How to tell the experienced nurse to slow down

Libby1987 · Aug 17, 2015

Why is a 20 yr RN being precepted? New to your area of nursing?

MendedHeart · Aug 17, 2015

Why is a 20 yr RN being precepted? New to your area of nursing?

New to the Hospital and specialty. I guess by precepting, I am referring to Orientation. We call it precepting.

Thanks for everyone's great advice

wannabecnl · Aug 22, 2015

It is beneficial to the PATIENT as well as the orientee that this be corrected. Be tactful, be professional, and be specific and task-oriented, but don't let an error go. There is a difference between "you need to slow down" and "See, the cannula is kinked in that spot; if the catheter gets pulled out (or whatever; I actually have no idea how to do what you're talking about), it won't lay right." Or whatever.

Desert Lady · Aug 22, 2015

Why are you precept in a 20 year nurse? Just say "hey, slow down a little I can't keep up and I don't want to make a mistake, do you?" You could also ask you manager or charge nurse to ask her to slow down. Just that simple. Don't make too .ugh out of othing.

Roy Hanson · Aug 22, 2015

you keep your trap shut, and approach the BOSS NURSE

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Aug 22, 2015

Why would she "shut her trap"? As a preceptor, it is part of your role to educate and guide this person. You should always approach the person first with your concerns. If the behavior continues then go up the chain to ask for help on correcting the person. Don't be that person who runs to management right off the bat. When I was a manager my first question was alway "What have you done to correct this and how can I help you approach this person".

MendedHeart · Aug 23, 2015

you keep your trap shut, and approach the BOSS NURSE

Wow!!

Roy Hanson · Aug 23, 2015

okay, okay..keep your mouth shut and approached, nicely (that better?) the head nurse with, obviously, your concern about the 20 year experienced nurse. Preceptor sounds like a curse word. Despite the new speak, my suggestion is as stands. YOu, being a green grad, have no rights, you have to earn them. Sooo, suggestion stands. OR do as Desert Lady suggests. Both approaches work better than the Nicugals diplomatic teacher vs child scenerio.

HDFXDWGRN · Aug 23, 2015

okay, okay..keep your mouth shut and approached, nicely (that better?) the head nurse with, obviously, your concern about the 20 year experienced nurse. Preceptor sounds like a curse word. Despite the new speak, my suggestion is as stands. YOu, being a green grad, have no rights, you have to earn them. Sooo, suggestion stands. OR do as Desert Lady suggests. Both approaches work better than the Nicugals diplomatic teacher vs child scenerio.

If a dressing was changed and the line is now occluded, it was done incorrectly. No need to go directly to the head nurse and instantly escalate the issue.

And to say that a green grad has no rights, does that mean they can't politely speak up when something is obviously wrong? You earn the right to advocate for a patient? That's more like the very reason we are nurses.

I'm thankful I don't work with you and pray you are not a nurse that trains new ones.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Aug 23, 2015

okay, okay..keep your mouth shut and approached, nicely (that better?) the head nurse with, obviously, your concern about the 20 year experienced nurse. Preceptor sounds like a curse word. Despite the new speak, my suggestion is as stands. YOu, being a green grad, have no rights, you have to earn them. Sooo, suggestion stands. OR do as Desert Lady suggests. Both approaches work better than the Nicugals diplomatic teacher vs child scenerio.

Escalating immediately is an excellent way to make enemies of your coworkers. Bad advice.

betsykenrick · Aug 23, 2015

Do you mean that you are precepting this seasoned R.N. (?possibly re-entering the field?) I would guess you would have to be very tactful. As an 'older' R.N. (46 years) I, and many of my fellow 'older' nurses feel that the newer generation of nurses feel that only their way is the 'right' way. Keep in mind, you're coming into the field with a lot more than we did. So, sometimes, both ways can be correct. Now, with that said, I might say to the more seasoned nurse: "oops...is that line kinked? We better check it before the line becomes occluded and the patient has to have a new line inserted." or you could say "you've probably had a lot more experience with these dressings, but let's check, just to make sure that it's not kinked." Just remember to be kind and tactful.....there's a lot we 'old geezers' can teach you, but we may choose not to share our experience if we feel that we're being dismissed.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Aug 24, 2015

My way has worked for 30 years.