Do you let them sink? And while they are sinking, step in to save them and the patient. Make them learn from their mistakes because they would not listen?
I need your help! How do you teach a new nurse humility and respect along with the fact that they do not know it all? I love sharing knowledge. Being a nurse is a profession that I take seriously and have enjoyed...I particularly like to share what I have learned along the way. I have never been one of the types of the nurses "who eat their young". I have been an Emergency Department Nurse for 13 years. I have been a preceptor for a while, and I am having a bit of a difficult time with a new grad RN. And to be quite honest, I am beginning to get hungry and this new RN is close to being dinner, if you catch my drift.
This RN was previously employed in our department as a tech, and while the RN has learned a lot about the department, they did so in a non-nursing role. The RN has a tremendous amount of potential, but lacks the critical thinking, knowledge and skills that comes from on-the job training and doing in the RN role. While this RN lacks the critical thinking, knowledge, skills and prioritizing (just to name a few), what this RN does not lack is a tremendous sense of self and an overwhelming cockiness that is not well-received on the unit. This RN has already reported several senior nurses for what the RN deemed were "breeches in protocol" when, in fact, the senior nurses were 100% correct for the way they cared for their patients, this RN was just not aware of different techniques used by nurses for many years.
This new RN has already made very unprofessional comments and has degraded the techs and some new nurses in the department in numerous ways.
This nurse may possess some good theoretical knowledge learned in school and may have some good clinical skills, but I fear that the attitude of "I don't need to see this or that because I've already been there or done that as a tech" is going to be to the detriment of the patient.
Does anyone have any advice on how to help a new RN tone down the attitude and learn how to be a good nurse without alienating staff. I feel it is my duty to teach the RN how the Emergency department works, but it is an even bigger duty to the profession of nursing to make sure we help to develop well trained and well rounded nurses who know their limits and are team players. I was taught by one of the greatest nurses I have ever worked with, a nurse with over 40 years of experience and is still working, that the moment a nurse feels like they know it all, that is the time they should retire. I think that is solid advice.
I think it's most important that no matter our level of expertise, experience, education etc. that we remember where we came from and that all people start at the bottom, no one starts in the middle or at the top. I hope the sit down will go well and open the eyes of this overly confident new RN under your wing and appreciate that you took this opportunity to tell him that he needs to slow down and become more rounded and experienced before crowning himself King RN of the unit. Confidence is wonderful but over confidence is dangerous! Best of luck!
I need your help! How do you teach a new nurse humility and respect along with the fact that they do not know it all? I love sharing knowledge. Being a nurse is a profession that I take seriously and have enjoyed...I particularly like to share what I have learned along the way. I have never been one of the types of the nurses "who eat their young". I have been an Emergency Department Nurse for 13 years. I have been a preceptor for a while, and I am having a bit of a difficult time with a new grad RN. And to be quite honest, I am beginning to get hungry and this new RN is close to being dinner, if you catch my drift.
This RN was previously employed in our department as a tech, and while the RN has learned a lot about the department, they did so in a non-nursing role. The RN has a tremendous amount of potential, but lacks the critical thinking, knowledge and skills that comes from on-the job training and doing in the RN role. While this RN lacks the critical thinking, knowledge, skills and prioritizing (just to name a few), what this RN does not lack is a tremendous sense of self and an overwhelming cockiness that is not well-received on the unit. This RN has already reported several senior nurses for what the RN deemed were "breeches in protocol" when, in fact, the senior nurses were 100% correct for the way they cared for their patients, this RN was just not aware of different techniques used by nurses for many years.
This new RN has already made very unprofessional comments and has degraded the techs and some new nurses in the department in numerous ways.
This nurse may possess some good theoretical knowledge learned in school and may have some good clinical skills, but I fear that the attitude of "I don't need to see this or that because I've already been there or done that as a tech" is going to be to the detriment of the patient.
Does anyone have any advice on how to help a new RN tone down the attitude and learn how to be a good nurse without alienating staff. I feel it is my duty to teach the RN how the Emergency department works, but it is an even bigger duty to the profession of nursing to make sure we help to develop well trained and well rounded nurses who know their limits and are team players. I was taught by one of the greatest nurses I have ever worked with, a nurse with over 40 years of experience and is still working, that the moment a nurse feels like they know it all, that is the time they should retire. I think that is solid advice.
Is it possible that this previous tech- now nurse, has an issue with the nurses she reported? I'd ask the nurses that were "dimed out" if they had issues with the new RN when he was a tech. Could add some insight into your sit-down.
teach her a listen. that is absolutely absurd to have such an attitude. if you don't teach her a lesson, she will walk around thinking she is the queen.
Just wondering what had happened with the new grad you were training, because I am currently precepting a new grad RN who has never worked on our unit but is completely unwilling to listen or take constructive criticism. They immediately become defensive when I try to tell them things or correct their mistakes. We even had several "come to jesus" meetings if you will. I have precepted many new grads in the past but have never run into this issue before. Everyone else was so willing to learn and actually listened to what I told them, because they knew it was for a reason and it would only make their nursing practice better. Suggestions would be appreciated :)
Just wondering what had happened with the new grad you were training, because I am currently precepting a new grad RN who has never worked on our unit but is completely unwilling to listen or take constructive criticism. They immediately become defensive when I try to tell them things or correct their mistakes. We even had several "come to jesus" meetings if you will. I have precepted many new grads in the past but have never run into this issue before. Everyone else was so willing to learn and actually listened to what I told them, because they knew it was for a reason and it would only make their nursing practice better. Suggestions would be appreciated :)
I love it when my senior nurses train me and orient me!!! There are always a reason for what they tell me and i am glad they did. This new nurse is crazy and full of it!
Report to her clinical instructor and report to your manager. If they ask you to precept her, there are certain agreements and contracts that have to be signed between your facility and her school. If she got an attitude and constantly attacks your staff, you need to speak up and report her unprofessional behavior. Document everything and let your manager now. She may be a smart nurse, but she may not be a good fit for your unit (if she wants to get a job at your facility).
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
People who think they know it all piss off those of us who do.
If someone truly thinks they do know it all, it's time they rethink that. There's always something new to learn, regardless of level of experience. These people aren't much different from the new grads who think they know it all.
If someone truly thinks they do know it all, it's time they rethink that. There's always something new to learn, regardless of level of experience. These people aren't much different from the new grads who think they know it all.
So completely true. I'm just over a year in now, and every week I'll get a patient that has some wild thing going on that I've never heard of before, or some cool tidbit in their prior health history. Knowing so little is what keeps me going back to work for more.
SammRN4life
1 Post
I think it's most important that no matter our level of expertise, experience, education etc. that we remember where we came from and that all people start at the bottom, no one starts in the middle or at the top. I hope the sit down will go well and open the eyes of this overly confident new RN under your wing and appreciate that you took this opportunity to tell him that he needs to slow down and become more rounded and experienced before crowning himself King RN of the unit. Confidence is wonderful but over confidence is dangerous! Best of luck!