I am into my 9th week of orientation on a critical care unit, and my preceptor has decided to hang back and let me manage the patients while she reads a book. I guess this is okay with me, as long as I have her there as a reference in case I get into something that is beyond my skill to manage, assuming I recognize when I'm in over my head.
I have noticed that the PCTs on my floor are very reluctant to help me turn my patients or do vital signs, but they are helpful to most of the other new grads. Last night, when I finally coaxed one of the PCTs in to a room to help me turn a vented patient, I asked about the reluctance to help. She told me that a few months ago, she'd overheard my preceptor telling another RN that she "didn't pay all that money to go to school to do tech work." This offended the pct, and I can understand that, having been a pct myself for 10 years prior to getting my RN degree. The pct went on to say that she (pct) is very busy with many patients, my preceptor is surfing the internet and reading a book, why can't the preceptor be my tech for the evening and help when I need it?
I understand my preceptors philosophy that she has to hang back and let me do the work, see if I can manage the load...and I understand the frustration of the pcts who feel already overwhelmed and perceive that she isn't helping because she is "too good" for tech work. I encouraged the pct to talk to my preceptor about her feelings, hold her accountable, but feel very much caught in the middle, and my patients are the ones who suffer.
Any advice on how to best handle this situation would be helpful. I have already approached my preceptor and she was not open to the suggestion that she "be my tech for the evening", as she thinks I need to learn how to delegate.
Please don't get me wrong, I would be furious if I was this tech but at the same time I would not ever dream of saying something like that to my superior and then walking out of the room. I definitely think that the nurse should have put the patient on the bedpan but when the tech responded like this I do not think it was appropriate in front of the patient. Just my thoughts.
I think it was absolutely appropriate! The only time I won't put a pt. on the bedpan if I am in the room is if I'm behind (a LOT behind) and the tech walks in to answer the light that I don't know is on. I'll ask very nicely if they would mind, 'cause I'm running very late with meds etc. Delegation is not ordering your subservient, it is delegating tasks that if you did them all, you would not be able to provide proper, timely, nursing care.
I think it was absolutely appropriate! The only time I won't put a pt. on the bedpan if I am in the room is if I'm behind (a LOT behind) and the tech walks in to answer the light that I don't know is on. I'll ask very nicely if they would mind, 'cause I'm running very late with meds etc. Delegation is not ordering your subservient, it is delegating tasks that if you did them all, you would not be able to provide proper, timely, nursing care.
I agree with you whole heartedly that delegation is not ordering someone around. I too would put someone on the bedpan or ask the tech nicely if I was behind. I am not in any way saying that the nurse was in the right here. All I was saying is that personally I would never say something like that to my superior and just walk away. I find that rude and not something appropriate to do in front of a patient. Not that I wouldn't be fuming inside.:angryfire
CarVsTree
1,078 Posts
I think it was absolutely appropriate! The only time I won't put a pt. on the bedpan if I am in the room is if I'm behind (a LOT behind) and the tech walks in to answer the light that I don't know is on. I'll ask very nicely if they would mind, 'cause I'm running very late with meds etc. Delegation is not ordering your subservient, it is delegating tasks that if you did them all, you would not be able to provide proper, timely, nursing care.