Being a preceptor means you can sit all day???

[newnurseheadache]

Hi-

Thanks in advance for reading and responding!

I am a new grad doing orientation on a stepdown unit. Her is an example of a typical day: On my 4th clinical day I was given 3 of my preceptors patients and she took the one patient that was being discharged home. She discharged her patient by 12pm and the rest of the time sat around at the N.station chatting, eating and talking to her BF on the phone. Every time i need help or have a question it takes me atleast 20 minutes to find her and when I do she gives me a look like "youre stupid" and it takes her atleast 25 minutes to come help.

I am not learning anything new. She doesnt observe anything I do so maybe I'm doing things wrong but will never know. Im running around like crazy all day and cant take it anymore.

Before I go to my manger- can you please tell me what I SHOULD be expecting from a preceptor at this point in orientation?? I CANT take another 6 weeks of this.

Thank you.

[Diahni]

Hi-

Thanks in advance for reading and responding!

I am a new grad doing orientation on a stepdown unit. Her is an example of a typical day: On my 4th clinical day I was given 3 of my preceptors patients and she took the one patient that was being discharged home. She discharged her patient by 12pm and the rest of the time sat around at the N.station chatting, eating and talking to her BF on the phone. Every time i need help or have a question it takes me atleast 20 minutes to find her and when I do she gives me a look like "youre stupid" and it takes her atleast 25 minutes to come help.

I am not learning anything new. She doesnt observe anything I do so maybe I'm doing things wrong but will never know. Im running around like crazy all day and cant take it anymore.

Before I go to my manger- can you please tell me what I SHOULD be expecting from a preceptor at this point in orientation?? I CANT take another 6 weeks of this.

Thank you.

How frustrating! And six weeks of it? I don't know the specifics of your situation, but it sounds like you are more than ready to be "unprecepted" immediately. Could you talk to the manager and say as much? You could probably say it in such as way as to convey, "I can handle this myself now," without getting too much into how worthless your current situation is, or the reasons it is frustrating for you. I am about to start training, and when I asked how long the period would be, the manager told me it depended on when I felt ready to work by myself. If the preceptor is so unhelpful, you could probably get help when you needed it from others without be tied to this person. Sounds to me like you're being taken advantage of right now - no reason in the world to be afraid to talk about it - just spend some time beforehand thinking of how you want to say it. Focus on the positive, and maybe the manager will figure it out and help you get out of a bad situation.

Diahni

[Diahni]

Sasha:

Sounds like you are a natural teacher - offering advice, yet also giving people some room to breathe. Wish all preceptors were like that!

Diahni

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

When i precept i usually like others have them walk the day with me the first couple days. I will have them take 1-2 patients and do assessments, give meds(with me of course), check labs, orders, make rounds on those patients with doctors say day 3-4. I make sure i introduce the orientee to the doctors as we make rounds so they know its not just a shadow for the day or something. I will let them make calls on the patients they have been caring for etc. I let them do total care for those 1-2,, then in a week or so when i know they are getting comfortable i give them a couple more. I have them take report on surgicals, new admits, do admissions and all the paperwork that goes with it. I think by the time they are done with me they have a pretty good concept of the daily routines and are usually ready to take the full team and give report to the rest of the team. By that time they are off with someone else on another unit for a couple days.

Havent had anyone complain as of yet. but no i dont sit all day. I am usually followingup making sure things are getting done and not being overlooked. As well as taking care of my own patients.

I will NOT hang over a orientee though. That does nothing but make them nervous and the patients cant have confidence in their care if someone is hanging off their coat tail.