meaning of attending & inservices

juliaann · Apr 7, 2011

"Attending" in a hospital almost always refers to the physician ultimately in charge of a patient's care. Their name is usually the one listed on the patient's armband/chart as the physician. The reason they have to be differentiated from other doctors is because there are often several other physicians consulting on the patient, as well as residents and med students who all might write in the chart. The Attending Physician is the head honcho for that patient.

Inservices are small, usually not-so-formal teaching sessions. They can go all day or just take 5 minutes. For example, we have "roaming inservices" at my hospital whenever we get new equipment. Someone who knows how to use the equipment (a new wound vac or PCA pump, for example), takes the equipment around the hospital and gathers whoever is free and teaches them how to use it, lets them try it out and ask questions. Then they sign off that they've been taught about the new equipment. Inservices can also be classroom teaching and can last all day. It really depends.

A preceptor is someone who teaches someone else. For example, in nursing school clinicals, you'll usually be assigned a nurse who works for that facility to follow/ask questions of/help/learn from/etc. He or she would be your preceptor for the day. When you're a new employee, you'll usually have an orientation where you'll be assigned to one nurse (your preceptor) who will help you get oriented to the unit/help you find equipment/oversee you as you take more and more of a patient load, and make sure you're ready to be on your own.

Hope some of that helps...I think these are the definitions you're looking for! :)