job. I only want to work at this hospital a little over a year, and then move somewhere else and work with my experience. don't want to mess up my reputation, recommendation, etc.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

Let 'em know after you quit. That's not that long from now, so it's not like she'll be messing up tons of orientees between now and then. And from what you said, it's not like it's a secret that this woman isn't a good preceptor. Your poor eval will likely create more problems for you than it will solve in the greater picture.

[Chisca, RN]

Let 'em know after you quit. That's not that long from now, so it's not like she'll be messing up tons of orientees between now and then. And from what you said, it's not like it's a secret that this woman isn't a good preceptor. Your poor eval will likely create more problems for you than it will solve in the greater picture.

+1

You will only be creating an enemy if you fill out that evaluation honestly. Others have the same opinion you have so really what is the point in creating more problems than you already have? Learn as much as you can in this position and then move on.

[poppy07]

It kind of is a 'secret' or unknown to those who matter though. The director of nursing and nurse manager think very highly of this preceptor and even wrote letters of recommendation for her to get into the NP program.

During our staff meetings, the director of nursing looks directly at this person and talks to her as if she is the one who really matters. This is the kind of kiss-ass relationship that annoys me, especially when the person is undeserving of the way certain higher-up people may view them.

It seems like a few other people may have noticed the way she orients, but never say anything to anyone.

[suzy253, RN]

PS, I noticed she was only a RN for about 1 year, and she was precepting. I think a preceptor needs more experience before precepting someone. She is still learning herself.

I agree 100%. I've been an RN coming up on 2 years and would not feel comfortable precepting anyone yet.