Help r/t late preceptor

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Hi. I started a new job at the beginning of this year and have been absolutely thrilled by it. The people are wonderful and I am learning a lot. This is the concern I have though. I have had multiple preceptors during my orientation and only one of them has not been the best. I have one now who teaches me great things and is a cool person in general. However, she is ALWAYS 15 minutes late everyday. My manager told her when she started to precept me to please be on time. That has not happened. 15 minutes does not seem like a long time, but when someone is new and trying to get into the flow of things it really effects their time management. I asked the other day for her to name some things I need help with. She told me time management!!! Of course I need help with that when I am always 15 minutes behind at the start of the shift because then when she does come in, I have to repeat my report to her and that puts me even further behind. She always jokes she doesn't start working until 8am. That is fine for her, but for me, I am still new and need every minute I can to do my job. My question is should I talk to her about it or do I ask to not have her again? When I am with other preceptors, I have no problems taking my required number of patients and learning new things. Please advise. Thanks!!

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it wouldn't hurt to say that your time mgmt may be off, r/t preceptor arriving 15 minutes later (not late....later).

also, ask if you can start w/o her.

good luck!

leslie

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Hey i absolutely would get in there and take report from the previous shift without her. You are 2 months into the game now and should be close to being able to take off on your own at this point. Let her worry about how to catch up when she gets there. She can sit in on report when you give the rest of the team report. Take the intitiative here and show your stuff.

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some nurses have cleared a late start d/t family requirements but if it really is that disruptive maybe you can ask for another percept

how long does your orientation period last if you are nearing the end of it you could get started and give report as you go along

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
Hi. I started a new job at the beginning of this year and have been absolutely thrilled by it. The people are wonderful and I am learning a lot. This is the concern I have though. I have had multiple preceptors during my orientation and only one of them has not been the best. I have one now who teaches me great things and is a cool person in general. However, she is ALWAYS 15 minutes late everyday. My manager told her when she started to precept me to please be on time. That has not happened. 15 minutes does not seem like a long time, but when someone is new and trying to get into the flow of things it really effects their time management. I asked the other day for her to name some things I need help with. She told me time management!!! Of course I need help with that when I am always 15 minutes behind at the start of the shift because then when she does come in, I have to repeat my report to her and that puts me even further behind. She always jokes she doesn't start working until 8am. That is fine for her, but for me, I am still new and need every minute I can to do my job. My question is should I talk to her about it or do I ask to not have her again? When I am with other preceptors, I have no problems taking my required number of patients and learning new things. Please advise. Thanks!!

It sounds like you are at the end of your orientation - how about taking the initiative and at least getting report and starting to plan your day. This way, when your preceptor arrives, have her walk and talk - you fill her in with the assignment as you get started. There is nothing wrong with getting started on time. Besides, it takes longer than 15 minutes to get report - she'll just be coming in later into the process.

So just get started. She'll deal, or she'll come on time. Unfortunately, the ball is in your court on this one.

Blee

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I was starting report without her, but when she did get in, I would have to take another 15 minutes to give her full report. Not today, my friends. I was on it and told her what was going to happen and that I was starting my day when report ended and not at 0800. It worked beautifully.

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I was starting report without her, but when she did get in, I would have to take another 15 minutes to give her full report. Not today, my friends. I was on it and told her what was going to happen and that I was starting my day when report ended and not at 0800. It worked beautifully.

good for you, and great job, tata!!!:balloons:

leslie

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

Way to go

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

If she is otherwise a great preceptor, then, don't worry about it. You could have had a drill sergent who is totally unsympathetic to new grads by humiliating them, reporting them, and making their first experience in nursing a pure nightmare. Seriously, if you want to hear horror stories about preceptors, then take a look at the First Year of Nursing Forum. It can make your toes curl. She may have been a bit petty by saying that you needed time management, but all in all, if you are saying that they are really great and are working well with you, then, that is better than most have received. And, good for you for starting a bit early and showing them that you are learning!

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She always jokes she doesn't start working until 8am. That is fine for her...

Uh, not really. Not if she was hired to do a job that starts earlier than that. Chronic tardiness is not okay. I can see how an employer might nt want to fire an otherwise outstanding nurse for something small like that, but it's really not okay.

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