New PCT in hospital

[Tranna32]

I don't post here very often, but after 7 years of being a basic CNA, I got my advanced CNA and have recently started at a local hospital as a PCT on a telemetry floor. My first night of training was observation. The second night was a whole different ball game for me. The preceptor told me I needed to pick up my pace, delegated all these tasks to me, etc. It got to the point I was so overwhelmed and was in tears. The other PCT's had me go into the break room. Then my preceptor had given me "tough love" saying usually after the second day, you know if it's going to work or not, and it seemed like she was telling me it was not going to work. I don't know how it works in acute care, but what I remember as a basic CNA, it takes 90 days to figure that out. Well they let me take another breather. I don't know what happened but I think the nurses had a talk with her, because they told me something completely different and gave me much better advice. One of the nurses told me that it is overwhelming especially since I never worked in a hospital environment, I need to start out at my own pace with it being the second night before I get better, and they really want me on that floor. After that, the preceptor PCT was a lot better with training, and started saying everyone learns differently. I am used to LTC where it can take up to 90 days. This might sound dumb, but in acute care does anyone know after 2 days if its going to work out or not or does it take time like LTC?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

It takes time. Additionally, not everyone is cut out to be a preceptor or meshes well with the one they are precepting. The probationary period is typically 90 days for a reason.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I think it's possible to know in two days if someone isn't going to work out in certain circumstances. There was a brand new nurse who was frequently heard announcing that he was NOT going to work any nights or weekends. Since all of the offer letters go out specifying 50% nights, every other weekend and every other holiday, we all knew he was aware of the requirements. But he frequently announced that he had no intention of actually working the requirement. By the end of the first day, everyone who met him was sure he wasn't going to work out. By the end of the second day, the manager overheard his proclamation. They disappeared into her office and we never saw him again.

If it's a task issue, a time management issue, etc., we generally try to help the orientee work through it before the end of the probationary period.