Precepting question

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I am a nursing student going for my ADN. I am currently about to enter my next to last semester before graduation. I wanted to get some advice, we have been given an opportunity to precept in this semester the required 90 hours on top of class time and regular clinical time. My concerns are not being prepared to handle the patient load required for precepting,so far in our clinical experiences we have only had one patient at a time. This opportunity is only given to students that have a certain grade In the previous semester and instructor approval. I feel like I would be ahead and could focus on my last semester but and the same time I don't feel prepared enough to take on this task yet? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

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I'm an ADN student also going into my third semester. I was privileged to get an extern position at a local hospital. At first I was worried about having multiple patients, too. 1. you will adapt after a few struggles and stumbles. Keep moving forward. 2. No one will let you hurt a patient. Don't over step your skill or knowledge level, and ask, ask, ask and research, research, research when you have doubts or questions. 3. After a very short time your fear will be replaced by growing confidence, skills, and the knowledge that you jumped in and learned now.

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Specializes in ICU/ Surgery/ Nursing Education.
I'm an ADN student also going into my third semester. I was privileged to get an extern position at a local hospital. At first I was worried about having multiple patients, too. 1. you will adapt after a few struggles and stumbles. Keep moving forward. 2. No one will let you hurt a patient. Don't over step your skill or knowledge level, and ask, ask, ask and research, research, research when you have doubts or questions. 3. After a very short time your fear will be replaced by growing confidence, skills, and the knowledge that you jumped in and learned now.

This pretty much sums it up. You are really never alone with patient care. You have a nurse you are assigned to and they are there to make sure you the patient is taking care of and to further your education. I would do this for sure!! I always like being ahead every semester.

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Specializes in ICU, ED.

Do it! I was precepted on a med surg floor my last semester of nursing school it was such a good experience. We started by taking 1 patient, and were expected to be able to care for up to 4-5 patients by the end of the semester. That seemed daunting at first, but by my 5th shift I was taking 4 patients no problem. At first my preceptor was always by my side whenever I was with our patients, but by the end of the semester I was passing meds by myself and she would just hang out behind the nurses station (that was our hospital's policy - not every hospital may be like that though). She gave me more independence each shift, but she would always be there if I needed her to be. Even though I ended up getting a job in the ICU, I feel like that experience gave me the confidence boost I needed to know I was capable of taking care of patients on my own after graduation. It will be great, you should definitely do it! And who knows, maybe you'll like the floor you precept on and you'll end up getting a job :)

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Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

I would go for it. Your preceptor should work you into a routine and eventually work you up to the required patient load. If they don't then just develop a systematic way yourself. He/She will always be available to help you and trust me, they won't have given you the opportunity if they did not think you were ready. Just believe in yourself and be confident.

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Thank you all so much for your input. I will talk to my instructor today. I really appreciate your encouragement.

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OMG, if I had the opportunity to do this I would snatch it up in 1.5 seconds.

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