Help! Preceptor Issue

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Hey everybody! Question about preceptors and staffing. I'm a nurse that just started orienting on an IMC unit. Today the staffing grid called for at least two nurses to go home, and somehow my preceptor was the first one to be able to go home. I got a new preceptor, but I am wondering if anyone else would be okay going home early when they had an orientee? It didn't seem right to me because I was the one who mainly took care of the patients and I felt stranded. I also couldn't talk to the charge nurse about it because she hadn't asked me about it, told me to "just be flexible" and then let my preceptor go. What do you think? Should I talk to my manager because it made me uncomfortable or should I let it go?

Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
1 hour ago, Wuzzie said:

Your issue isn’t with the nurse who got to go home. It’s with the one assigned to you that didn’t do their job. The first nurse had zero obligation to stay and if it had been me all you would have seen was the navy blur as I escaped before anyone changed their mind.

As far as escalating...really? Really? If you actually think that’s an option you are going to have a really hard time in life, not just nursing.

Yep. All of this. Hopefully in my excitement of being able to escape I would remember to say goodbye, but no promises.

Do not escalate this unless you really want to make things worse for yourself and put a huge target on your back. You don't have a leg to stand on.

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All of that said....is any of this good way to orient a new nurse?

Nope it isn't, period. Stuff like this is part of the exact reason that people don't want to stay and then the next round of new RNs has to be lassoed with stupid contracts. This student might be looking at this wrong, but one way or another s/he shouldn't have been farmed out to someone who provided no oversight or assistance during orientation.

And this mini-rant is not against the RN/preceptor who left - why wouldn't s/he? That, too, is another another role that has been degraded and demoted down to something that supposedly anyone can do as long as they're off orientation themselves.

Bah humbug.

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Specializes in School Nurse, past Med Surge.

Regardless of how your preceptor felt about being sent home, she had to take her turn. Floors rotate who gets/has to (depending on how you look at it) be sent home if the census is low. If you felt stranded, you should have spoken up and asked for help. Most floor nurses are capable of pinch-hitting once in a while with an orientee.

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No not disgruntled, I've been a nurse elsewhere and completely understand how busy floors get. I'm more concerned with how there were three other nurses that could have gone home but the charge picked my preceptor. I was never complaining and told backhandedly to be flexible. To be honest just 'not wanting to be there' is not a good reason. The new preceptor was from the float pool which to me did not make sense because our floor is IMC and the floats don't take IMC patients. I'm a big fan of doing what makes the most sense and this didn't. Probably not worth "escalating" as some have said, but there's nothing wrong with asking what others think.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Pediatric Float, PICU, NICU.
16 minutes ago, glowstick said:

No not disgruntled, I've been a nurse elsewhere and completely understand how busy floors get. I'm more concerned with how there were three other nurses that could have gone home but the charge picked my preceptor. I was never complaining and told backhandedly to be flexible. To be honest just 'not wanting to be there' is not a good reason. The new preceptor was from the float pool which to me did not make sense because our floor is IMC and the floats don't take IMC patients. I'm a big fan of doing what makes the most sense and this didn't. Probably not worth "escalating" as some have said, but there's nothing wrong with asking what others think.

I'm not sure why you think your preceptor shouldn't have been the one "picked" simply because she was precepting you?

Are you aware of how the decision was made? I only ask because in my experience there is always a rhyme and reason as to why a particular person is the one that gets sent home - perhaps your preceptor was in OT if they go by overtime; perhaps your preceptor was most senior if they go by seniority list; perhaps it was your preceptor's turn if they use a rotating list of who gets sent home. You seem to be taking it somewhat personally and I would advise against that.

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The preceptor wasn't in overtime, had no complaints of being sick, and it was not necessarily her "turn." I am more than aware of these variables; my concern more lies with that the new preceptor only had a year of experience and was from the float pool for a specialized unit. Honestly I'd never leave someone I was training unless something was happening with my family.

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Thanks for everyone's input!

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“The preceptor wasn't in overtime, had no complaints of being sick, and it was not necessarily her "turn." I am more than aware of these variables; my concern more lies with that the new preceptor only had a year of experience and was from the float pool for a specialized unit. Honestly I'd never leave someone I was training unless something was happening with my family.”

Two things, the first nurse had no obligation to stay for you, none whatsoever and also if you’re an experienced nurse who cares if the next preceptor was less experienced? She didn’t have to teach you how to be a nurse, her main purpose was to teach you their processes and where to find stuff. Someone with a year of experience could certainly handle that especially a float nurse. Granted it sounds like she left you to fumble on your own and there’s no excuse for that but you have a mouth and as an experienced nurse should know when to ask for help. Although if you gave off the same vibe on the floor that you seem to be giving off here ( super po’d about the situation) I’m guessing this nurse with only one year’s experience was probably hiding fro you. I’m sorry if I sound snotty I don’t mean to but I’m just not understanding why you’re so upset about this. It’s a non-issue I wouldn’t choose this particular hill to die on. Congrats on your new job!

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Since you aren't even a new grad, frankly that makes this even more of a nonissue. Your precepting in this regard is mostly learning where things are, the policies of the new institution and the like. A one year RN from the float pool is more than able to take care of those things and I don't find it inappropriate at all. I am sorry you were and are upset about this. I think you should evaluate your thinking a little. You were hoping for an easy night and didn't get it. That's just how it goes in nursing.

Not sure why you deleted your account, but fairly certain you will still be reading. Congrats on the new job. I wish you happiness.

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“Not sure why you deleted your account, but fairly certain you will still be reading. “

It’s called an “internet flounce” although most are much more dramatic. ?

Sorry for the weird quoting. For some reason this site is no longer working as it used to on my IPad. It started when the google banner ads were added.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
On 9/25/2019 at 9:37 AM, JKL33 said:

All of that said....is any of this good way to orient a new nurse?

Nope it isn't, period. Stuff like this is part of the exact reason that people don't want to stay and then the next round of new RNs has to be lassoed with stupid contracts.

But then again, the original preceptor may have told the preceptor taking over "she knows her stuff and is doing it all, just be there in case. This one doesn't need her hand held", or whatever. We don't know what may or may not have been discussed, as the OP may not either

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Where I am, preceptors/orientees are not eligible to be sent home or float. They are exempt while this is going on. You should not have had to get a new preceptor for part of a shift.

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