how long until you would feel comfortable precepting?

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I've been on my unit for about a year, mostly on nights but I've done a few days here and there and am filling in on days for the next few weeks. I love my unit, am always learning new things, but I feel like I've got the routine down and have something to offer that our two other older preceptors may not be able to offer in my youth and quest for knowledge. My hospital offers a preceptoring workshop that I'd like to attend but there needs to be an approval letter from my NM first. Do you guys think that a nurse with one year's experience could precept adequately?

Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I've been a nurse for 1.5 years (newest nurse on my floor), and I get all kinds of students. No new hires, though. The most experienced nurses on the floor don't WANT students.

Yeah, I've been assigned patients who also have students, but I'm on a psych floor so while they do 1:1 talks in depth with the patients, they're not passing meds or doing treatments. I feel you on the most experienced nurses not wanting students. That's a bit where I want to come in and be like "I want students because I can relate!"

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
I absolutely think a nurse with one year experience can and should precept students and new nurses.

Watch one, do one, teach one...

I love the phrase "watch one, do one, teach one". I think it's brilliant and I thank you for your support!

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As a new nurse, I'm inclined to agree that one year is not enough. I had one primary preceptor but due to some scheduling issues I had several nights with a few others as well. Of all the preceptors I had, the worst by far was the nurse with one year of experience. I thought she'd be able to relate well to my situation and offer tips that would help me adjust but it was actually the opposite. She was very reassuring and nice but she simply didn't have the experience to explain things from any angle but her own. When I asked her for specific things I could improve on, like my med pass, all she had to offer was that I just needed to be faster. When I asked how to be faster she again just said I just needed to do it and be faster. Same thing when I asked questions about other things that happened on the shifts with her regarding patients and families that were very time consuming, just that I had to learn to deal with it. She was a nice person and a good nurse but a terrible preceptor. Part of that is her lack of nursing experience and part of it is her lack of precepting experience but I'm so grateful I only worked with her two shifts!

Maybe if you are an excellent teacher you could get by with it but in general I think it's a bad idea. I really think two years is a much better marker as it's enough for the new to be worn off and actually have some solid experience of your own but still new enough to relate to the new grad experience.

Balancing a new nurse with an experienced nurse is also a great idea, but based on my own experience I'd still say the new nurse needs closer to two years.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
She was very reassuring and nice but she simply didn't have the experience to explain things from any angle but her own. When I asked her for specific things I could improve on, like my med pass, all she had to offer was that I just needed to be faster. When I asked how to be faster she again just said I just needed to do it and be faster. Same thing when I asked questions about other things that happened on the shifts with her regarding patients and families that were very time consuming, just that I had to learn to deal with it. She was a nice person and a good nurse but a terrible preceptor.

Hmm...very interesting and useful. I think I would be able to offer different perspectives because although I was taught things the way my preceptor did them, I've found my own way to stay organized and on top of things.

Part of that is her lack of nursing experience and part of it is her lack of precepting experience but I'm so grateful I only worked with her two shifts!

Sorry you had to deal with that!

Maybe if you are an excellent teacher you could get by with it but in general I think it's a bad idea. I really think two years is a much better marker as it's enough for the new to be worn off and actually have some solid experience of your own but still new enough to relate to the new grad experience.

FWIW, I'm working on my MSN in Nursing Education. I've had a few classes already in adult learning and some teaching experience amongst my class-mates. Maybe I'll wait off, and maybe there won't be someone new to precept for a while. I think the class would be beneficial regardless and give me that opportunity if my NM thought I was ready.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

There are two ways to skin this cat....a nurse with one year exp. can train an experienced nurse about the unit policy, norms, culture and this helps grow them.

a nurse with one year exp. can, yes can teach a student nurse the BASICS, that is all they are there to learn, keep it in perspective, just the basics.

One year in, a new nurse teaching a future peer is very challenging. If there is a senior nurse present that you can bounce questions and clinical decisions off of than it is safe. If one year in, you're it and alone having to be the "end all and be all" and teach, run the unit.... your patients WILL suffer. One year is not enough to have grasped everything you need to know and be comfortable.. and have the time management and skill set to have it all down to teach.

We are now starting to let our 2 years orient the noobs, assuming there is a senior nurse present. OUr senior nurses are burnt out, but are perfect to help in clinical decision making. At two years, yes you should start teaching our young, you are fresh, remember what it is like and your current and have energy.

so even with a year, with senior back up, in a unit with high turn over I say yes, you have to rest your senior nurses and grow your next leaders... assuming support is present.

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Specializes in General adult inpatient psychiatry.
There are two ways to skin this cat....a nurse with one year exp. can train an experienced nurse about the unit policy, norms, culture and this helps grow them.

a nurse with one year exp. can, yes can teach a student nurse the BASICS, that is all they are there to learn, keep it in perspective, just the basics.

One year in, a new nurse teaching a future peer is very challenging. If there is a senior nurse present that you can bounce questions and clinical decisions off of than it is safe. If one year in, you're it and alone having to be the "end all and be all" and teach, run the unit.... your patients WILL suffer. One year is not enough to have grasped everything you need to know and be comfortable.. and have the time management and skill set to have it all down to teach.

We are now starting to let our 2 years orient the noobs, assuming there is a senior nurse present. OUr senior nurses are burnt out, but are perfect to help in clinical decision making. At two years, yes you should start teaching our young, you are fresh, remember what it is like and your current and have energy.

so even with a year, with senior back up, in a unit with high turn over I say yes, you have to rest your senior nurses and grow your next leaders... assuming support is present.

I definitely agree with you as far as having a senior nurse as back-up for bouncing questions and clinical decisions. I would never lead a preceptee to believe that I know everything and won't ask for help. There's usually at least 3 other nurses on whatever shift with me, so I think I would definitely have senior assistance when needed.

Thanks for your advice!

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