How many preceptors did you have during new nurse orientation?

PeachyERNurse, BSN, RN · May 12, 2008

I've officially had 3. One for 2 weeks, another for 6 weeks, and a third for 4 weeks. On days when they didn't work I was with an additional 2 preceptors. I'm not really sure how I feel about this yet. All the other new grads that started with me had 1 preceptor the whole 3 months. I got to learn different tricks from each preceptor, so I guess that's a plus.

oldiebutgoodie, RN · May 12, 2008

At my first job, I had fifteen preceptors. Yes, you saw that right--15! I left that job after 4 months, as it was a zoo.

At the next job, I had about 5-6. I had to "fire" one of them, because she was not a nice person.

Frankly, I think orientation sucks. Just my humble opinion.

Oldiebutgoodie

tamz04 · May 12, 2008

I have had about 9 I think, I lost track.... its so disorganized. The preceptors are expected to carry 6-8 patients and still orient the newbies.

SoundofMusic · May 13, 2008

Too many to count. At this point, I have a new hire coordinator who I consider my "overseeing" preceptor and she just passes us around to a nurse for a few days, then rotates us to another.

I hated it at my first unit, but now I'm grateful to get to know each of the nurses and follow them around getting different ideas.

I'm pretty much on my own now, so it really doesn't matter. I think at this point, I'd get tired of one person as a preceptor, unless I truly just was crazy about them. I really thought I liked one of them, and now I hope I don't have to ever be with her again, much less work with her once off orientation. :uhoh3: When the going gets tough, sometimes the good preceptors turn bad.

NsgChica · May 13, 2008

I agree with all of you...sometimes I feel as though my orientation process is disorganized, other times I am sooo fed up and indifferent about the situation...and most of the time I believe that hospital orienation sucks...more time should be dedicated to ensure that newbies get properly oriented. I mean, I am pretty much on my own and have done things that many experience nurses haven't done. The scary part is that I haven't been getting proper oversight. There are times, I have no clue of what to do...I know, common sense and refer to hospitals policies and procedures...blah...blah...blah. When does it end? I guess the real concern occurs when...my patient is crashing and I don't know how to mix epi. :rolleyes: Thanks to all that replied.

nursemike, ASN, RN · May 13, 2008

I oriented on the unit where I worked as a UAP, and at one point I joked they were going to have to extend my orientation so everybody got a chance to precept me. For the most part, I oriented on my regular work schedule, weekends and nights, so I kinda had to go with whomever was available. I did have some continuity with a couple of main mentors, and mixed experiences with the others. It wasn't always clear to each new mentor, or me, where I was in the process, and there are some pretty decent nurses in the world who are pretty decent people, but not really born teachers.

One of the most useful lessons I found was very early, shadowing a nurse one day whom I knew was widely perceived as a hot shot--a skilled, capable, hardworking nurse, and the next day one whose reputation wasn't quite as golden. The thing that struck me was that both did things pretty much the same. In fact, the actual care provided by all of my mentors was pretty similar (much as one would hope!). A lot of the difference in whether a nurse is perceived by her peers as excellent or adequate seems to hang on behaviors away from the patient-care areas. It probably pays to project a professional attitude in the med room.

Another thing I noticed, though, is that before I started nursing school, there were a few nurses on my unit I wouldn't have let watch my cats. By the time I was out of school, there wasn't one I couldn't learn something from. And it wasn't the other nurses who had changed. I've oriented with nurses whose reputation among their peers wasn't exactly stellar, and picked up assignments at change of shift from others, and I've found it amazing and instructive to hear patients rave about nurses other nurses thought were not a particularly good role model. I think there may be more to this crap than meets the eye.

SoundofMusic · May 13, 2008

there are some pretty decent nurses in the world who are pretty decent people, but not really born teachers.

This is what I've always said, and why I keep bringing up the idea of identifying those who CAN teach and making them into permanent preceptors WHO GET PAID more than $1 extra an hour to teach. I mean, teaching is in itself a skill and talent. I think half the problem is that your'e with folks who are great nurses, but not such great teachers.

And then your'e with those who are terrible teachers and just plain mean to boot -- I mean, who needs it?

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · May 13, 2008

I had every single member of the ICU staff as my preceptor so I guess thats about 20?? My situation is probably different than most, I work in a small 6 bed ICU unit, there are always 2 RNs on staff at all times, we work 7-7s. So my 1st two weeks I did days, and I was assisnged to one of the 2 Rns that were working that day. Then I did 4 weeks of nights and once again just assisgned to one of the two that were working that night. I was always the 3rd RN. My orientation consisted of the 1st week me taking 1pt on my own and basically just asking for help as needed. 2nd week took 2pts and just asked for help as needed. Once I was on nights I would take up to 3max and just ask for help as needed.

So did I really get orientation? I dont think so, but it worked for me and our unit. Still today, technically I am on my own, me and another RN. I still ask for help as needed, but with in the last month I have had a few times were it was me and an agency nurse or me and a Med Surge nurse who was floated back to ICU due to a call in. So then I am the one that is being asked for help on an as needed basis...eeegadds...

texas2007, BSN, RN · May 14, 2008

I'd say I've been with about 10-15 different preceptors so far. I've had about 14-15 weeks of orientation and have another month or two to go. However, most of those people I've only been with once. It's not really the hospital's fault if your preceptor calls in, or they are the only person available to run the ecmo pump, or be charge. At one point in my orientation, I had 2 part time preceptors which I didn't really care for, that's my only complaint.