Opinions regarding preceptorship

[shannahan]

What department do you suggest I do my preceptorship? I ultimately hope to go into hospice or home health. I am thinking the ICU would be a place to learn a lot, perfect assessment skills, and would look excellent on a resume. On the other hand, being in the ICU carries so much responsibility and the nurses are tougher on that floor.

I'm not interested in the ED. Med-surg would be fine with me too. We also have an ortho floor that is pretty calm and quiet, which would make for an easier experience but dont' know that I'd improve my assessment skills as much.

Thoughts?

[justwandering31]

I did my preceptor in ICU and really learned a lot, especially critical thinking skills.

One thing though, the hospital I was at and the ones around me do not hire new grads into ICU unless there is a desperate need and with the economy like it is, there isn't.

Students who did their preceptorship on floors that hire new grads had an advantage and at least got interviews on the floors they precepted in, many got jobs on those floors.

Since I didn't have that option, I was at a disadvantage when it came to applying. Just something to think about. Also, hospice and home health were preceptor options at my school.

[shannahan]

I would definitely take med surg if there were a chance of being offered a job but starting with out class, this hospital is not hiring students from our school anymore, and instead will be hiring from local BSN programs.

Now that you mention it you've got me thinking. It may not be written in stone and so perhaps I should go ahead med surg on the off chance they will still take some students from our school.

Thanks for for your input!

[JoyfulRN14, BSN, RN]

I know this is a bit late - but do you have to do your preceptorship in a hospital? We had several people in my class that were interested in RN jobs in the community - so that's where they did their preceptorship! For example, I know of someone who did:

-School nursing

-Home health nursing

-Nursing in our city's jail

If you're allowed, why not just do your preceptorship in home health if that's where you want to be? That way you make great contacts too for once you're actually looking to get hired as an RN!

[Bobbkat]

I did mine on a women's health med-surg unit. It was fabulous, I wish I lived in the area I went to school because I would love to work on the floor. Our patient population was about half gynecological cancer patients receiving non-chemo care (usually surgical interventions or on the floor for other medical probs, we didn't administer chemo on the floor), as well as post mastectomy breast reconstruction patients, hysterectomy, and everything else under the sun. We had some OB patients that weren't in danger of going into labor (for uncontrolled diabetes, hyperemesis, pain control for fibroids, etc). The only requirement was that the patient be female.

It was such a great experience for me to have such a diagnosis-diverse floor. I dealt with very, very sick patients (sadly....I experienced my first patient deaths..I know... it had to happen eventually), as well as families. It was so useful in teaching me to juggle multiple patient assignments, as well as hone assessment and patient care skills.