I need an orientation ?

[peachescna]

I recently got hired as a PCT at a local hospital,i've got already a week of orientation was most of the time in the classroom and next week I'm supposed to have a week on the floor

on Friday last week was the only day I was on the floor for the first time, and the PCT I was supposed to follow , sHe pretty much wanted me to do things that I didn't know how to do since I have not hospital experience, I used to work in a nursing home before so I do not know most of the things a PCTs do . Like for example vital signs EKGs, telemetry and some others. There is now a different way to chart , in each room of each Patients there is a computer inside beside every patient's bed I didn't even have a tutorial Or went over it, she was she was rushing me and saying can you do these can you do that can you please go these can you please go there, I did really really really get mad or Frustrated . And when I stopped her many times in tasks that I did not know Indy not have any idea to do she always got pissed . With vital signs I do not have any problem, because that was one of my skills when I was in CNA school and when we went the first date first week of orientation we went over it. Again. The problem here is my manager paired me with this personwhich seems not to have any time for me especially with the Telemetry and the EKG leads there is a bunch of think that I do not know how to hook up a patient . I do not know I'm supposed to be happy with this opportunity that God has giving me but I'm really frustrated I don't know what to do I don't know if I had to speak up and tell my manager to to please pair me with a different person next week, because next week is my week of my formal orientation on the floor . I was looking for these opportunity in the hospital but I'm not really happy the first day was on the floor last week I wanted to cry I thought working in the hospital as a PCT instead of the nursing home would be different in terms of the way you do things . What things I can say or tell them the first day next week when I go to my orientation, should I speak up and tell manager that Im having a hard time ? Or just follow whatever they do to me . And pretend I got it . My floor its a fast pace Renal unit . I wanted to mention. Please any input will be honestly awesome to me . I'm confused and unhappy , but I don't want to loose this job .

[danijohn]

Sorry to hear you are having such a bad experience. However, it is not uncommon to come across co-workers that are not helpful at all. I suggest that you be honest with your nurse manager and tell her how you feel and explain what is going on during your training. I would just say, as you mentioned, I am really excited about this job opportunity and very eager to learn. I want to do my best to deliver excellent patient care, however I do not feel like I am being trained properly. I do not feel that I am getting the opportunity to observe and learn all the necessary skills for me to succeed. I want to feel confident in my abilities to preform every task assigned. What can we do to make my orientation more productive? Is there someone else I can be paired with.? If you are genuine and honest your nurse manager will work with you most likely. You have to learn to advocate for yourself and address concerns promptly. Do not "pretend" to know anything. Once your training is over, you will be expected to preform all the necessary skills. Your license is on the line. Always protect yourself. You worked hard to get where you're at, so don't let one person compromise your job. A person training you should want you to do well, so you can be an asset to the floor. Be proactive and take control! Best of luck!

[peachescna]

Thank you so much , I appreciate you comment , I'll ne continuosly reading g it you have giving me a good point. The thing is I felt that I would be already complaining . But my license its firts . As you said . Thanks a lot .

[mvm2]

Some people have a hard time being a teacher. The PCT that you had is probably a good PCT. She knows her routine well and she probably has her time management down to a tee.

Then of no fault of yours or hers really she is told to train you. Her day and time management and routine is totally out of sync now and she does not know how to handle it. She just might not know how to; keep up and be showing you all the same time so she gets frustrated over it and unfortunetly you get her rage so to speak.

If you have been with her for only one day I think i 'd give her one more chance. It might be that the next day she will be better prepared to help and train you. Talk with her BEFORE you start your round and explain to her of the things you do know and the things that are new to you and that you need up be trained in those areas more.

If you still are getting push back from her and not getting the proper training then I'd talk to someone about changing trainers.

[danijohn]

I agree with the comment above, since you don't want seem like you are "complaining". I don't think you would be, but like the person mentioned above, give it another day and try to problem solve on your own. If you can't work something out, then go to the manager. You can at least state you tried, but if she's not willing to teach you, that's not your fault.

[peachescna]

Thank you both for giving me sort of orienting me , sometimes I need to compare my thoughts becUse I could be wrong or right .

I always give the chance of the doubt. Thank you I'll say nothing yet until give her a try one more time . Thanks a lottt

[funtimes]

Learning to be a PCT on the job can be very challenging. From what Ive seen, new RNs in orientation are often spoon fed how to do skills they probably already learned in Nursing school, while new PCTs who probably have no training or experience in a skill are expected to learn it on the fly. Your experience is not unique, I think most PCTs had a horribly inadequate orientation and training period, although some hospitals certainly do a way better job of it than others.

There's no way around it, your preceptor sucks and shouldn't be precepting. Yeah they are busy, so are we all. Ive done a lot of precepting over the years in different jobs and roles and its blatantly irresponsible and self centered for techs doing orientation to act like this, and makes me wonder whether they are really fit to be techs in the first place. Unfortunately its far from unusual.

I would politely mention it to your manager when you have the chance. Unfortunately there is a general attitude towards PCTs that you should be lucky we LET you work here and gave you this opportunity, so put up or shut up