Preceptor Mean To Patients

[PiPhi2004]

I am entering my second month of orientation. Honestly, I couldnt be happier. So far everyone has been really good to me and are willing to help me learn as much as I can. I work in ICU and our unit is OVERstaffed so many times we only have one patient, which is nice to begin learning how to do tasks efficiently so I dont have to do them so quickly. Anyway, I have 3 preceptors, one on days and 2 on nights. I just got finished with my 2nd preceptor and she is really good to me, but when it comes to the patients, I cant believe some of the things I hear her say. She belittles patients to their face, she tells other nurses she doesnt want that patient again because they are crazy or difficult. I understand having to be aggressive when treating patients in a setting like this, but why the negativity? Many of our patients are either sedated or not in their own mind, but I still think that they should be talked to with respect, no matter what. I dont want to say anything, but it makes me so angry! Has anyone else had problems like this? I could really use some advice on how to not let it bother me so much. Thanks!

[bigmona]

she's not the first and last nurse you'll see act this way. it's a stressful job and people act out or cope in different (and sometimes unhealthy) ways. my first preceptor thought all our patients were making their symptoms up. having a seizure? making it up. chest pain? faking it. TIA? get a psych consult. that was her answer to everything. i did not believe the patients were making things up and still had to act out of the pt's best interest- calling the doc, EKG's, vitals, etc.

maybe you should hand your preceptor an article on ICU delirium or psychosis. or the next time she says something negative, you can respectfully shoot back with "well, i'd be acting a little crazy too with all these lines and tubes coming out of me" or something to that effect. and lastly you can learn how NOT to be by her example and someday when you're on your own, off orientation, tempted to go off on how a patient drives you crazy- you can remember your preceptor and how you felt about her doing the same thing.