Final preceptorship! Need advice on where to do it.

[loveoutloud]

In a few weeks, my request form is due for where I do my final preceptorship. So far in nursing school, I have loved everything (but L&D). I am interested in surgery, OR, peds, community health and LTC!

I would really like to work in community health as I am really passionate about illness prevention. I can request this for my practicum, however, it is very difficult to get a job in this area where I live, especially when you are newly graduated.

I think that at this point, I should seek a placement that will assist me in gaining employment out of school as well as a solid background in nursing. For that reason, I am learning towards surgery.

Do you think that general surgery would be more beneficial than a specialty ward (like cardiac, neuro, ortho or trauma?)

What is your advice about final preceptorship placements?

Thanks so much for your help:)

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

You know what, I don't think it makes a lot of difference in your employment, although some folks will give you anecdotal evidence to the contrary (remember: anecdote is not the singular of data).

Besides, your program probably has you put in for a couple of choices, and then they place you depending on whatever criteria they have about student achievement or personality, position availability in the local facilities, their contracting requirements with the school, and a whole lot of stuff out of your control.

Therefore, I think any medical or surgical or med/surg setting will give you a good generalist background, and, more importantly, the experience of being socialized into the life of a working floor. You'll learn time management skills you can use anywhere, and assessment skills you can use anywhere, too.

Request public health first if you really want it, though, and if you get it, make it really clear to the agency that you really, really want to pursue PH as a graduate, because a lot of students don't. Do a lot of homework on what PH is in general, know some particular programs this agency shines at, and so forth. Bond with them. Even if they have no job available right after you graduate, stay in touch, volunteer for them, drop by the office every coupla weeks to say hi.

Stop by the AN PH forum to ask for more ideas!