Crusty old bat in new RN role..

[TNurse4u]

I recently graduated with my RN ! I was an LPN for MANY years before completing my degree program. I was fortunate to secure a position with a medical surgical unit, I am nearly done with my orientation period. Here is my annoyance-I am treated like I am old, and unintelligent. My preceptor is much younger and I think a great nurse! She knows I am an experienced nurse and a very competent one. She will not relinquish control of the cart, med passes or even patient care! She has physically pushed me out of the way, I was so offended! This experience is causing me to dislike my job, and is flaring my ulcerative colitis!

[Sour Lemon]

Just make it through orientation, then do whatever you want. It's difficult to work with or under someone else when you have your own way of doing things ...but it won't be forever.

People of all ages experience this, by the way.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

Just make it through orientation, then do whatever you want. It's difficult to work with or under someone else when you have your own way of doing things ...but it won't be forever.

People of all ages experience this, by the way.

Just give her the COB side-eye and carry on.

Or, if she pushes you away again, run her over with said cart.

[TNurse4u]

It can be difficult to be a preceptor as well as the orientee, and of course with any age.

[Wile E Coyote, ASN, RN]

Your preceptor may be inexperienced in the role and having difficulty in sharing the sandbox. It's common, and should be discussed among you two and your leadership.

[GM2RN]

I was in a similar situation when I first started in my current position. Talk to your preceptor if you think you can do so without escalating the situation. If not, or if it doesn't go well, just go along with whatever she wants to get through orientation and then you will have the freedom to show them your competence.

[vamedic4, EMT-P]

Some find it hard to relinquish control, even when they are precepting. It is human nature for us, as health care providers, to want to do everything that needs to be done ourselves because we never know whom we can depend on otherwise. That, and the idea held by many nurses that they are "your" patient, meaning that you are the primary caregiver (by yourself and not as a "team" with your orientee), can cause a preceptor to be hesitant to allow you to do the things you need to do to learn.

I doubt it has much to do with your experience or anything other than her inability to allow you to "do". As someone who has also precepted new nurses, I found it hard to do the same. She is probably just like I was - all "show" and "tell", not allowing you to perform an assessment, change a dressing, start an IV, et cetera.

I didn't do it on purpose, and she might not be, either. Too many times we get busy talking about things, doing things, that we forget the point : that our orientees need the experience "doing".

Hope things get better. But like other posters, I think that things will improve after orientation. Best of luck to you in your new position!!

[annabanana2]

Precepting is a skill just like any other, and when we start out most of us just aren't that good at it. I know I wasn't! But I learned a lot, and the second time around was much better. I'd say give her some grace, do your best to work with what you've got, and once you're finished with orientation then do your own thing. If you're feeling like you're not learning enough, consider talking with her and your supervisor (in that order) about potentially loosening the reins a little bit.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

The problem lies with your preceptor, not you. She is not treating you like you are old and unintelligent. She just does not know how to precept , period. She knows you have more experience in this situation.. and is afraid to guide you .

You could inform management and nursing education of this issue.. or you could get through orientation and teach your preceptor what she needs to know.

[Guttercat, ASN, RN]

The problem lies with your preceptor, not you. She is not treating you like you are old and unintelligent. She just does not know how to precept , period. She knows you have more experience in this situation.. and is afraid to guide you .

You could inform management and nursing education of this issue.. or you could get through orientation and teach your preceptor what she needs to know.

Bravo.

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

You have all of the advice you need. I simply want to say kudos for boldly stepping into a new role in your COB years.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

When I returned to my previous Float Pool hospital position, none of the assigned preceptors were willing to precept me. Each shift, I was met with a "change in who I would be working with". I had been away from the bedside for a year and just needed only half a refresher, so-to-speak. I figured the preceptor would have been only too happy to have me as the newcomer because it would have surely made for an easy night for her because of my years of experience, and the fact that I was a returning former-employee.

But that was not the case. The fortunate soul that happened to be dumped on during those shifts is the one who had the easy night, and she was awesome. On one of the shifts, each time my preceptor's counterparts requested that her orientee (me) perform a task for them, she refused, stating she had already asked me to do something else.