Frustrated preceptor

Wow I have precepted some questionable GN's but this one sounds dangerous. I would talk to your manager and the nurse educator about her mainly her lack of ethical behavior. She really needs to be knocked down a peg. I would also keep a log of each incident so you have them right in front of you when she is confronted. SHe sounds like a person that is covering up her lack of confidence by lying and acting like she knows what she is doing because she does not want to be wrong. Good luck with this and keep us updated on what happens!

I have enjoyed precepting new grads also and usually they're great. In my experience the first clue that things may not work out is the that fact that you feel frustrated. Seriously, lying about what she did or didn't do---how can you trust her now? I agree you should notify your manager and educator and keep a record of each incident. They'll probably need it.

Set up a conference with the department head and go over weighty issues. Perhaps you and your boss can set up some goals (safety goals!) and if she can complete the goals without stumbling (occasional stumbling ok) she gets the job. And definitely NO LYING, especially when it involves the safety of the patient. Good luck and yes, you are definitely not losing your mind! She aught to have a concrete understanding of what is expected of her pronto. A reality check.

Sometimes it takes a superior to knock sense into an underling IMHO.

Holy crap - something just doesn't sound right there. She sounds like the kind of nurse who would kill someone, and I don't say that lightly. I'd be frustrated as well... and more than a little worried!

She went to give pain meds for another nurse and for some reason reset the one of the patient's drips to a completely different rate. Fortunately, the primary nurse caught the error within a few minutes, and there was no negative outcome. When confronted about it, she swore that the nurse told her to change the rate of the drip, when all she told her to do was give some morphine.

I doesn't make any sense to me why one would change the drip if she wasn't told to do that. Accidentally or on purpose, who would play with a drip? Too dangerous, especially when she is only 4 weeks in training and it is her fate at stake. I don't think that she is THAT stupid.

Are you sure she even attended nursing school?? Does she seem like she is under the influence of something? Very unusual situation! Jan

I wouldn't want somebody with that type of attitude caring for anyone, You need to take her to the side and talk to her and if that doesn't work then go to your supervisor...plain and simple.

Whoa....scary! A couple things come to mind. One is to document skills she claims she doesn't have(as you mentioned bed baths, bedside commodes), and document the errors she has made(changing drip rates, lying about giving meds and who knows what else!). Two, talk with the educator and manager about the issues(hopefully they are supportive). Three, sounds like she needs to "go back to the beginning", meaning follow her every move. And fourth, give her a good "dressing down".

This last one comes from my own experience. I was a new nurse in ICU. I was so afraid of being seen as ignorant that I would say I knew about a disease or med when I didn't know enough. My regular preceptor never said anything. But one day, I had an alternate preceptor and she saw through me quick. She pulled me aside privately and laid into me. Not meanly, but bluntly. Told me that if I didn't know, I need to ask questions, ask for help, research, etc. And told me that if I continued the way I was going I would fail. At the time I was mortified and angry, but in hindsight, best thing that ever happened to me. I still remember and utilize this after almost 20 years

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As for the first three, I encountered these issues with a nurse I was precepting. Others had given up on this person and this orientee was passed to me because I had the reputation of being patient. And mostly, I like precepting. So I took on the challenge. It was evident right away that this person wasn't getting it. I tried and tried and when this person's orientation period was about to end, I talked to the educator and manager. I relayed my concerns. Somehow(whether they or others told this person) the orientee got wind of my concerns and(rather pissy about it, I did understand, maybe another preceptor could get this person up to speed) changed preceptors and got cleared. Independently, this person made many errors and after just a few months was fired. I thought maybe this orientee could have been a great nurse(had great drive and enthusiasm) just needed more education and mentoring. Sadly, didn't happen. If I had support from the manager and educator, maybe it could have been realized. That is why I questioned if you had support from these departments.

Hope it all works out. Looking above, I seem to be long winded!!

Whoa....scary! A couple things come to mind. One is to document skills she claims she doesn't have(as you mentioned bed baths, bedside commodes), and document the errors she has made(changing drip rates, lying about giving meds and who knows what else!). Two, talk with the educator and manager about the issues(hopefully they are supportive). Three, sounds like she needs to "go back to the beginning", meaning follow her every move. And fourth, give her a good "dressing down".

After precepting several times...i think this is the most solid advice. document your concerns and back it up with the incidents, address it with the coordinator/supervisor, develop a plan (hopefully this includes assessing the NG learning needs) and f/u with the NG. Think the above poster really hit the issues on the head :)

This sounds like a very scary situation, especially on an oncology floor. What if she hangs the wrong chemo on someone, doesn't premedicate them correctly, or sets the wrong rate?? It's already scary to think of someone like that working on a general med-surg floor, but even more so on a floor where you are handling such dangerous substances like chemo. I agree with everyone else, document everything and go to the higher ups. She doesn't sound safe at all.