Hi all! I've been a nurse on a stepdown unit for four years, and have been a preceptor the last two. I've had a few experienced nurses and several GNs.
I don't know if it's that I've been "spoiled" with well performing previous GNs or if it is something else, like a communication issue, confidence problem or lack of education. I am four weeks in with my current GN, and instead of focusing on time management, order entry, preparing a good report, interdisciplinary communication, etc., I feel that I am spending an extraordinary amount of time on Nursing 101 basics.
I understand, fresh out of school you're going to be nervous. I'm sure not everyone is perfectly at ease with tasks the first time they do them, such as managing PEG tubes, or monitoring heparin drips, etc. That is why I am here! But I would expect that a GN could at least be able to explain the reasoning for checking residual or verifying placement of the PEG, or why our patient with multiple DVTs is on said heparin drip? A GN should be able to perform a head to toe assessment and be more concerned that it is complete, and less concerned that it gets charted early in the day. I mean, to the point that when we take time out to chart, it's questions like "what did his breath sounds sound like, did you hear a murmer, did he have pedal edema?" After I've stood at the bedside with her and assessed the patient, side by side. Is she going through the motions? Should I request extra time precepting? Suggest time in the skills lab or with the Nurse Educator? Or is this normal and I've worked with better prepared GNs? I'm afraid to let her loose in a few weeks, what do I do?
Hi all! I've been a nurse on a stepdown unit for four years, and have been a preceptor the last two. I've had a few experienced nurses and several GNs.
I don't know if it's that I've been "spoiled" with well performing previous GNs or if it is something else, like a communication issue, confidence problem or lack of education. I am four weeks in with my current GN, and instead of focusing on time management, order entry, preparing a good report, interdisciplinary communication, etc., I feel that I am spending an extraordinary amount of time on Nursing 101 basics.
I understand, fresh out of school you're going to be nervous. I'm sure not everyone is perfectly at ease with tasks the first time they do them, such as managing PEG tubes, or monitoring heparin drips, etc. That is why I am here! But I would expect that a GN could at least be able to explain the reasoning for checking residual or verifying placement of the PEG, or why our patient with multiple DVTs is on said heparin drip? A GN should be able to perform a head to toe assessment and be more concerned that it is complete, and less concerned that it gets charted early in the day. I mean, to the point that when we take time out to chart, it's questions like "what did his breath sounds sound like, did you hear a murmer, did he have pedal edema?" After I've stood at the bedside with her and assessed the patient, side by side. Is she going through the motions? Should I request extra time precepting? Suggest time in the skills lab or with the Nurse Educator? Or is this normal and I've worked with better prepared GNs? I'm afraid to let her loose in a few weeks, what do I do?