I got the job! Plus a question?

Nurses New Nurse

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Specializes in addictions recovery, tele, peds.

I got the call on friday morning, they offered me a full time clinical I position in the ICU stepdown unit. I know it's not the NICU of my dreams but I think it's a good place to start. The hospital actually has a NICU and so the option is always there to transfer after a yr or two. I start orientation Dec. 1. I'm very excited but also terrified. I guess the biggest question in my mind is "will I be a good nurse?" I have alot of compassion but I am still unsure of certain clinical skills. My hands still shake (bad) when I go to place an IV, Ive never placed an NG ( I know how to care for them and check placement, just never actually placed one). Of course I also worry about making mistakes, I know I will. My soon to be coworker (and hopefully preceptor) told me "you will make mistakes because you're new, you just have to pray that mistake isn't the one that kills them." I am just really nervous,I know I will have a preceptor for at least 3 months but it's still scary. I mean I know what I lack in clinical skills I make in my bedside manner but just the same theres alot to remember from school and learn from the real world.

I am so excited to get to do what I love. I feel so privileged to be a nurse, to have others trust me with their lives and their well-being. It's a great responsibility, one I do not take lightly and hope I never do.

Here's a question for you though..... Do you think it would be inappropriate to request a certain person to be my preceptor? The floor nurse that I interviewed with made me so comfortable and seemed to have alot of knowledge. I would like to learn from her.

Anyways I will keep everyone posted on how this goes.

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Congratulations! There is something every nurse has in common, they were all new grads at one time. I think most nurses have had the same fears as you, I know I did. I probably wouldn't ask for a specific preceptor, but that's just me. I always feel like things happen the way they were meant to, and by asking for a certain preceptor (or assignment) I feel like I am jinxing myself.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Here's a question for you though..... Do you think it would be inappropriate to request a certain person to be my preceptor? The floor nurse that I interviewed with made me so comfortable and seemed to have alot of knowledge. I would like to learn from her.

Anyways I will keep everyone posted on how this goes.

Congratulations on your new job!

To answer your question, unless the nurse manager or educator asks for your input, I believe it would be inappropriate to request a preceptor. IMO that would be too forward on the part of a new employee.

A number of considerations go into pairing preceptors with new employees, including experience, educational background, personality, desire to precept, scheduling, other duties of the preceptor (such as charge responsibilities or committee work). It is not possible for you to be aware of these other considerations, and you may put the manager or educator "on the spot" by asking for a certain person who may or may not be readily available and interested in precepting.

Good luck!

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CONGRATULATIONS -- being nervous about a first step is to be expected..don't be afraid about asking for help...if you are unsure about what you are doing ask for someone to explain or even to do it wihile you observe, learning to do something right will make you a better nurse

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Congratulations! I wish I could find a job.... I'm having lots of difficulty here in North Jersey. :(

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I wouldn't request a preceptor before you even start. If you actually knew the preceptor outside of that interview you could ask her to volunteer to take you, but I wouldn't start asking your manager for favors right off the bat. You might get someone who's even better! Also, at least in my unit, we don't have to do 100% of our shifts with the same person. My NM recommended that after she assigned my preceptor and I've worked a few weeks with her only, that I figure out who else I work well with. Then if my assigned preceptor and I ever have a schedule conflict, I can have a "backup" already in mind and work with them that week instead. She said I'd probably have 2-3 preceptors total over the 5 months, just since someone will get get sick, take vacation, etc. at some point and I'll still need to be trained. You can keep your interviewer in mind for a backup role, or if you and your assigned preceptor just really don't click.

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Specializes in ccu cardiovascular.

CONGRATIONS!! I think it's best you did not ask your manager at this point. If you already know someone on the unit, ask who a good preceptor is and how it can be requested for you to be trained by her. Remember your preceptor is your trainer, does not necessary have to be your friend. Precepting can be difficult and not everyone is cut out to do the job. Most people are selected to be preceptors because of their experience, technical and communicative skills and ability to train many types of personalities.

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