Precepting with no itinerary?

[Nola009]

I have been precepting in Med-Surg for a few days and haven't had any kind of list of what the expectations are going to be as I go along, all I know is I get 8 weeks of orientation. This will be the first time I have worked in a hospital, and it's been awhile since I graduated, so some of my skills are rusty or not well developed yet. I have one preceptor, and she isn't explaining what she does and why she does it very well. What I have observed is that she most often complains about other shifts and nurses. I ask questions, but don't want to ask too many because #1, this preceptor can DO, but not really explain (seen her get flustered with another nurse who asked for help) and #2, Don't want to annoy her because that will make things even worse. I have spoken with who I can, but it's kind of not helpful. Canyou please give me any advice?

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

You should have a checklist to go by. On it has all of the things you need to do as far as skills. What the expectations are that you know and are competent in.

If it was not part of your HR packet, I would ask. You just need to know that you are concentrating on the skills that you do not know or are rusty in, and that you are following policy. To ask the manger "is there a checklist I need to be following, I don't want to miss something" is not at all inappropriate.

[RNperdiem, RN]

Locate you hospital policy and procedure manual. Often this is online. At my hospital, the p&p does give rationale with each step outlined. Do a little pre-reading on the procedures you have the most questions about this might be more helpful and accurate than the preceptor.

Sometimes preceptors have varying skills in teaching as you have discovered.

[firstinfamily, RN]

There should be a Nurse Educator at your facility that over sees orientation for new hires and she/he should have a check list available for you to track your orientation goals. You don't want the orientation period to come to an end and you not have had all the experiences you need to be efficient in your position. If there is no Educator, ask the HR person or your Unit Manager. How have other new nurses gone through this process. There should be a method of sign off for your and your preceptor to keep track of what experiences you are doing during orientation. The sooner you get this the better. You do not want your orientation period extended because no one thought to keep track of what skills you were exposed to and performing independently. Good Luck!!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Ask your manager or nurse education department for a checklist. If this preceptor is NOT prone to teaching, don't be afraid to ask for another, because when you are deemed done with preceptorship, and on your own, you will be held to account for everything and every skill you are assigned. Don't sign off on any task until you are sure you can do it without problem. Don't let them rush you either. A new nurse (and you ARE a new nurse, by definition) needs no less than 3-6 months (not 8 weeks) with a mentor or preceptor before he or she can really do it on their own. And even then, it takes about 2 years to be truly confident and competent, meaning you will still have questions and still need guidance. Find the nurses who are prone to be there for you, and learn from them.

[Nola009]

It's actually a 6 week orientation (oops). I am less than one year into practicing, and I've only worked in LTC an d SNF so far. This is only a critical access center, so I don't think they get really complicated patients. But, these patients still get IV fluids and antibiotics. Some have jp (and other) drains because they are post hip or knee op. This is the only hospital that took any real interest in me, a newer grad. I'm only a week or two in and I'm already starting to wonder if I made a good choice to go with this one. The LTC I also work for wants me to work, and I like the residents/job. It's just that the pay is low and also, I think I need acute care experience in order to pursue my goals.