Preceptor burnout

[QuarterLife88]

*WARNING* NOT A PLEASANT POST AHEAD.

I've searched, and most of the topics on this discussion are from new grads bemoaning their preceptors and not much about how hard it is to have to mentor new grads, sometimes for months at a time, almost seemingly non stop as the unit goes through staff like regular people go through underwear in a week.

Quite frankly, it's hard as heck to mentor and try and teach someone completely from scratch while still being expected to manage the team. You're forced to slow down from your normal pace, stop and explain every thing you usually do as second nature, and worst of all, deal with the swinging moods of your preceptee day after day. No I do not know everything, and I'm sick of the disrespect I can feel oozing from your pores.

I am burned out. I want to work alone. I hate that my manager has volunteered me to precept. I have NEVER asked to. I'm assuming most nurses want to precept and ask to do so. Maybe I'm wrong on that part. The few shifts these days I work myself are a godsend.

I know a lot love it, but it's not for me. I wish others on my unit were forced to take on a little more responsibility from time to time.

/end rant

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

*WARNING* NOT A PLEASANT POST AHEAD.

I've searched, and most of the topics on this discussion are from new grads bemoaning their preceptors and not much about how hard it is to have to mentor new grads, sometimes for months at a time, almost seemingly non stop as the unit goes through staff like regular people go through underwear in a week.

Quite frankly, it's hard as heck to mentor and try and teach someone completely from scratch while still being expected to manage the team. You're forced to slow down from your normal pace, stop and explain every thing you usually do as second nature, and worst of all, deal with the swinging moods of your preceptee day after day. No I do not know everything, and I'm sick of the disrespect I can feel oozing from your pores.

I am burned out. I want to work alone. I hate that my manager has volunteered me to precept. I have NEVER asked to. I'm assuming most nurses want to precept and ask to do so. Maybe I'm wrong on that part. The few shifts these days I work myself are a godsend.

I know a lot love it, but it's not for me. I wish others on my unit were forced to take on a little more responsibility from time to time.

/end rant

As a preceptor, I get tired of reading all of those threads of which you speak. I especially get tired of reading the ones where some orientee is disrespectful of, insulting of and just generally negative about the abysmal preceptor with whom she was saddled and has expectations that the preceptor will be sensitive to her every mood and whim while she sees no such obligation to the preceptor. I'm tired of all those "If she doesn't want to precept, just say no" posts which ignore the fact that most preceptors don't have the option of saying no, even when they've been continuously precepting for years and are burned out on it. I'm tired of all those sweet young things who are adamant that the preceptor shouldn't be bringing her bad moods to work . . . when they're totally unaware of and uninterested in the fact that the preceptor's husband may be in ICU dying, and they really need her health insurance coverage, that the preceptor may be taking care of developmentally delayed children AND elderly parents with dementia . . . things that the sweet young thing cannot conceive of because she's never been in that position and didn't notice when her parents were.

Precepting, if you do it correctly, is much more difficult than just taking care of your own assignment. Yet we keep seeing threads pop up where the poster is a student or new grad and truly believes that they're "helping", "doing all the work," "doing her job for her" or "making it easy on her." If you try to point out that the underlying assumption is incorrect, they get angry and call you "mean".

I really, really wish that some of the capstone students and new grads who are whining about their mean preceptors would just take a step back and try to see things from the preceptor's POV rather than assuming that their own is the only one that counts.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

OK, I've read all the comments now -- I'm surprised at how little "love" there is for this burned out preceptor who just needed to rant.

[SaltySarcasticSally, LPN, RN]

It's ridiculous you do not have a choice. It's why I decided to do my final student precepting within the hospital system I currently work for because the nurses volunteer for it, they get incentives to do it, but are not forced. Not only do I not want to put more work upon someone who doesn't want to do it, it is unfair for both parties student and preceptor. You have to have a minimum of 2 years nursing experience to qualify as well. I don't understand why it wouldn't be a request of someone, some people just don't like to teach and that's A-ok.

[llg, PhD, RN]

It's ridiculous you do not have a choice. It's why I decided to do my final student precepting within the hospital system I currently work for because the nurses volunteer for it, they get incentives to do it, but are not forced. Not only do I not want to put more work upon someone who doesn't want to do it, it is unfair for both parties student and preceptor. You have to have a minimum of 2 years nursing experience to qualify as well. I don't understand why it wouldn't be a request of someone, some people just don't like to teach and that's A-ok.

... and if no one on a particular unit likes to teach ... and no one volunteers, then what is the unit supposed to do?

