Precepting..... I can't believe it's almost time

[LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN]

So here we are.... third semester just a few weeks from being over. Final semester starting in January. I cannot believe this journey is almost 75% complete. I remember the joy of "the letter", the shock and awe of first semester, the fear of first clinical, the fear of my classmates, my instructors, the MATERIAL! When I think back, I know full well this is the biggest undertaking of my life, and it will be over before you know it, and Phase II begins.... putting it into practice..... but let's not be hasty. We have a preceptorship to figure out. When I started this journey I was all googly eyed over trauma..... just knew I wanted to be a trauma nurse. Still do, but I'm no spring chicken, so do I have time to get a BSN, then getting my trauma cert? I am under the impression I need my BSN plus trauma cert to be trauma nurse. Sooooo......About face. We like psych too. Whatttttt????? Yep, loved my psych clinical rotation, absolutely fascinating. Already work in long term care......I love the elderly. Would not want to be an RN in LTC, however, and not because of the residents, I love them. Medsurg? Meh........... ER? Yeahhhhhh.......... Home health? Yep, would love that. Neuro? Yep. So where did you precept, did you like it, did you go on to get a job in that area?

[RN403, BSN, RN]

If you know in your heart where you would like to work then I think that a preceptorship in that area or a smiliar area would be beneficial and would look wonderful on a resume. If you are not set on a specific area then I do not think where you precept matters. If you are leaning towards trauma then a preceptorship in ICU, ER, or Tele would probably be most beneficial to you.

Best wishes.

[RunBabyRN]

It would be good to precept somewhere you like. I have seen a few new grad programs where they want someone who precepted in that unit, or they consider where you precepted when placing you in the hospital. I was offered a job in mother baby by the manager who lined up the preceptorship (she had been the manager on med/surg for the prior three semesters, just happened to be going to MBU!), but there was a hiring freeze (ish) that kept her from being able to hire me. Not yet working in that area, but I have a few good leads right now, so we'll see!