Precepting Students

[NeuroNP]

I'm a nurse in a Med/Surg/Cardiac ICU (I also work one day a week in a CTICU in another hospital). I've been an RN for about a year, but I've worked in the ICU, Tele, and ER for about 7 years counting being a tech and nursing school. I got a call last night from a nursing student who is going to be doing his senior preceptorship in our Med/Surg/Cardiac ICU and our manager wants to put him with me. I'm happy to do it, I like the idea of teaching, but I don't really know how. I feel like I know how to explain things to people, but I don't feel like I'm very organized when I do. I've had a student follow me for the night before and I feel like everything they "learn" is pretty random and disorganized. If this guy is going to be with me for 6-8 weeks, I feel like I need a plan. Any ideas from experience preceptors?

Thanks!

Bryan

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

nothing helps to consolidate information for you like the prospect of having to explain it to someone else! and i've never precepted anyone without learning something from them.

ask if the student's nursing school has a skills list -- a list of procedures that he needs to learn. if not, ask him what his goals are for the experience. that will help to guide you. drag out the manuals from when you were a new orientee and look at your skills list. also, remember his understanding of the reasons you're doing a instead of b may not be what you expect (either better or worse), so try to gauge your explanations to his level.

good luck! i hope you enjoy the experience.

[aerorunner80, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN]

In my school, we have a preceptor paper that we have to do which includes an 8 hour orientation with the nurse we will be working with. This gives us time to talk to you about our goals and what you expect from us and also gives you an idea of where we are skill wise.

From a student's prospective (I'm also doing preceptorship in a medical/cardiac ICU), we really appreciate it when you ask us questions. WHy this, why that. Why do you think the doctor ordered this drug for this patient. General knowledge and tricks that you know are also appreciated.

Although it may not seem like we are getting it at first, what you say to us will eventually sink in and click.

The more you ask us, the more we are required to think which in turn, helps us learn.