I recently started in a level 2b NICU and have been there for 4 shifts so far. My preceptor was rude to me right from the start and this has continued for every shift. I am not a new grad, I worked in an ED for 3 years, but I have no previous NICU experience or experience dealing with preterm infants.
It started on the first day when I got yelled at for comming in at 7 am (the start of the shift) instead of 6:45. No one bothered to tell me this previously.
I feel like I am constantly being belittled by her and some of the other nurses and disrespected. I ask a qusetion and get treated like I am an idiot for asking it and then yelled at becuase I don't ask enough questions! The other day we had a 32 weeker on a warming table, my preceptor gave me a senerio, and asked what the first thing I would check on this baby if it was intubated and had just been transferred from isolette to warmer. My answer was ABC ie tube placement to make sure the tube did not become dilodged or pushed into the right main stem, but no I got yelled at in the middle of the nursery with parents and other nurses present stating that I didn't know a thing and she went on an on about temperature and CBS. I understand that is a worry, but that is not going to kill a baby as quickly as not having their ariway squared away!! The same baby was on the warming table and she said we have to wear gloves with this baby because he has not had a bath, so assuming we were going to feed and assess the baby I went and put some gloves on, got yelled at for that too.
She has not once bothered to teach me about things, except for everything I am already familar with wroking in the ER. It was my fourth day before she bothered to teach me how to work the isollette!! I am planning on calling out sick tomroow, and I know thats not a good thing, but I really cannot stand to work another day with this preceptor until something is done. She volunteered to precept me and knew ahead of time that I had no experience, but clearly she does not have the personality or the patience to be a preceptor!
Having precepted a new grad in teh ER myself I know how time consuming it can be and it takes patience and understanding. I never once felt the need to belittle or disrespect the person I was precepting!!
I am going either tomorow or the next day to meet with the nurse educator on this subject, any ideas on how to be tactful and remain calm?
