Please help! New ER intern...

yetanotheramanda · Jul 18, 2009

could you get another preceptor? It sounds like this one is not a good one. She may be a great nurse, but precepting a new grad is a whole other ballgame.

Sorry you are having a rough time. Im a new grad in ICU and I really know what you are going through. I can't imagine having to deal with a nazi preceptor as well.

inteRN · Jul 18, 2009

I might be making her out to be worse than she is....at least she doesnt "leave" me. Shes a great teacher, its just she still thinks she can scare me to get me motivated. Well all that does is knock down my confidence and make me worse. all the nurses there are cool I guess. The supervisor is awesome and I feel real comfotable going to her if I feel I need extra help and thats nice.

I wanted ICU...but I accepted this job bc I loved the manager and I love the hospital...

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Jul 18, 2009

I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. Have you talked this over with your manager? Perhaps she can put you with another preceptor.

inteRN · Jul 18, 2009

She's very smart...just type A and kinda OCD. I've opened up to her a few times and told her I didn't know how to do this or that and then she's cool and slows down a bit. Honestly, if I dont feel prepared when Im done (which I wont) then Ill go to my mgr and tell her I need a few more orientation shifts..maybe on nights? Im sure she wouldnt mind my honesty. in fact shell probably respect it. Im there to LEARN and be the best I can. The great thing is, Im not stuck there. the worst thing that can happen is I get moved to med surg or something. oh well. If I could just be there and not be so frikkin nervous all the time...

JB2007, ASN, RN · Jul 18, 2009

You will feel nervous and like you are slow for a while. That is a perfectly normal way to feel. Do not let it get you down and do not quit because of how you are feeling. Find a more experienced nurse and talk to him/her. Tell that nurse how you are feeling. Most new nurses feel the way that you are feeling no matter what department they are working in. This is a big adjustment and there is a lot to learn. Give yourself some time to adjust before you decide anything about changing departments.

exmil77 · Jul 18, 2009

Maybe its just me, but I think this will make you a better nurse in the long run. You've said you retain the information, so something is working.

I know that it may be stressful, but I bet you will be able to think better under pressure after she is done with you!

Good luck in the future!

lumberjack · Jul 19, 2009

You mentioned that when you opened up with your preceptor that she would slow down and explain things... maybe letting her know what you told us will help. She may not get all soft and fluffy with you, but at least she'll understand how you're feeling and can tailor her teaching style to best effect. I say teaching style because I hope she is doing this to you on purpose and knows what she is doing (you are learning a lot by your own admission). Of course, experiance does not always a good instructor make...

good luck and hang in there.

rodgerssm, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2009

I feel bad for you. But you also have the right to feel like you are able to learn in a non-hostile environment. I think it may be the generation thing. I would problalby suggest asking her to slow down a bit and ask for things to be repeated if needed or so you can write them down. You are there to learn the job after all. Mabye she just doesn't see it or see anything wrong with her style of teaching or she may be looking at it like I have to get this done so I can get off on time! I hate for you to lose out on valuable knowlege she can give to you. Try talking to her again and let her know how she makes you feel and if that doesn't work, ask for someone new. Good luck to you!!!

Heatherheartsou, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2009

I feel your pain. I am in the same situation. I love my preceptor as a person, however, sometimes I feel as though she is very hard on me. I learn a lot, but I feel as though I am always uncomfortable because she makes me feel as though I don't know anything. For example, lets say we are giving my patient Fortaz. She will ask me what it is. I tell her it is an antibiotic.... then she will ask the other names.... what KIND of antibiotic is it (ie. bacteriocidal or bacteriostatic), pretty much all the side effects, and the half life. I'm sorry but I cannot possibly know EVERYTHING about EVERY drug. I agree, I should know what the drug is used for, and side effects. But really.... can anyone remember all that for every drug. It is like that with disease processes too. However, like I said before, I am learning great deal because of it. And she also likes the saying, "Look it up." We will be better nurses for getting through this process. I would rather work ER than anywhere, so in the end, it is worth it.

mayrn82 · Jul 19, 2009

Ahhhh....I remember those days. I can totally relate to how you are feeling. I know it's tough, and it may seem like your preceptor is not making it any easier, but she honestly probably is just trying to toughen you up by giving you some tough love. Nonetheless, it would benefit you to learn from someone you feel comfortable with, someone who you feel isn't gonna snap if you miss that IV start. Maybe talk to her first and tell her how you feel. If she doesn't improve then go to the supervisor. The way you're feeling is TOTALLY NORMAL. I've worked ER for about 5 years now, and I remember how I used to dread going into work everyday for the first year. I would ask myself "Why the heck am I doing this?" I would have this nervousness in the pit of my stomach from the beginning of my work day till the end.

Then finally, I remember driving to work and not being scared anymore. It was an AHA moment for me. They say the first year of nursing is the hardest, and it must be true because 1/5 of nurses quit after their first year. I don't think the issue is you at all. I think that the first year is just HARD PERIOD. In ER, you see it all. You see oncology patient's, L&D patient's, PEDS, geriatrics, and mental health patients. It's a stressful specialty in the sense that you can't really plan your day. You get whatever walks through that door and you have to play CSI and try to anticipate what's going on with the patient, then stablilize them. I still have shifts where everything goes wrong, and I seriously just want to no show the next day. I admit though, I have fewer of them, and you will too.

Keep your head up! Don't feel dumb because you don't know it all. You sound like a very motivated individual who is just trying their best to do the job right. Cry and let it out after you've had a Jerry Springer shift, but then don't take the stress of work with you. Leave it at work. Know that this feeling will pass with time. Whatever you do, DON'T SACRIFICE SAFETY FOR SPEED. Do what feels right, and when in doubt, DOUBLE CHECK, TRIPLE CHECK AND ASK!

Hope this helps :nuke:

http://cbs3.com/health/nursing.shortage.hospital.2.935932.html

inteRN · Jul 20, 2009

Maybe its just me, but I think this will make you a better nurse in the long run. You've said you retain the information, so something is working.
I know that it may be stressful, but I bet you will be able to think better under pressure after she is done with you!
Good luck in the future!

Thank you! I really appreciate all these people taking the time out to write me....Im glad I came across this forum. It helps!!!