Precepting in H***

caffron · Oct 28, 2010

Congrats on being on the last semester. I just started my preceptor yesterday. Of course, everyone experience is going to be different. In theory, it would be wonderful that you don't have to preceptor with the same nurses everyday. You have the opportunity to see other nurses methods, techniques, and tips.

Today (my second day), It came to me that I'm going to be finish nursing school in a couple days. Luckily, my preceptor lets me have alot of autonomy and I take alot of initiative in care for my patients. You are not going to know everything. You are going to make mistakes. It's how you learn. Precepting is YOUR big transition from being a student to "real" RN. Yea, you are a student, but you are going to be taking boards and get your licensed soon.

It was day 2. You can tell your school of the situation so that they are aware of the situation, and see what day three is like. It could be totally different. Since you are not going to be with the same person, try to see if there is someone who will take the time or work with you.

I hope it helps!! Good luck with everything and hope it works out!!! :)

AOx1 · Oct 28, 2010

As an instructor, I would want to know about this. The nurse who told you to falsify documentation is not a good example, and I would not want a student placed with that nurse. The proper way to chart this would be to report what the patient states and anything that could give a complete picture of what occurred such as behavioral clues to pain. As experienced nurses, it does frustrate us to encounter drug seekers, BUT we can only suspect, never actually know what another goes through or doesn't. JCAHO mandates pain assessment, documentation, and treatment. The primary care provider should be notified and will make the ultimate decision to continue or dc pain meds.

I do hope your next days will be better, but in any case, your nursing instructor/professor needs to know that this has not been a beneficial placement. I agree with the above advice on trying to find someone willing to work with you in a collegial and patient manner.

Also, the nurse you are working with shows poor judgment. This nurse is ultimately responsible for the care of this patient. I can guarantee you that as the primary nurse for my patient, NO ONE will be administering medications to my patient except me unless I am directly supervising them or if I am running the code and an ACLS proficient coworker gives the meds. Mistakes can and do happen, especially when a student is still learning to prioritize and manage daily care loads. I would not want to be this nurse's patient. Not that you are not competent, but it shows a lack of good sense to allow someone else to give an IVP narc to your patient without your supervision. I would love to see this nurse stand in front of your state's BON and explain why THAT was a good idea if something should happen. PS- I would not agree to that again. Check your school's policy and your state BON rules on what students can/can't do unsupervised. Ours says no treatments or meds unless directly supervised by a licensed nurse.