NICU Orientation

Ha, sounds like my unit these days!

Some of our recent preceptors have only worked in the unit for 18 months-2 years. I was a bit short of having worked there for 3 years when they asked me to precept. Like your unit, some of the choices are questionable with some generally weaker nurses. Then again, some days I don't feel experienced enough to precept! It's a challenging role with a high learning curve and minimal instructions on how to be a good preceptor.

So, to answer your question, no minimum experience required to be a preceptor.

I won't be starting in NICU until 2 weeks from now so I don't know the rules of preceptors in the NICU I'm going into, other than the 2 preceptors I am currently assigned to work with have many years experience (over 10). I was told I will not be in a pod for the first year with another new nurse, but will always be assigned to a pod with a nurse that is experienced so I will have someone to turn to. I currently have 2.5 years non-NICU nursing experience. Although I will be working nights, most of my orientation (12 weeks) is spent on day shift where most of the more experienced nurses are. Hopefully this all works out as I was told prior to hire.

I currently work on an oncology unit in the same hospital and the turnover is very high on nights (not on days). They hire many new grads into nights and nurses are precepting new nurses after having less than a year experience themselves. There are currently 2 new grad RN's that are being precepted by 2 nurses that each have 9 months nursing experience, I feel this is not a good situation.