New RN on a cardiac floor

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2010

Speak to the manager of the cardiac wing and see if you can get a better preceptor. I had a lame preceptor when I started cardiac. He left me with all 6 patients on the third day and I found him in an unoccupied room watching a movie. I had asked for another one and was granted one. Good luck.

dura_mater · Mar 17, 2010

I would ask your current preceptor why she hasn't let you do the procedures (IV med pass, cath insert., etc) as well as why she hasn't given you your own pt yet. Maybe she has a reason, who knows until you ask. I would let her know that while you enjoy shadowing her, you feel you are ready & needing to take on certain tasks yourself. Be polite & not accusitory, & see what her answer is.

Personally, I would not go up the chain of command until I had asked my preceptor first and given him/her a chance to answer my concerns.

Good luck

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Mar 17, 2010

You're too nice Dura Matter! Yeah, keep the peace and try to work with your preceptor first! Department harmony #1!

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 17, 2010

talk to your supervisor. You are wasting your time.

netglow, ASN, RN · Mar 17, 2010

I'm with the OP, I'd be worried that weeks of my orientation are slipping away.

Go talk to somebody... just ask kindly, when you will be able to begin to pass meds and hang IV? That is sure to start a conversation. My guess would be you'll see astonishment on the NM face. So what about the preceptor, you need to be learning. You will be very unhappy if you find yourself on your own having had no orientation. You need to think of you first, you have to start off right!

franciscangypsy · Mar 17, 2010

You definitely need to get your questions answered! What you do is too important to work confused! You're being jipped and so are your patients. They deserve to have an informed nurse to work with them as much as you deserve to have the confidence that comes with knowing what you're doing.

Personally, I would probably start asking questions of other nurses and the charge nurse if the preceptor still doesn't answer the questions when you need them. Dura Matter has it down, I think. But if nothing works, your other coworkers are great resources.

It's not fair to you not to be precepted according to your needs.

prosperouschick · Mar 17, 2010

As a first step, you should talk to your preceptor, and then go and talk to your manager after that conversation. I would not be surprised if your preceptor did not respond, honestly, she sounds a little passive aggressive by saying that she will let you do things and then not letting you do them. Even after your conversation with your preceptor, I would recommend going and talking with your manager and sharing that you don't want to step on anyone's toes and that you talked with your preceptor (which you will have done) and that you just want to make sure you are on track and getting what you need in order to work independently by the scheduled end date of your orientation. I have found that it is best not to keep things inside or quiet when there are concerns, and there is always a way to address your concerns tactfully. Without you speaking up, your preceptor may not get some of the feedback she needs in order to train people better; or even to determine that she is not preceptor material (which is quite possible). My general rule of thumb is that when there is a lack of consistency between words and actions you need to probe and find out why.

vincejojo · Mar 18, 2010

guys it is really not that easy. talk to your preceptor, talk to your manager. it seems so easy to say especially when you are not in her shoes. If she talk to her preceptor it lmay cause the preceptor to perceive her as been too impatient. talking to the manager may appear as backstabbing her preceptor. if the manager change her preceptor, it may some kind of...........

This is not easy.

Change your schedule to differ from your preceptor ( if possible). Let your preceptor and manager know that your current schedule is not convenient for you.

prosperouschick · Mar 18, 2010

If she talk to her preceptor it lmay cause the preceptor to perceive her as been too impatient. talking to the manager may appear as backstabbing her preceptor. if the manager change her preceptor, it may some kind of...........
This is not easy.
Change your schedule to differ from your preceptor ( if possible). Let your preceptor and manager know that your current schedule is not convenient for you.

So.... let me get this straight. You are recommending that instead of her talking to anyone for fear of seeming "impatient" or "backstabbing" that she should let her manager know that her schedule is not convenient, which is not at all the issue. No, it is not easy having difficult conversations, but sometimes these are the ones that really need to occur. I don't know of to many new nurses that can ask for a different schedule and end up with a new preceptor.

I think the original poster needs feasible suggestions....

dura_mater · Mar 18, 2010

Change your schedule to differ from your preceptor ( if possible). Let your preceptor and manager know that your current schedule is not convenient for you.

I don't think lying is ever a good idea.

And changing or requesting a change of schedule just because there are issues with her preceptor can give mgmt the wrong impression.

I think she should advocate for herself

82Angie · Mar 18, 2010

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have tried talking to my preceptor but perhaps she is not understanding the intended message. I am humble about it and non confrontational. I will ask her what she thinks I need to improve upon. Maybe that will give me some insight as to what she is thinking and allow her to reflect on the question. I love being a nurse but have never felt so useless. I will keep you up to date.