I am questioning if I am nursing material- I resigned from one nursing orientation because the preceptor
was just pointing out criticisms and no other preceptor was available- I got a job at a 2nd hospital who had presented a very good new grad trainsition philosphy- there I ended up with a preceptor who was similarly
focused on criticisms. Details: I was hired as a new grad. (I had some prior orientation experience) This hospital has computerized charting. I was finding that i was taking too long to chart, etc and was constantly behind schedule. My preceptor's critical manner made me nervous. Her solution was to give me space and just hang at the nurses station and check up on the status of things by checking to see if my assessments and interventions were charted and timely. She never checked the content of my charting just that it had been completed or not. I had a review at week 5 and received suggestion from manager to improve efficiency. This seemed to help but not always- some days you are just called aside. Anyway , wk 8 review discussed errors I had made. Plan of action was offered for 1 shift. then I was fired- organization and pt safety issues. I believe the reason for the errors were due to a poor preceptor who did not stick to me and provide positive encouragement and corrections in an encouraging way. Now I am stuck with 2 failures My issue: Its been 7 months since i passed the NCLEX and Ive "failed "at two jobs. Question: Can I just not cut it? Will anyone hire me after this? How does one know if someone is not nurse material?
I don't know NuBee, I always felt like my preceptors were doing me a favor by showing me the ropes. I hate hate hate being a preceptor, the few times I have, it was very stressful, always trying to figure out what the newbie knows or does'nt know. Some even get ****** off like your talking down to them if you offer advice.
I can't honestly say I ever learned a whole lot on orientation, I agree with the other poster also who said you kinda need to pick it up after orientation, asking another nurse a quick question always got me better results than trying to memorize everything in orientation. Also its a good ice breaker to meet the other nurses.
what to require from a preceptor as well as how to get what I need. Thanks again!!
Is English your second language? Communication seems a bit fuzzy. I'm not comfortable that knowing what to "require from a preceptor" is going to help you get or keep a job. I definitely wouldn't give up on nursing but I'm not sure that you are really getting how to benefit from those past experiences. It still sounds like you are blaming them for your deficiencies. Personally I'd doubt you got two horrible preceptors. I know not everyone is a good fit but the preceptors I know enjoy what they do and are good at orienting new nurses. Good luck in finding your niche.
I would take my cue and decide that hospital nursing was probably not my thing. Then I would also probably thank the heavens that you were spared being a hospital nurse. (kidding, sort of)
Go look elsewhere -school nursing, correctional nursing, camp nursing.
Thank you all- great advise- I certainly have learned a great deal- what to require from a preceptor as well as how to get what I need. Thanks again!!
I have to say this comment makes me not have to wonder at all why you were fired....... when your doing orientation your there to learn and meet their expectations not the other way around. I hate being told im doing something wrong but ....................that is their job to correct you and there won't always be time for spirit fingers and cheers during that correction. THe fact the second preceptor starting sitting far way after first 'being to critical" makes me wonder if you complained to others or mgt about her/him? Like i said Nobody LIKES being told all the things they are doing wrong but if you accept it with a open, grateful and positive attitude most preceptors are going to become your biggest supporter and alli when those mistakes do happen. best of luck to you.
I'm not comfortable that knowing what to "require from a preceptor" is going to help you get or keep a job. I definitely wouldn't give up on nursing but I'm not comfortable that you are really getting how to benefit from those past experiences. It still sounds like you are blaming them for your deficiencies. Personally I'd doubt you got two horrible preceptors. I know not everyone is a good fit but the preceptors I know enjoy what they do and are good at orientating new nurses. Good luck in finding your niche.
Yeah, if I was your preceptor, I'd be a bit annoyed that you were "requiring" something of me. I'm all for good orientations. But you have to take responsibility for your own learning. Don't "expect" to be spoon fed information, don't expect to be coddled, don't expect warm fuzzy encouragement. If you get it, great. But the purpose of orientation is to get you ready to be out on your own in a time efficient manner. And you won't be getting that on a daily basis when you're on your own. You need to know what you know and what you don't know. Watch, learn, do, ask questions. Work your behind off and learn to think for yourself and find what you need to know.
Many orientees fail or leave jobs within the first year, esp if they ar enew grads. All the research shows that newbees tend to expect too much of themselves, and the staff nurses also expect them to assimilate very quickly. It is hard to go from a pt assignment with an instructor there to resource you, to an assignment with pretty much all the responsibility. Add on some anxiety about pleasing the preceptor, and viola! Prime situation for failure. Statisically, most new grads do better after about 1 year out-probably because they have been thru several orientations and finally have built up some confidence and experience! Try again-and take it slower.
something about your message reminded me of a student who complained about the preceptors - no matter who they were. She was way too dependent upon the preceptor. Please evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses so you will know how to benefit from these experiences. Sorry you are discouraged but I believe you will find your niche and be glad for the experience.
Specializes in LTC, Wounds, Med/Surg, Tele, Triage.
maybe either of these nurses could not orient you well or precept you with good nursing skills because they may not have had any skills! Don't give up and good luck.
Is English your second language? Communication seems a bit fuzzy. I'm not comfortable that knowing what to "require from a preceptor" is going to help you get or keep a job. I definitely wouldn't give up on nursing but I'm not sure that you are really getting how to benefit from those past experiences. It still sounds like you are blaming them for your deficiencies. Personally I'd doubt you got two horrible preceptors. I know not everyone is a good fit but the preceptors I know enjoy what they do and are good at orienting new nurses. Good luck in finding your niche.
I got the same impression after reading that post.
I guess I'm left wondering what your expectations are from a preceptor? I precept fairly often. I'm definitely not a hoverer, because I personally don't like to be hovered over. But that doesn't mean I'm not available. And I gotta be honest, I've never found room for "criticism" toward anyone I've precepted. I've corrected, and I've taught, but I've not criticized. To me that implies a certain personalization to an interaction that should really be a learning experience. I'm wondering what your preceptors said to you that made you feel that way. I'm not trying to make you feel any worse, I just think that you might want to examine the role you played in your interactions with them.
I am in the same boat sister!! The same thing has happened to me. In nursing school we sometimes hear the saying," Put on your big girl panties." I hate that saying!! Does that mean you should just suck it up and deal with a bad preceptor? No you should not! These feelings of criticism and nervousness only weakens your confidience and you begin to question your own abilities. You have to know within that you are nurse material and get your confidence by accomplishing your own goals. If you try to get your confidence from other people it will be a constant up and down!! I am currently in correspondence with the president of human resources to get my job back but on another floor. I worked this hard to get here and I am going to get what I worked for. As will you. If you believe you are nurse material then you are nurse material.
I wouldn't look back. Floor nursing is the pits and makes one rethink the entire idea of nursing being abused labor instead of a profession. On top of it all, its unhealthy! Years down the road the ideal nurse will mutate into camel humped backs for self hydration, hyper-enlarged bladders, thick skin from abuse, wings for flying from one room to another, etc. Consider other areas of nursing.
Damn that is harsh! But i agree. I am leaving after my year mark
RNKITTY04
353 Posts
NuBee2,
I don't know NuBee, I always felt like my preceptors were doing me a favor by showing me the ropes. I hate hate hate being a preceptor, the few times I have, it was very stressful, always trying to figure out what the newbie knows or does'nt know. Some even get ****** off like your talking down to them if you offer advice.
I can't honestly say I ever learned a whole lot on orientation, I agree with the other poster also who said you kinda need to pick it up after orientation, asking another nurse a quick question always got me better results than trying to memorize everything in orientation. Also its a good ice breaker to meet the other nurses.
JMHO