Preceptor madness

[devhrt12]

Ok I need to vent. I'm in my last semester of nursing and it is important to learn from my experience if anyone goes through this situation I am in. So I emailed the educator about who will be my preceptor and I had some recommendations if he was willing to work with me. unfortunately the conversation that was supposedly between the two of us the educator sent our private conversation to my assigned preceptor. In the end the preceptor spoke with the educator about her displeasure and now the educator sent me threatening email that I did not want to cooperate. Save all your emails and send it to your school director so they have a heads up on the situation. I'm now awaiting my fate. I know she might make my last semester difficult for revenge or I might end up with another preceptor either which way God willing I just want to get through this last semester.

[Jules A, MSN]

So I emailed the educator about who will be my preceptor and I had some recommendations if he was willing to work with me. .

I'm confused about who the "educator" is, the director of your program? and why the heck you would email them your "recommendations"? Something I have also learned the hard way also is that emails aren't necessarily considered private and often are forwarded.

Note to other students: fly under the radar and don't make waves, it just works better that way.

[devhrt12]

The educator is the person who assign students with nurses. Your area might have a different person assigning students with nurses. I asked because the department was so small and I already had a good rapport with the nurse I worked with.

I will take your post note there (smile)

[Nonyvole, BSN, RN]

If you used the word "recommendation(s)" in your e-mail, that was the problem. It comes across as telling people what to do, or assumes a level of equality between everybody in the conversation. Which you weren't.

Most preceptors, if a student nurse came up to them and said "I think that you should..." or "I recommend that..." will shut that student down. The student rarely knows the entire situation, for one, and secondly, said student is just that. A student. Not an employee of the facility.

And I understand that this is you venting. But in the future? Try making requests, especially when there is a demonstrated hierarchy.

[devhrt12]

Thanks for the advice (smile)