Bad preceptorship assignment

litchi · Feb 14, 2012

I know you're upset and venting, but come on.. why did you put behavioral health down as a choice if you absolutely did not want it? You obviously had to have SOME interest in it. You might even realize that you like it more than you thought, or you might not. Either way, you've got to make the best of the situation you've been given. The reality is, when you graduate, the same thing might happen. Even if you do get the placement you want, you still might not be offered a job in your #1 spot. You might have to take something you don't really want just to get your foot in the door.

It won't hurt to try to find a different spot, but you've absolutely got to keep your attitude in check. You're not going to get anywhere if you act like an entitled brat towards the people who can help you. At my school, if we finish early, we're given the opportunity to precept in another area. Maybe your instructor will let you do something similar if they're unable to find you a more appealing spot.

Just keep in mind -- your attitude is what's going to make or break you. It might not be your 1st choice, but that doesn't mean that you won't have something to contribute or to learn. This is your chance to show people that you're going to be a valuable part of the team. Stay positive and always put your best foot forward! You CAN do this.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 14, 2012

i know i wouldn't have put down behavioral health except as a last option, but that's my failing, not yours. you can absolutely learn a lot there that will be helpful to you throughout your career. or did you think that folks with mental health issues never get old, have heart attacks, deliver babies or break their legs? you will learn tips and tricks for communicating with the mentally ill and get a head start on all those psych meds i have to look up every single time i need to give one.

and litchi is right -- your attitude will make or break you. go in with a great attitude and an open mind, and you'll be surprised at how much you learn. you may even make some contacts that will be valuable to you when looking for a job after graduation. one of my icu colleagues works part time in mental health and has referred a couple of new grads our way.

tajlemm6 · Feb 14, 2012

I am sorry you think I am acting like an entitled brat. You have no clue how far from the truth that could be. I am married with four children and have balanced a lot to make this happen and be at the top of my class.

We have been given crap clinical assignments for the last two years. To the degree that I have spent 16 hours of "clinical" time serving salads at a half-way house. There have been multiple problems with this program and I have quietly sat through them all, unlike some of the younger "entitled brats" who have complained to the dean about everything.

I worked hard for something that I was promised and it was given to other students. Behavioral health was a last choice at the suggestion of my advisor because that is her thing, with the understanding that a spot in gen med wouldn't be a problem for me to get considering my academic standing.

Other than working on communication skills, which I have done to no end with all the time we have spent in crap assignments, I will not use any nursing skills. I will not even be aloud to pass meds there (which I was not made aware of until after the fact).

So my question was not if I am an entitled brat- it was if it would be worth asking for help to find a spot in a smaller critical access hospital where I would maybe walk away with some experience?

I am ****** and defensive and not above saying so right now. I have not given attitude to anyone-I haven't even talked to anyone about this yet. Nor would I ever be disrespectful or put on anything other than a smiling face. The bottom line is that I was skrewed because she took the easy way out and I was one less person to help find their top spot. And she knew it.

For two years they have been telling us to stick with it, it will all pay off when you do your preceptorship. For me it will not pay off.

tajlemm6 · Feb 14, 2012

It was my LAST option, which I was promised they would work hard to get me my first or second at least. And they cheated me out of those choices to take the easy way out of getting everyone placement.

Yes it sounds bad, but I worked hard for all of those A's and there was no consideration to ranking when these placements were given out. Others were offered options if they couldn't have their first or second choice and she never did that for me. And if she couldn't help them, they were given a close second to those choices.

Because I am older and don't have the ability to relocate, this will be a very important part of finding employment. I won't even be on the main hospital campus. And who will an employer chose- someone will no clinical experience, probably not.

mazy · Feb 14, 2012

Life isn't fair. We don't always get what we want. Sometimes it doesn't make sense.

Anyone who has ever had to deal with the horror of being seriously, possibly terminally ill, can attest to that. Those people will be your patients or the families of your patients.

So now you have a little bit of experience about how that feels.

My suggestion is that you shake yourself off, put your best foot forward, and move on to accept this with a positive attitude in order to get the most from the experience.

At this moment you are putting way too much worry into how this will affect your future. The present is what matters here.

You cannot know what will happen in your future, other than that you attitude will have a huge impact on how it plays out.

tajlemm6 · Feb 14, 2012

I know all about life not being fair! My youngest daughter is one of those seriously ill patients that could be taken from us at any time. The future is beyond importnant to me. Without a future I will not be able to contintue to have care for her or our other children. My family depends on the job I get for our survival- and that is why I put so much effort into being the best in my class. I can enjoy the present all I want but it will not pay the hospital bills, doctors bills, prescription bill and all the other bills!

This was my attempt to get out all my frustration and talk through moving forward. It was in no way a reflection of any attitude I will take moving forward. It was only an attempt to see if I should persue another alternative to gain more clinical experience.

rn/writer, RN · Feb 14, 2012

What other alternatives are available to you? Do you have the option to find another clinical site on your own? Is there any way you can do an abbreviated clinical at the site they gave you and then pursue another direction.

