Dear Precepting Student:

Published

While I understand that you're proud of your clinical skills derived from your prior experiences, if they are beyond the scope of the license for which you're currently a candidate, they have no bearing on your current preceptorship and frankly, your continual reference to them is tiresome and makes you appear insecure - or even condescending.

I understand that you were a super suturer and a fabulous intubator as a military corpsman or paramedic but those skills are beyond the scope of what we're licensed for here so please spare me the continuing commentary and instead focus on what we're doing *here*.

Thank you.

Signed,

Your Preceptor

OMG! Nurses are mean! Not every person is the same. Do not volunteer to be a preceptor if you don't have patience to handle different personalities. The first nursing experience either makes or breaks a nurse.Have you ever considered that this student's attitude may come out because this student is trying to cover up the insecurities? I will never forget my first preceptor who had done everything possible to break me down and made me to look bad instead of being understanding and make the transition easier for me. It cost me a job and may be the nursing career.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I had the same experience, MsPontiac. How much I learn is entirely dependent on my instructor and site. I'm about to go into my last semester. I've put in a foley once, and I've never started an IV. I think I've hung IV medication twice. I assist my patients with their ADLs, take vitals, and sometimes pass meds with my clinical instructor. I have fewer practical hands-on skills than the PCA on my floor. She can draw blood and perform dressing changes, and I don't know the first thing about drawing blood, I do know a lot about dressing changes but I've never had the opportunity to help with one or perform one myself. I do my own thorough head-to-toe assessment with every patient though, just to keep those skills fresh.

I research a lot on my own and read my textbook from nursing fundamentals so that when the time comes I might have an idea how to do these things.

My preceptor this spring is going to think I'm a complete idiot. I'll just have to deal I guess!

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
So, do you believe a student is SUPPOSED to know how to insert an IV out of nursing school? Because if that's the case, the law is being broken. Only an RN, not a student is allowed to start an IV. (And remember, you're not a nurse until you pass the NCLEX). You could be a graduate of a nursing program, but not an RN. So if you expect said student to start an IV right away, the law was broken somewhere.

And if you're volunteered as a preceptor, you could always JUST SAY NO.

I call 'em as I see 'em, too.

We start IV's here and it's not against the law. Here preceptors for the senior practicum get a dollar more an hour and choose, Co-nurses that can do any semester don't get any compensation and often don't get a choice.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

So to you who've judged me as mean, etc, did you actually *read* my complaint?

I did not lament the student's lack of skill or preparation. Rather, I criticized the student's self-aggrandizement in continual speaking of all the advanced practice activities which they did prior to nursing school - none of which are within the scope of the license for which they're a candidate. How you go from that to the statements that you've made is beyond me.

The really ironic part is that most of the students love me - precisely because I go out of my way to seek out opportunities for them to practice their skills... even at times when I'd prefer to practice them myself.

To those of you who understand what I'm saying... thank you.

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It is very true that nurses eat their young, dear Preceptor. Have you ever been a new grad yourself?

? She was actually very polite about what is expected. No where was the OP being mean and btw she was never a new grad....

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

While I don't agree with some who are calling you mean and nasty, you did come into the student forum and talk about a self-aggrandizing, insecure student. I would expect reactions to be mixed, wouldn't you?

The same would happen to any student who waded into the nursing forum and complained about a particular nurse.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
While I don't agree with some who are calling you mean and nasty, you did come into the student forum and talk about a self-aggrandizing, insecure student. I would expect reactions to be mixed, wouldn't you?
Not really, no.

I suppose I should have, though, since there are sure to be some folks just like that student reading this thread.

This student that I have in mind is rubbing the entire staff the wrong way and is actually applying for a position with us... and is planning to use their preceptor as a reference - which ensures that they have no chance at being hired. A couple of the other students are planning to apply... and will get glowing references from the staff.

There is a lesson to be learned in what I've related...

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According to you a student who is rubbing the entire staff wrong doesnt deserve a chance to be a nurse?! What about a patient who is rubbing the entire staff wrong? He/she doesn't deserve to be your patient? A lot of nurses don't want to admit that no matter how much new grads or students try to do their best the preceptors hate those who are not catching on right away. The point is years ago when these preceptors did't have the experience and didn't have the skills they have today how did they feel? In any case, the preceptor is a teacher and a good teacher knows how to turn any student to a good nurse. With patience and building confidence in this student the skills and everything that is needed would come along. And if you don't have patience than don't take a job.

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Specializes in IMCU.
OP, I am so glad to hear that it is not only the students who are annoyed by a classmate who is constantly bragging about their random skills from other jobs (You've worked as a CNA for five years? Whoo hoo! Good for you, but that doesn't mean you know how to put in an IV. Now stop stabbing that poor patient and move out of my way.). Interrupting class and correcting instructors incessantly--whether it's because you just want them to think you're smart, or you're nervous, or you're just a jerk--is incredibly irritating to everyone.

You must have been in my class.

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People get irritated to easily.This is why nursing is so difficult. Nurses compete with each other in professional and personal life. Why can't we just respect each other and try to understand each other?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
In any case, the preceptor is a teacher and a good teacher knows how to turn any student to a good nurse. With patience and building confidence in this student the skills and everything that is needed would come along. And if you don't have patience than don't take a job.

Um, really? So the nurse, who is employed by a hospital, not a nursing school, is responsible for turning each student into a good nurse? What about the instructors, who do work for the school? What about the student him/herself, who needs to be prepared for clinicals? When I was in nursing school (about 5-6 years ago), I never had the same preceptor twice for clinicals. It isn't possible for someone to have that kind of effect in 8hrs (or less, since many schools leave before shift change for post-conference). The schools that these students pay good money to have the obligation to teach students skills, which should be reinforced by an adequate orientation by the hospital that hires them. And just like every person is not cut out to be a nurse, not every person is cut out to be a preceptor. It's part of the reason I went to evening shifts- all orientation takes place on day shift, and I felt like precepting an orientee took twice as much energy to get through the day.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
According to you a student who is rubbing the entire staff wrong doesnt deserve a chance to be a nurse?!
Please show me where I wrote that.

No, they do deserve a chance to be a nurse. They just aren't the kind of person that any of us would want to work with and hence, likely a word to HR to pass on that one. There are a couple of the other students who we'd be happy to have.

What about a patient who is rubbing the entire staff wrong? He/she doesn't deserve to be your patient?
This is a nonsequitir and has nothing to do with the topic.
A lot of nurses don't want to admit that no matter how much new grads or students try to do their best the preceptors hate those who are not catching on right away.
I'm sure that's sometimes the case... not in this instance, however.
In any case, the preceptor is a teacher and a good teacher knows how to turn any student to a good nurse. With patience and building confidence in this student the skills and everything that is needed would come along.
No, not every student. Some people have bad attitudes and do not care to learn to do things the way that they are done. Others are simply not suited, either by temperament, attitude, or aptitude.
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