How to deal with this conflict?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 10, 2018

As you will start seeing, real-world nursing isn't the same as the ivory-tower world of nursing that you learned about in school and for the NCLEX. In THAT world, you easily have the option to spend an hour-plus to spend talking to a patient while everything else magically takes care of itself: no call bells ring, no medications are due, no other crises happen, and should a crisis happen, you have a cohort of coworkers willing to swoop in unasked and help out while you spend that hour-plus with the patient. The real world isn't that cut and dried.
For what it's worth, I'd rather have a nurse who was competent and skilled even if he/she needed to work on the human touch element a bit, than a nurse who is so wrapped up in the human connection that they don't realize they are to give me potassium by IV push.
Best of luck.

I'd rather have the competent and skilled nurse as well, even if they aren't perfect at faking compassion. Compassion, empathy, hand holding -- all great. But competence comes first.

Have Nurse, ADN, RN · Mar 11, 2018

I must admit that I agree with most of the posts here in response to your question. It takes time to win their trust. After all, you are a new grad and you don't know everything. But to be fair, neither do we.

If you can, try to observe more and use the opportunity to win trust by taking initiative and asking questions, that can be a start. It doesn't taste good, but pride can be swallowed.

cleback · Mar 11, 2018

Ok, I get sometimes it's not what's said or done but the manner in which its said or done... and I have a feeling that may be what's going on between you and your preceptor.

That said, I'd invite you to put yourself in your preceptor's shoes. Every nurse, no matter how long they've been a nurse, will have stuff to learn when starting a new job. The preceptor is tasked with showing how to perform THIS job, in alignment with unit culture and expectations. No one can just assume you'll know about suchandsuch a med, or you'll know how they perform med teaching there. Like other posters have said, they have to assume you don't know and go from there. It would be irresponsible for them to do differently.

Anyway, I think your annoyance is normal for a new employee. Have a bit of patience and appreciate that they're not assuming you already know the ropes and are willing to teach. For anything that you don't agree with or would do differently, just keep in mind right now you're learning how they do things... when you're off orientation you'll do it your way.