Precepting

[LovePurple]

Hey, I'm graduating in December and I have to let my professor know by tomorrow where I want to do my 7 weeks of precepting. I loved my one day I spent in the NICU in clinical rotations, but it was only one day so I'm not POSITIVE it's where I want. Plus, they are never hiring (unless you luck into it of course)- so I don't want to precept if there's NO WAY I can get a job there. It's in the hospital we're going to be working at when we graduate, so it would be a nice intro to the floor so when we do graduate and start working, the New RN feeling might be a little less overwhelming. I also like M/B and L/D, but again.. not positive it's where I want. They say working with babies you lose all your adult care skills and I wonder if eventually I'd like to work in the ER once I get more experience. I know I'm overthinking this all, but I want to make a choice that will benefit me most in the long run. Also throwing out there, that my husband graduates 6 months after me and it's almost a guarantee we'll have to move for him to find a job. So I also need to look at the fact I need something that will give me options in starting all over after only 6 months of being a new nurse. ANYYYYYY help or input would be greatly appreciated!! THANKS!!

[Turtle in scrubs]

Sounds like you are interested in a lot of areas. You may find the place you want to work or you may just determine what you don't want to do. I too tried to find the ideal fit and you just can't know without experiencing it firsthand. While it would be great to have a head start at the place you will work after graduation, it is also a wonderful opportunity to experience an area that may be harder to get into. This way you will know if you want to spend your time and energy working to transfer to this area at a later date.

Long story short - there is no right or wrong, you don't have to be positive about anything, no one can really tell you what would be best, & whatever you choose you will learn a lot. Best of luck to you

[Ivanna_Nurse, BSN, RN]

I would say precept in the ER if you are planning on working in a non peds/neonate environment. If you are thinking some kind of OB is where you will go after school then go for the NICU. I agree with the above post. Maybe you will see it and get a taste, which DOES give you something to work toward. Is it possible to do both? I did ER and HomeHealth- two things I'd never get my hands on right out of school. Gave me an idea where I wanted to head. You can always job shadow when the time comes to look for your perfect job too. As far as DH and moving, look into possible areas now and what kind of jobs are available. What you have to pick from there might influence your decision too. You'll figure it out. Hang in there!! :) ~IVanna

[SmilingBluEyes]

ED/ER can actually bring you pediatric/neonatal exposure and you will need to have a lot of certifications/experience in caring for sick people of all ages. I can't say you should necessarily go there if peds/neonatal is not your cup of tea. I also agree you need not overthink your preceptorship. Just think about what really interests you. ED and Med-surg can actually be great areas to go, as you have time to figure out, caring for a variety of people in all manner of situations, what really appeals or interests you. If labor and delivery do interest you----go for that. It really is a separate specialty than neonatal. Yes, we do care for newborns in the post partum phase, but if you are in a larger hospital, L and D is separate from Postpartum and you can focus on that alone......so many options you see???

You can always change your mind when you become a nurse. Go into an area where you will see and learn a lot and let the rest take care of itself. And most of all, try to enjoy this time. It's a great time when you the ability to learn without all the responsibility of being a licensed nurse on your shoulders, yet. Have some fun, really!!!! Good luck to you.

[LovePurple]

Thanks guys!! I really appreciate your input!! And I had to already email them and tell them my choices this morning! I took into consideration that they very rarely hire in my hospital's NICU, however... if that's the case, I wanted to see if it's really what I like.. to know if it's something I want to work toward in either another hospital or when they hire at mine. And our hospital does split the mother/baby and labor/delivery, but in precepting, they actually let you do half the time in one area, and half in the other. The mother/baby seems to be having a turnover right now.. so it's something to think about. With having the experience in the NICU though, I think I should take advantage of this opportunity and then go from there. THANK YOU SOOOOOO much for all you input! I'll keep you posted on how things go!

[short1978]

I did mine in L&D and Mother Baby....it was a military hospital and they rotate btwn the two units rather than working just one unit.

I LOVED IT and it just validated that is where I want to be.

PLUS the doctor let me "help" deliver a baby which essentially meant to my surprise that I could deliver it with him standing beside me talking me through it.

Okay dont freak out on me....I know this would normally go to the most experience nurse in house for those stop and drop deliveries but needless to say it was a fabulous experience.

[elanddeenrs]

I did mine in L&D and Mother Baby....it was a military hospital and they rotate btwn the two units rather than working just one unit.

I LOVED IT and it just validated that is where I want to be.

PLUS the doctor let me "help" deliver a baby which essentially meant to my surprise that I could deliver it with him standing beside me talking me through it.

Okay dont freak out on me....I know this would normally go to the most experience nurse in house for those stop and drop deliveries but needless to say it was a fabulous experience.

that's awesome for a preceptee!!

[short1978]

I know.....it was also the doc that delivered my 2nd baby. He was great.