Overwhelmed and lost

Marshall1 · May 9, 2015

To feel overwhelmed/lost on a new job and as a new grad is definitely normal...from your post it really doesn't sound like you have a good preceptor though..a good preceptor would be showing you how to document, etc. You will most likely never have the time you did in nursing school to look up everything about your patients but you should make the time to at least know the basics & highlights..my advice would be to tell your preceptor what you need, if she is unable/unwilling to at least try to help you then ask for someone else to precept you. Sometimes nurses are placed in the role of being a preceptor simply because they have worked the unit longer or there is no one else available due to scheduling or whatever. Not all nurses are meant to be preceptors or are good at teaching. If she is getting stressed out on her days off that is HER problem, not yours. Your focus needs to be getting the proper orientation so you can take care of yourself and your patients when at work. If you are still dealing w/this kind of "blow off" after another shift, please try to find someone else to precept you. Even as a new employee/new grad, you have the right and responsibility to speak up for yourself.

allnurses Guide · May 9, 2015

Give yourself a break - it's only your 2nd day! Tell your preceptor that you need her to slow down so you can learn. Preceptors are supossed to teach you. You will get the hang of this. Remember to tell yourself that this too shall pass.

Hppy

CoffeeNurse7 · May 11, 2015

A rather large percentage of nursing, at least on a med surg floor, is muscle memory. Everything from opening a pill package to priming an IV line takes a lot of time for the first couple of weeks. Eventually, you'll get used to it. There are tricks to everything.. even IV insertion. Your skills will definitely increase with time. Hang in there and try to be positive.. don't be too hard on yourself. :)

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · May 12, 2015

I think your preceptor is having you focus on tasks and assessments in order to ease you into the routine of the unit. The order entry will be introduced when she is ready to teach that. There is no perfect preceptor. Is she a safe nurse and teaching you to be safe?

Another perspective for your reading enjoyment:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/dear-nursing-students-800621.html

strive2Bbetter · May 14, 2015

I think your preceptor is having you focus on tasks and assessments in order to ease you into the routine of the unit. The order entry will be introduced when she is ready to teach that. There is no perfect preceptor. Is she a safe nurse and teaching you to be safe?
Another perspective for your reading enjoyment:
https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/dear-nursing-students-800621.html

I understand what you are saying. but I don't think that is the case. I've made it clear to my preceptor when I have questions about my practice. I've asked my preceptor several times, to watch me, even if it's outside the door or right beside... to just watch me if I'm doing something right. I'm not asking for hand-holding. I'm asking for guidance. I want my preceptor to be able to tell me if I'm doing good or not. when there are things I'm not comfortable with or unsure of, I always tell my preceptor, "please come with me so you can see if I'm doing this correctly," or "please make sure you check on me or follow up on me to see if I'm doing it correctly.".my preceptor would go with me but as soon as I'm ready to do what I need my preceptor to look at, guess what? my preceptor is mumbling down the hall about getting something or needing to use the restroom. I'm very new to the world of nursing. my third day of precepting my mentor had me taking care of patients while charting. my third day, and I didn't know what I was doing. I asked for help from other nurses since I couldn't seem to find my preceptor.. does my preceptor practice safety? well I'm sure when there's no one to orient most nurses practice safety. I'm not saying I don't like my preceptor. and does my preceptor like me? probably not. but of I'm going to be In this career, I need to be shown the correct way. And my preceptor knows this is my first job.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · May 14, 2015

If I am understanding this correctly, the nurse, whose only assignment is to be responsible for orienting you, is purposely avoiding you and ignoring you.

Is that correct?

If so, what does she do all day?

I am curious to know how many new grads there are on your unit right now. Does every staff nurse have orientee? How long is your orientation? Will you be orienting on nightshift and when?

strive2Bbetter · May 14, 2015

If I am understanding this correctly, the nurse, whose only assignment is to be responsible for orienting you, is purposely avoiding you and ignoring you.
Is that correct?
If so, what does she do all day?
I am curious to know how many new grads there are on your unit right now. Does every staff nurse have orientee? How long is your orientation? Will you be orienting on nightshift and when?

to be honest, I don't know what my preceptor does. I spend more than half the day looking for my preceptor. I'm just grateful for the other nurses around to help orient. they did a mass hire. so there is a bunch of new grads on the floor being oriented. I can tell the differences in preceptors. they keep a close eye on their orientees and follow up and check documentation. and I can't just be put with any staff nurse.

suanna · May 14, 2015

You are a nurse, not a student. You have been educated and trained to provide the care needed by the patients assigned to you. Your preceptor should be there to assist you with unfamiliar protocols and alternative equipment than you educated with, but she is not a nursing instructor or your mother. Have confidence in your training and forge ahead. Act as if you are the only nurse on the floor and have to use your best judgment to prioritize the tasks needed. You preceptor should be there to help fill in the gaps and to offer correction/advice when she sees you doing something that may not be in the best interest of the patients under your care, but they are your patients, take responsibility for their care. Once you start acting like a licensed health care professional, your preceptor can assess your skills and weaknesses and work collaboratively with you to strengthen your ability to do the job for which you were trained and hired. It's hard to shake off the timidity that was your role in school, but the first step in becoming an asset to the unit you are working is to begin acting like the leader you were educated to be.

strive2Bbetter · May 14, 2015

You are a nurse, not a student. You have been educated and trained to provide the care needed by the patients assigned to you. Your preceptor should be there to assist you with unfamiliar protocols and alternative equipment than you educated with, but she is not a nursing instructor or your mother. Have confidence in your training and forge ahead. Act as if you are the only nurse on the floor and have to use your best judgment to prioritize the tasks needed. You preceptor should be there to help fill in the gaps and to offer correction/advice when she sees you doing something that may not be in the best interest of the patients under your care, but they are your patients, take responsibility for their care. Once you start acting like a licensed health care professional, your preceptor can assess your skills and weaknesses and work collaboratively with you to strengthen your ability to do the job for which you were trained and hired. It's hard to shake off the timidity that was your role in school, but the first step in becoming an asset to the unit you are working is to begin acting like the leader you were educated to be.

like I said I don't need my hand held. I need to know that I am doing something correctly when I feel unsure about it, hence the reason why I tell my preceptor to go with me and check if I am doing something right. I'm not asking my preceptor to be my parent or my instructor. I'm asking my preceptor to give me feedback so I can improve on areas that I know I have trouble with. Everyone knows that the training you get in nursing school is limited. There are several patients that nurses have come across and there are some patients they have not encountered. Nursing is various. Not all things in the real world of nursing is experienced in nursing school. I asked my preceptor to tell me where I need improvement. my preceptor avoided my question by saying if there is a better way to teach me, to let him know.

I don't know what you're thinking about my situation/ experience. But of course I'm still building my critical thinking skills, my routine, my time management. It doesn't all come in one day. So if you forgot what it was like to be a very brand new nurse starting your very first new nursing job, please try and remember that. I think most people forget how overwhelming it is to start something new and yes you still have to learn in the nursing field.

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · May 15, 2015

delete

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · May 15, 2015

I can't just be put with any staff nurse.

Why not?

The way you express yourself is very off putting.

I am starting to question your honesty. Initially you referred to your preceptor as "she" and now it is "he".

You are not a very brand new new nurse. According to your post history you graduated two years ago.