Yes, it is preferable to use volunteers for all precepting -- and being in charge -- and working the unpopular shifts -- and taking the unpopular patients -- and doing the unpopular jobs. But when there are not enough volunteers and the work still needs to be done, the best we can expect if for everyone to take turns in a reasonable way.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I think I read a phrase in this thread somewhere about "teaching someone from scratch". That is a big part of the problem. Not all schools do this, but there are some that are turning out new grads who act like they've never seen a sick person. I've precepted some students and new grads who had obviously been given a good foundation by their school. But there were others who appeared to have NO foundation. It was exhausting. And having to be ever-mindful of their feelings.

I had a student once who was three months from graduation and balked at tallying up the patient's I&O because "I haven't done that yet!" After I coached her through recording what was left in the IV bag and emptying the foley, she thanked me (in front of the patient) for "taking me out of my comfort zone". The next day she "fired" me because she "just didn't feel comfortable" with me. At least I got a break that day.

I hear you, OP. And for everyone who thinks you get extra pay: NOT if the preceptee is still a student. And the differential for orienting a new grad: not enough to cover the Advil.

[Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN]

I loved precepting but preferred it later on in someone's orientation if that person was a new grad. I never had the patience for the first few weeks.

Who is in charge of putting the new grads with the preceptors...a nurse educator or someone else? That person needs to know what is going on here.

[Calalilynurse]

I'm sorry your being forced to continually precept when you need a break. At least let the manager know you need a break for a few months. Precepting students is a choice where I work and education or the manager has to ask you. You just don't come in and have a student. Only charge nurses where I work orient new employees or other experienced nurses who have agree too. I don't want to precept and I don't have too. Outside of charge nurses orienting new employees we always have a choice.

[jgmad1]

Please stop referring to all nurses as she:-). I see this in many comments and a few here.

Thanks

Male Nurse

[dec2007]

I have requested not to precept either. For several years I had only rare shifts without a preceptee. It totally burned more out, and I never want to precept again. I told my managerial staff this. For two weeks I had peace. I got to do the job I love. Then they started putting preceptees with me again.

After several months of this I was overheard by a charge nurse when I said I can't wait to retire. I was pulled aside and told not to speak "negatively" around new people. I told that charge nurse that I had requested not to precept for this very reason. I am happy to report I have had no new preceptees since then.

Three things I need to add here:

1) Maybe my facility is unique, but we have a VERY high turnover, and therefore have a (literally) neverending precepting cycle.

2) Not all of our new hires are new grads, but nearly ALL of our new hires are very sharp and well-prepared. That includes the new grads. Nearly all of them will be excellent nurses.

3) Some people are cut out for teaching, are good at it, and enjoy doing it. We have some truly fantastic teachers on staff. I am not one of them.

[Ellie G]

I precepted many nurses in the ICU. For the most part, my experience was a positive one. Too many times, I see people precept by handing over the assignment and being there if there is a question. I prefer looking at it as education in the beginning and mentorship that continues, especially with new grads. I had one who simply was awful. She made the same mistakes over and over. I asked to be released from the assignment and someone else took over. They had the same experience. The nurse was eventually fired. I was so blessed to have a wonderful preceptor in the beginning of my nursing career. If there was a heart murmur, she would have me listen to it and explain it to me, an NG tube needing done, she got me in there. She was fabulous at iv's and she taught me all her tricks that I used for the remainder of my nursing career. She showed me all the things that would help me succeed and gave me confidence in my skills. It made all the difference in how I felt when I had to fly on my own. I am so so thankful for her. I would say if you need a break then ask for one. You may take a few weeks off from it and come back with a new perspective. Your manager is assigning you to precept because your work is valued

[SmilingBluEyes]

Please stop referring to all nurses as she:-). I see this in many comments and a few here.

Thanks

Male Nurse

Oh really, now, it's not a slight. When I was active military, my awards always depicted MALE service members on the plaques/trophies. I never got butthurt over it. Much bigger fish to fry. This thread, for instance, is important, discussing nurse burnout d/t constant preceptorship. I think that is the important message here, not on whether a nurse is a he or she.

Anyhow not to derail the thread, sorry to digress. Back to the topic.....

[Cafelattee]

Please stop referring to all nurses as she:-). I see this in many comments and a few here.

Thanks

Male Nurse

well we should be politically correct/incorrect whatever and call of us it cause I do know of a nurse that is transitional sometimes a female and sometimes male. They are undecided or whatever. Seriously who give a crap