Anyone work for a Western PA facility that could provide preceptorship?

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · May 3, 2005

OMG...if I was working more I would love to! What part of Western PA? In the Pittsburgh area you could try..Grane, Manorcare, Extendicare homes. I will ask at work. Would you be interested in working after graduating at one of these places?

Try posting in the PA boards, someone else might know of a place.

StudentNurseMM · May 3, 2005

I'm in New Castle, which is only an hour from Pittsburgh.

I have like 14 or 15 weeks to do the 216 hours. That only works out to be 2-3 days a week. However, most facilities are telling me "no" for the simple fact that they say most of their RN's are too busy and don't want bothered with a student to mentor. Or they say "no" due to liability. However, I come with Liability Insurance from my nursing school just like any other student nurse. And that is just the DON's who will give me the time of day on the phone. I mostly just get told that they are too busy and I can't even send them information regarding my program and preceptorship because they don't have time to read it. Or I get their voice mail and none of those DON's ever even return my phone call :crying2:

This is how I feel: rock me hard place :chuckle

Any help will be appreciated!

Thanks,

Marci

OMG...if I was working more I would love to! What part of Western PA? In the Pittsburgh area you could try..Grane, Manorcare, Extendicare homes. I will ask at work. Would you be interested in working after graduating at one of these places?
Try posting in the PA boards, someone else might know of a place.

donmomofnine · May 4, 2005

That's too bad! I had two students from DCN at our facility and they were great! They both work here now! It was painless! OUr facility welcomes trainees of all kinds, votech, community college etc. Why don't you check where the local votech and comm colleges do their LTC clinicals and check out those facilities ~ maybe they are more "open" to students! Good luck!

CapeCodMermaid, RN · May 4, 2005

I have been on the phone all day with long term care facilities in the Western PA area and have yet to find one willing to allow me to do 216 hours under an RN preceptor next spring (2006) for my practical nursing program.
I'm taking the Deaconess College of Nursing web based program so I can get my PN license. I have already secured all other contracts for clinical time (OB/PEDs) etc. However, I didn't think it would be this difficult to find a long term care facility. Although I don't need this contract until next January, I have to get them secured now.
If any of you live in the Western PA area and know that your facility has preceptored students before, please let me know. Or if you have any other ideas for me, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Marci
PS. I have already been turned down by hospitals all over Western PA, so those won't work.

A web based nursing program??? Never heard of such a thing.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 4, 2005

Look to see if you have a KINDRED longterm care hospital in your area; often they rent a floor in larger hospial.

Sorry, no connections. Know one of the Philly area DCN students left program as also having problems securing clinical sites.

Good Luck in your hunt.

mona b RN, BSN, RN · May 5, 2005

I'm in New Castle, which is only an hour from Pittsburgh.
I have like 14 or 15 weeks to do the 216 hours. That only works out to be 2-3 days a week. However, most facilities are telling me "no" for the simple fact that they say most of their RN's are too busy and don't want bothered with a student to mentor. Or they say "no" due to liability. However, I come with liability insurance from my nursing school just like any other student nurse. And that is just the DON's who will give me the time of day on the phone. I mostly just get told that they are too busy and I can't even send them information regarding my program and preceptorship because they don't have time to read it. Or I get their voice mail and none of those DON's ever even return my phone call
This is how I feel: rock me hard place :chuckle
Any help will be appreciated!
Thanks,
Marci

Hi Marci,

Welcome to the DCN conondrum. Sorry to hear that you are not having an easy time finding a site for m/s. Have you called surgical centers, clinics, etc? This can certainly be the most difficult aspect of this program. Did you try sending various hospitals a letter of introduction and information about the program? I would also call human resources and see if you can get someones attention that way. Sometimes human resources will see you as a potential employee and therefore have a tendency to give you a little more time on the phone. There is also little support that comes frm the school regarding finding a preceptor and I am hoping that they will address this. I feel, as many others do, that if they are going to attract out of state students then they need to beef up their support for us.

I hate to state the obvious but have you checked the surrounding areas like Pittsburgh and W Virginia? How far are you willing to travel?

Good Luck

caijes33 · May 5, 2005

The Susquehanna health system offers summer partnerships they may have something up you alley. Though they do not have any LTC facilities in the system they do use LPNs on the ortho floors any way it is in Williamsport PA which is in central Pa and may be a bit of a drive. but i thought i'd try

Check out SHScares.org

pattyjo, MSN, RN · May 6, 2005

Look to see if you have a KINDRED longterm care hospital in your area; often they rent a floor in larger hospial.
.

There is a Kindred facility leasing a floor at The Medical Center in Beaver County. Don't know if they provide what you are looking for.

Did you try Cranberry Place? (affiliated with UPMC Passavant/Cranberry.)

StudentNurseMM · May 6, 2005

I've already tried UPMC. They have turned me down for any type of preceptorship. Their reason was that they barely have time to train their own staff, they can't take on a student. I really appreciate the idea, though.

Thanks,

Marci

There is a Kindred facility leasing a floor at The Medical Center in Beaver County. Don't know if they provide what you are looking for.
Did you try Cranberry Place? (affiliated with UPMC Passavant/Cranberry.)

StudentNurseMM · May 6, 2005

Thanks for the support. I've been looking for something in a two hour radius, which does encompass Pittsburgh. I've been turned down by just about every hospital in this area. Those who haven't turned me down, haven't responded to my request for a preceptorship at all.

I haven't tried any type of surgical center. Where would I find one of those? To my knowledge, we don't have any type of free standing med/surg clinic around here.

Thanks a bunch for the help!

Hi Marci,
Welcome to the DCN conondrum. Sorry to hear that you are not having an easy time finding a site for m/s. Have you called surgical centers, clinics, etc? This can certainly be the most difficult aspect of this program. Did you try sending various hospitals a letter of introduction and information about the program? I would also call human resources and see if you can get someones attention that way. Sometimes human resources will see you as a potential employee and therefore have a tendency to give you a little more time on the phone. There is also little support that comes frm the school regarding finding a preceptor and I am hoping that they will address this. I feel, as many others do, that if they are going to attract out of state students then they need to beef up their support for us.
I hate to state the obvious but have you checked the surrounding areas like Pittsburgh and W Virginia? How far are you willing to travel?
Good Luck

StudentNurseMM · May 6, 2005

Thanks for the tip on Kindred. I'll try them tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me:)

--Marci

Look to see if you have a KINDRED longterm care hospital in your area; often they rent a floor in larger hospial.
Sorry, no connections. Know one of the Philly area DCN students left program as also having problems securing clinical sites.
Good Luck in your hunt.