New grad no preceptor.

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I recently graduated in May of 2019. I started my job in June working in the ED, which has been my dream job for as long as I've wanted to be a nurse. I was told in my interview that I would have a preceptor and would be on orientation for at least 13 weeks once I was licensed. I worked as a tech for 2 weeks until I got my license and have been working as an RN for 4 weeks now. During this time I have never had a preceptor. I have to find someone to help me every time I need assistance or have a quick question. No one has followed me or watched me do anything unless I've asked them to. I am currently taking a full patient load and am feeling very overwhelmed. The other nurses have an expectation that I should be doing things faster and get frustrated with me when I'm not carrying the load with the speed that they do. There is one nurse in particular that is extremely ugly to me to the point that if I know I'm going to have to work a shift with her I can't sleep the night before. I'm just curious as to what other people's experience with being a new grad and having a preceptor was like. Maybe my understanding of what having a preceptor/mentor isn't clear. I'm not sure if this is the normal new grad experience or if I didn't retain enough knowledge in school. I'm just really stressed and struggling. Any advice or comments would be helpful.. Thanks in advance!

1 hour ago, NewGrad613 said:

She's very close with the rest of the nurses on the unit and I guess I'm just afraid to actually talk to her about it because I'm an outsidser at this point and I don't want to be labeled as the complainer. I'm just some how feeling like I'm doing something wrong. 

NewGrad613. I am going to be straight-foward here, I hope you will hear me out.

You have to stop this mindset pronto. As in, put an end to it. Why in the world, when someone has lied to you and/or not held up their end of the bargain (thereby putting you and all of your patients in an unsafe situation), would you feel that not being able to perform perfectly is doing something wrong? Or that talking to them about it would mean that you are doing something wrong?

What they have done is very wrong, and I also cannot imagine how this went down your first day on the floor. How did you not think it would be perfectly normal and reasonable to simply ask who would be precepting you?

I'm sorry, but with all due respect and kindness, you've gotta do a little soul-searching.

You deserve at least a modicum of respect/consideration as a new nurse and human being.

Being taken advantage of, lied to, ignored and allowed to put yourself and others at risk is not required and should not be tolerated, even by someone who is polite or kind or new or....anything.

FWIW, I am truly sorry to hear of this. Sorry it has happened to you.

How can we help empower you?

You have to get in there tomorrow and let them know you need a preceptor. Or ask when your actual orientation with a preceptor is going to begin. Your only other viable option is to secure another position right away (which I personally would do regardless of anything else).

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Specializes in Adult Primary Care.

If they do not give you a preceptor, run like the wind.

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

Is it possible that a preceptor was assigned by your manager and for whatever reason this person has simply ignored you? Could be because they're lazy or don't want to bother. Perhaps the manager isn't aware that this person hasn't been orienting you.

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Specializes in Nurse Anesthesiology Student.

I don't know how you survived 4 weeks without a preceptor. I'm 8 months into my new grad RN position and 4 months off of orientation. I was clueless of how to 'NURSE' and was nervous as hell coming off of orientation. Kudos to you because I would've gone insane. Even after being off orientation, I'm still learning how to function independently.

That said...this is very unsafe to have a new grad RN let loose to care for patients in the ER without proper guidance. There are so many things that can go wrong and actually put you in a position where there is patient harm.

Go to your manager, like yesterday, and tell them. If it's not rectify, go to HR. If that doesn't fix the issue, seek employment elsewhere.

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.

How do you even function during a code or a trauma in the ER?

Do you know the all the cardiac medications and IV therapy protocols?

Do you understand the trauma decision trees? How are your EKG interpretation skills? Do you have ACLS certification yet?

Quick, what's the first thing you do if you encounter a pt. who is exhibiting symptoms of cardiogenic shock?

Can you properly setup up a thoraclex or a pleur-evac?

God, I can't even imagine the struggle you are going through... It must be utterly ridiculous.

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Specializes in NICU/Mother-Baby/Peds/Mgmt.
3 hours ago, AnnieNP said:

If they do not give you a preceptor, run like the wind.

And I believe it's part of JC to have a preceptor so an anonymous call to them wouldn't hurt either!

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Management may as well feed you to the crocodiles. They can find someone, they either don't care to or management is not respected by those under him/her. I say this because management, well good management would know if you are being helped. There should be commnication happening between management and the preceptor. If this is a dayshift position then it is even worse. You could see this person, the preceptor working with you. Similar thing almost happened to me but I pushed back and ended up being with one person whom, I showed that I was very grateful and appreciative. The others that came on board when I did were not so lucky.

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First you need to ask for one nurse, if you get one and he or she says no after the boss confirms it, then say well this is what I was told, know he/she may have an attitude. Stay cool and if the person doesn't do what they are suppose to do, then let managment know. The older you get and the more time in you have the more you will see how to get around some of the bull. All you can do is try but beware that some places operate in this dysfunctional way and O boy do they have a high turn over rate. It is important for you to get a really good start so you need one bad orifice nurse know should you how to be a great nurse.

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Specializes in Dialysis.
9 hours ago, NewGrad613 said:

I am currently in NM. I have considered quitting and applying somewhere else. It feels unprofessional to do so and I'm afraid that it will look like bad work ethic on my resume... But I'm starting to realize that if I lose my license it won't matter what my resume looks like.

Exactly! RUN and don't look back!! As a patient I would be furious to find this out, and nothing against the nurse, but the facility. Dangerous practice

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Wait, say what now? New grad..... ER......0 days preceptor!

Do not accept another assignment until you speak to your manager and ONLY if you get an assignment WITH a preceptor.

If your manager doesn't get it together, go to HR and demand the same.

If they don't get it together, thank them for the job offer but respectfully submit your resignation, effective immediately.

There is no excuse for any of that. I'm now wondering how many of those other nurses had to go through the same thing. It sounds like a toxic environment, an unsafe, toxic environment.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
12 hours ago, NewGrad613 said:

My manager is in and out and sees me working. She's very close with the rest of the nurses on the unit and I guess I'm just afraid to actually talk to her about it because I'm an outsidser at this point and I don't want to be labeled as the complainer. I'm just some how feeling like I'm doing something wrong.

While your insecurities and fears are natural, you MUST move past them. If you don't advocate for safe practice, who is going to? This is an unsafe situation. You are definitely not qualified to practice independently and experiencing lateral violence only increases the odds that something is going to happen to harm a patient and ultimately harm you too.

Talk to your manager and if you don't get resolution, you may need to rethink where you work. This is terrible and I am sorry you are going through it.

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Do not worry what it will look like to another manager if you quit. Simply explain that as a new grad in the ED you were not given orientation of any sort. No preceptor-no classes. Explain that even though you are new you recognize how dangerous that was for both you and the patients and felt it was better to seek out opportunities that supported your growth. They will appreciate your insight.

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