From the outside looking in, it sounds as if the powers that be may have taken the easy road with your clinical choice, considering what was best for them and not necessarily thinking about what you needed. If you believe that they acted, not with malice, but with a certain amount of laziness, that tells you that you will probably have to do most of the legwork if you want a better opportunity.

I would suggest finding out where alumni did clinicals and choosing something from those locations that appeals to you. If the facility is already familiar with your school, that may eliminate some of the messy groundwork it takes to establish a connection.

As far as the entitlement issue goes, people who are spoiled and people who are a little fearful because they have a lot riding on their situation can look similar. Keep that idea in mind when your emotions start to boil over. YOU know what's behind your words and your actions, but others may not and they also may not take the time to dig deeper.

One last thing. If you are a praying/believing person, this is a good time to express your thoughts, wishes and desires, and then cultivate an attitude of trust and gratitude, even as you seek to work out an alternative. This can siphon off some of the desperation and clear your head for the kind of creativity it's going to take to make something positive out of your circumstances.

I hope you can find a peaceful and satisfying resolution.

tajlemm6 · Feb 14, 2012

I am fairly posititve that this was any eas way out for her. She know's that I will not complain and that I am stuck because of my age and family. I have asked for an explanation of how spots were assigned and for the opportunity to meet with her and possible find an alternative assignment.

If the hospital cannot accomodate me at this point I may have the option of one of the smaller rural critical access hospitals in the area. I am curious if that would be better experience and a better look for my resume than behavioral health. I can only speculate based on what I would look for as an employer though, so I am not sure!

Hopefully she will be willing to give me her honest opinion and work with me.

I do need to devote some time in prayer at this point, you are right.

Thank you.

litchi · Feb 15, 2012

I can only comment on the way that you've presented things and being entitled is the way you've come across. You were given your third choice, which is still one of your top 3. I can see where being given your #3 might be a little disappointing, but I don't think anyone would normally expect that being given your #3 would be so horrible. From the perspective of the person trying to juggle a whole cohort of students, getting in your top 3 is probably a success. I'm sorry you don't seem to think so and instead think it was her just being lazy. If you didn't want something you shouldn't have listed it, especially if you've encountered multiple problems with your program already. What's done is done though and you've got to deal with the hand you've been dealt.

In my first response, I did say that it would be worth trying for something different.. but not if you're going to say things like, "Do I have a choice?" and just walk away when you don't like the outcome. That type of behavior is what I was alluding to before. If you're going to turn this situation around, you're going to have to set all your feelings aside because even minor slips can work against you.

To directly answer your question -- yes, it will definitely be worth asking for a different placement if that's what you want. If you can't get something else immediately, ask if you can precept in another area once you've completed all your hours in behavioral health. If you do end up being stuck in behavioral health, keep an open mind and network like Ruby Vee suggested. You never know what life has in store for you!

Just as a side note, I've heard that behavioral health is actually a pretty good prospect for new grads. If your major concern is just to get a job, it might not really be that bad of a place for you to be precepting in.

rntim49 · Feb 15, 2012

I am sorry you think I am acting like an entitled brat. You have no clue how far from the truth that could be. I am married with four children and have balanced a lot to make this happen and be at the top of my class.
We have been given crap clinical assignments for the last two years. To the degree that I have spent 16 hours of "clinical" time serving salads at a half-way house. There have been multiple problems with this program and I have quietly sat through them all, unlike some of the younger "entitled brats" who have complained to the dean about everything.
I worked hard for something that I was promised and it was given to other students. Behavioral health was a last choice at the suggestion of my advisor because that is her thing, with the understanding that a spot in gen med wouldn't be a problem for me to get considering my academic standing.
Other than working on communication skills, which I have done to no end with all the time we have spent in crap assignments, I will not use any nursing skills. I will not even be aloud to pass meds there (which I was not made aware of until after the fact).
So my question was not if I am an entitled brat- it was if it would be worth asking for help to find a spot in a smaller critical access hospital where I would maybe walk away with some experience?
I am ****** and defensive and not above saying so right now. I have not given attitude to anyone-I haven't even talked to anyone about this yet. Nor would I ever be disrespectful or put on anything other than a smiling face. The bottom line is that I was skrewed because she took the easy way out and I was one less person to help find their top spot. And she knew it.
For two years they have been telling us to stick with it, it will all pay off when you do your preceptorship. For me it will not pay off.

Entitlement would be a better description. get over it, life is full of let downs and stop blaming everyone else. Drama seems to go hand in hand when students enter the real world.

TeleNurse2010 · Feb 15, 2012

Where you do your preceptorship is not always a determining factor as to where you will work during your first job as a RN. What is important is to land a job after graduating, whether it is in behavioral health or some other area or nursing. After you gain a year or two of experience, you can go anywhere. I know plenty of nurses who have worked in psych and moved on to other areas such as telemetry, ICU, etc. If your instructors are unable to find an alternative assignment for you, then do the behavioral health assignment, learn as much as you can, make good contacts, and maybe in your spare time you can ask to shadow nurses in the units that you do want to work in. That way, you will fulfill your school requirements as well as your own desires. It is very important to make good contacts at this point in your education, and an assignment in psych is not the end of the road by any means for your nursing career. It is just a stepping stone. Good luck.