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Discussion

New RN in unsafe training program

Hi!

I don't know if this is the right place to ask this but I am not sure what to do at this point.

I was hired into a new graduate training program for a specialty department. Training including orienting on all floors of the facility before starting on the specialty unit. I have done well in this program so far, receiving positive feedback from my preceptors. Things have changed now that my cohort are training on our actual unit. Our preceptors do not actually teach. Many disappear, leaving us to work on our own with little to no guidance which wouldn't be terrible if the unit we were orienting on didn't have a completely different work flow and acuity level than the previous floors where we had trained.

We have attempted to discuss our issues with the management but our grievances were taken personally and we were given a less than supportive response.

I made the decision to seek a position on another floor and was welcomed there with open arms. My current manager will not release me until this schedule is complete, however. This makes no sense to me as I am still only orienting. I have two shifts left to orient in the department and honestly, I am terrified. I do not feel safe working under the conditions in which the unit preceptors "teach" and I worry about protecting my license in this circumstance.

I am not sure who to turn to. I clearly cannot speak to the manager of the unit based on their past reactions to issues. I am not yet represented by the union. I do not want to go to my soon-to-be manager with a situation that is not theirs to handle.

Should I speak to HR? I am honestly OK with losing out on two days of pay if it means that I won't have to work under these conditions, but I am concerned what sort of repercussions there could be if I do not orient those last two days.

Thank you for reading.

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    You could get fired. That's the repercussion. Show up for your scheduled shifts.

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    Preceptors do not "teach". They may need to demonstrate a procedure (that you should have already covered in a classroom &/or skills lab), but they are not educators. They are staff nurses with added responsibilities. Their job is to provide support, guidance and feedback - gradually withdrawing it as you become more self sufficient. Were you provided with any sort of orientation schedule or objectives? If so, this may give you a better idea of what is supposed to be happening. If not - ask for one. You have no way to know what to do if you don't have clear guidance.

    It concerns me that you still appear to be reasoning and functioning as part of a group rather than as an individual. For future reference - organizing a group to discuss "grievances" with a manager is a no-no. According to legal definitions, this is a essentially an ad hoc bargaining unit (yep, just like unions). As a consequence, your manager is very unlikely to agree to this meeting - it may actually be contrary to the management rules of the organization. So -- if you have an issue, YOU need to discuss it with your manager one-on-one.

    If a nurse genuinely feels unprepared to manage an assignment - for whatever reason - according to most Nurse Practice Acts, s/he is obligated to refuse the assignment. But - doing so will almost certainly trigger some consequences, including possible termination.

    I hope things get better for you very soon.

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    • Author
    Preceptors do not "teach". They may need to demonstrate a procedure (that you should have already covered in a classroom &/or skills lab), but they are not educators. They are staff nurses with added responsibilities. Their job is to provide support, guidance and feedback - gradually withdrawing it as you become more self sufficient. Were you provided with any sort of orientation schedule or objectives? If so, this may give you a better idea of what is supposed to be happening. If not - ask for one. You have no way to know what to do if you don't have clear guidance.

    It concerns me that you still appear to be reasoning and functioning as part of a group rather than as an individual. For future reference - organizing a group to discuss "grievances" with a manager is a no-no. According to legal definitions, this is a essentially an ad hoc bargaining unit (yep, just like unions). As a consequence, your manager is very unlikely to agree to this meeting - it may actually be contrary to the management rules of the organization. So -- if you have an issue, YOU need to discuss it with your manager one-on-one.

    If a nurse genuinely feels unprepared to manage an assignment - for whatever reason - according to most Nurse Practice Acts, s/he is obligated to refuse the assignment. But - doing so will almost certainly trigger some consequences, including possible termination.

    I hope things get better for you very soon.

    I realized after the fact that I used the wrong word. I understand that preceptors are not there to "teach" however in this particular situation they also don't really have their own separate responsibilities as they give their orientees the entire patient assignment and provide little to no guidance throughout.

    We actually were not given any sort of schedule or list of objectives. We were never actually formally oriented to the unit. As I already stated, there has been little to no guidance throughout this process.

    We also never thought that it would be an issue discussing our feelings with the manager as a group considering we were hired as a class and are experiencing the same concerns. Thank you for the heads up about that!

    As for "genuinely" feeling unprepared, I am not being hyperbolic. I wouldn't come to some random message board seeking advice if I honestly were not legitimately concerned.

    Again, thank you for your response.

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    Just finish your 2 shifts and switch units. Try to maintain good relations with your current unit if you can.

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    • Author
    Just finish your 2 shifts and switch units. Try to maintain good relations with your current unit if you can.

    I really don't want to burn any bridges with the staff of the unit. Thank you for your input.

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