New Nurse Training New Nurse

[medicrnohio]

I have been an RN since March of this year. Last night I found out that they are putting an orientee with me for several weeks starting on July 31st. This person is a brand new RN. Has anyone ever had to trainin a new person so into their own career in nursing?

[krob0729]

They have tried putting a student with me, too. The problem is that we have so much new staff on our floor and are losing the more senior staff. It's totally ridiculous and I disagree with it entirely. No nurse in his/her first year (or even two) should have to orient anybody. The only exception I make is if it's not a brand new nurse that is being oriented, but an experienced one who just needs to learn the ropes of our particular unit.

-Julie in NYC

the one i had that had been one for 10 years made more med errors in 2 hours than i have my whole 3 months. Experience doesn't mean intelligent or caring i guess.

[RaeT,RN]

I'm going back and forth on this one . . . I had a young preceptor for my 3 week preceptorship at the end of school, and I have one with 25 years of experience now as a new grad RN. I think I click better with my more experienced nurse. She is just more of what I consider a mentor; the younger nurse was more of a friend to me. I guess it depends on your preference. I sure would not precept anyone in my first two years, but if you are on a unit with a high tunover, I guess there's not much choice.

[pie123]

I am a new nurse, I graduated in May. My preceptor has been a nurse for a year. I love it. We graduated from teh same school.

She is great. I have learned a lot from her. I don't think the fact that she has been a nurse for only a year makes her any worse or better than any other preceptor.

When I was in school, I had a preceptor who had been a nurse for only a year, but she was a great preceptor & very detail oriented! I learned a lot from her.

[julieK]

When I was in school, I had a preceptor who had been a nurse for only a year, but she was a great preceptor & very detail oriented! I learned a lot from her.

I think this is the exception and it shouldn't be an expectation by managers. I'm still struggling with just managing my patients and doing all my assessments/documentation.

-Julie in NYC

[fab4fan]

I'm alarmed by posts saying that being oriented by a new nurse is preferable because new nurses are more "lenient" or "forgiving." Uhm, that is really not a great reason, if you ask me.

There is a reason why some of us "seasoned" nurses seem to be a bit more rigid about practice: because we've learned the hard way and are trying to save newer nurses from making the same mistakes.

So if an older nurse seems to be a bit of a stickler for certain details, please try to step back and look at why she/he may be that way.

[BETSRN]

I disagree with you.. As a preceptee, I prefer new nurses because they are more generous and lenient. This might be the reason why many preceptors are young in my units.

Generous and lenient does not necessarily give you quality experiences. I would worry about this statement. Those of us who have years of experience have already walked where you are. We older ones want to see you guys succeed. Leniency could lead to laziness and slip shod care. If anything, one should be learning in a strict (but kind of course) environment and then as you become more comfortable, you are able to adjust to your own style.