Moving to fast up the ladder???

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

So I've been off of orientation since April. I'm slowing starting to feel like I can handle things. I'm getting my routine down and I am starting to feel more comfortable. Well last this week the DON chose me to precept an agency nurse. Very overwhelming for me. The 1st day precepting I was a mess. It was a very busy day and it was very hard for me to precept this nurse. I can barely handle myself, let alone someone following me around. The 2nd day I precepted her the day went much better. And she actually told my DON that I did a wonderful job.

Well now they've hired 2 new grads. (I went to school with both of them and they graduated a semester behind me.) They are thinking about chosing me to precept one. I think it is too early for this. I'm sure I could handle it but I am still asking tons of questions myself. What do y'all think??

Also, on our floor our charge nurses do the case management. They don't take patients and mainly just handle case management stuff all day. One of the charge nurses is actively trying to get pregnant. And one of the nurses told me that they are thinking of ltraining me to fill in for her when she goes on maternity leave. So that would be at least 9 months from now.... but still.. is it too soon for them to even be thinking of that??

This all makes me nervous

Tigergalle

[Boston-RN, RN]

Everyone progresses at their own pace, if they feel comfortable and more importantly you feel comfortable sit down and find out the role and responsibility of the position and then decide from there. Make sure that you would get properly trained for your new position and that there is a "safety net" per se if you need one. I'm sure it's well deserved and don't be so hard on yourself.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I think you are wise to be asking the question ... but I also think that it's OK for you to start doing a little precepting and charge. The key is, as the previous poster said, "Do you have a safety net?" Are there resources available for you if you need them? Are you getting a proper orientation to these higher level functions?

If you are getting oriented to these functions -- and not just thrown in to sink or swim -- then I think it is OK to start exploring them. There should also be people in your environment that you can go to if you need help or have questions. Finally, you should not be doing these higher level functions every shift. You should be eased into them with appropriate orientation and support available rather than just thrust into them without those things.

Proceed ... but with great caution. If you start to find that you aren't getting the support you need to do a good job, then it's time to have a talk with your manager about that. But don't be afraid to progress just because you have to "stretch" yourself a little.

[VivaRN]

As far as precepting new grads... if it was overwhelming to precept the agency nurse, who is already a nurse, I wonder if a new grad might be a lot to handle? New grads need a lot of attention and supervision. They are transitioning from their ideals in school to how we do things. As you know, precepting them is more like a 6 week (or however long) commitment. It might be better to solidify your own off-orientation skills/routine before trying to communicate it to a brand new nurse.

It is a skill to be able to manage a busy day for yourself and be supervising/going behind someone else... all the while making sure they feel comfortable and supported. Whatever you think you can handle, as I'm sure you are very capable. But if you think it's too soon don't feel bad about saying no.