Need Advice

[procrastin8r-RN]

Hello fellow RN's- I need your help preferably from experienced nurses but any advice is welcomed. I am a new grad RN and am on week 4 of a 6 week orientation. The first 3 weeks were going fine. I had one preceptor who was fabulous. I have now switched to a different floor (higher acuity) and will be there for the remainder of the 6 week orientation. The new preceptor is a good nurse but not such a good preceptor in my opinion.

I feel that the purpose of orientation is to understand the flow of the floor and to gain some form of order as in my time management and how to handle my patient load. Does anyone agree?

I feel the best way for me to accomplish this would be to take on a small patient load like 3 patients so that I can get an understanding of how to manage my time and get all of the tasks completed. In doing this I will begin to form my own way of doing things and how to prioritize my day. Does anyone agree?

I'm finding it hard to get my preceptor to understand this. I find that I'm constantly interrupted by my preceptor pulling me off of my concentration. I find that I'm making mistakes because of this which makes me look incompetent. I know that mistakes will be made but some of them have been made because I got thrown off by being asked questions or to do things that have nothing to do with what I'm focusing on at the present time.

i would like to do my tasks then have the preceptor critique not critique every single thing while I'm doing it because it throws me off. Also add to it the preceptor has there own patients. I don't think it should be that way. I'm new and yes I will be slow because I'm new. But to make sure that they're not behind they pull me to help them with their patient. I'm pulled to help out others. Then i look up and my focus is lost and I'm behind. So that they're not late getting out they'll pass my meds or put my patient back to bed and etc. In the end I still haven't established my own time management and prioritization skills.

I understand about being a team player and all but during orientation I don't feel that it's a priority. I need to know how to manage my own before I can help others right?

i would like to have check points so to speak. Certain times of the day where I should have things completed and check in with the preceptor. I would like for the preceptor to allow me to provide nursing care first while she watches and then critique (unless of course they observe a drastic error like meds) but if I forgot to take the bp cuff off they could say did you forget to do something and I take a look and see oh i forgot the bp cuff. During the check ins we can go over what all i should have completed by that specific time. In doing this I am creating my time management and prioritization skills. Do you agree?

I can be shown all day how to do a procedure or task but it means nothing if I can't manage and prioritize my shift. I feel that this is what the preceptor is for-to help me with time management and prioritization and not getting hung up because I don't do procedures or tasks the way that they do. There is more than one way to skin a cat and I need to find my way not there's.

Please help me out!!!!!

[procrastin8r-RN]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my post...I don't know what I would without you all considering that I don't have ant family member or close friend who's a nurse. I want to be good nurse and the best nurse that I can be that all. I will take heed to the advice given and hope that when I am on my own (out of orientation) that I will feel that the preceptor experience has given me a somewhat firm ground to stand on and begin my nursing career with.

I will keep you posted.