orientation prob. bring it up with my boss or not

[singleye]

i've worked in med-surg/ step down for 3 years, just got my new dream job in ICU. my preceptor has 2 years' experiences in the ICU. She is very passionate about teaching and has gone out of her way to show me things many times but she micromanages everything. 4 weeks into my orientation, I still assumes a supportive role and we were told by our boss to let me step up and take at least one pt on my own.

I was given one pt (almost step-down) status on my own for a week and I did fairly well. I felt bored so I asked her to give me her pt too (stable, on vents and pressor). I told her I'm not going to touch the pressor since she has been working on it. My preceptor agrees but I can tell she was bothered by my request to take two. I'm not sure whether she doesn't trust my ability or wants perfect control. Anyway, everything went well for 4 hours then I failed to pay attention to pt's MAP (dropped to 50s from 60s) and I was lectured in front of everyone if I want to take two pts I should not have done that. I didn't say anything but I want to say that you are titrating drips, you should have overseen me instead of spending the time chatting in the breakroom. She wants me to only take one pts from now on.

Luckily I'm switching to another shift after two more days with her. My question is should I bring this up to the boss (not in a negative way?) My only concern is I felt that I can take two (with supervision and help) and I don't want to waste 2 days (a week)of my orientation with one step down pt and feel bored. Also with my future preceptor, should I step out of my comfort zone and take a little bit more? I am not sure why my preceptor is so ticked off by me doing that.

Thanks so much.

[RNfaster]

Often when I get valuable critical feedback, I thank the person giving it. Also, I often share with others when I have made a mistake...I do this as I want to help others, and I find that others often will share tips with me, etc. Nursing is a field where I am constantly aware of how I can do things better. I think it is because we are constantly checking ourselves.

I agree with a number of prior posters...think you have gotten some great advice...take it and move forward. Often I will try to give critical feedback privately. I try to be constructive, and even give positives on either side of the critical feedback. One time, I had someone upset that I gave critical feedback (the person didn't seem to notice the positives)...also, I had done it in private. Anyway, I think the person was too sensitive, and should have listened to the feedback. I was trying to help...

Sometimes folks won't bother giving critical feedback....as such, I usually thank folks for it.

On the other hand, if it's not constructive, that's another thing.... As others posted, sounds like your preceptor is new, and relaxed too much and was probably regretting it. Hopefully both of you learned from this. Keep going!

[maxthecat]

I know it can't be helped sometimes, but I think 2 years experience is too little to precept in ICU.

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

What is the rush?, eventually you will be doing it all on your own. Most preceptors know when you are ready to take on more patients. Sounds like you have more to prove than learn, learning never stops with nursing and even the best of the best nurses make mistakes. Slow down and talk to your preceptors about your concerns instead of going to the boss first. It doesn't matter how great you are, if people don't like or trust you, they will get rid of you.

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

Yeah. You missed a MAP. You dropped the ball. Do not go whining to the boss about this or a crybaby reputation is gonna follow you for years. So your preceptor is an over-functioning, micro-managing, hyper-critical ICU nurse. Welcome home & get used to it. The one thing I would do is to take her aside and tell her one on one that berating you in public is unprofessional and unacceptable. Tell you that she's getting the respect that she (in turn) didn't have the class to give to you.