Preceptor Woes, In desperate need of guidence!!!!

Nurses New Nurse

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i graduated in december, passed boards the end of feb and started work on mar 1..i have been on the floor for about 4 weeks, and while i love nursing, i am hating my orientation. i feel as though my preceptor uses and abuses me:crying2:. she gives me 3 pts and she takes one (usually the easiest of course) and just lets me go, which isn't so bad until i really need her for something, and have to stand there & wait for her to finish her bulls--t session before she will aknowledge that i'm standing there (which on this busy unit, i feel as though is a huge waste of my valuable time "i could be charting for gods sake"). then her favorite saying is the paperwork will always be there, just leave it till after the shift, and i hate it.:eek:. i am the type of person that needs to stay organized to function well, and its so difficult for me to recall what happened throughout the day with 3 different patients. then she complains because i'm charting wayyyy toooo much, but by 7:30pm i am struggling to recall all the important info that i want to be certain to include that when it starts to flow i just write like crazy.. if i do attempt to work on my flow sheets or charting during the shift she will ask me what are you doing? lets go do this or that..it breaks my concentration, and basically derails me. i feel so discombobbled:confused::confused: with her...she jumps from one thing to the next and i just feel as though i need to take it a little slower and think things through, she is making me miserable and crazy:crying2:.. then she tells me i need to slow down..its insane..i have talked with my nursing supervisor, and i think she sees that the training i am getting with this preceptor is not what is expected.. she asked if i would like to change preceptors, but i'm fearful of the backlash effects...you know they have their little clicke and i'm afraid that they will hold it against me.

nursing is a second career for me and i am far from young and naive, but i am new to the nursing world, and all i really want is to learn to be the greatest nurse i can be. i feel so stressed, on one hand i get frustrated and want to stand up for myself, and then i back down and i'm so fearful of stepping on someones toes. its horrible to have to go through an experience like this....the one thing i have learned from my preceptor is what i definately don't want to be like!!!!!!

i know that theres a ton of great nurses on this site..:nurse:.. (they're one of the reasons i made it through school with my sanity)....i would just like to hear some of your opinions about this sort of thing... and any of your advice is most definately welcomed:redpinkhe. also, if theres anyone out there that wouldn't mind being my online mentor:nurse:, i would so greatfully appreciate it.

:redbeathe:redbeathethank you all in advance!!!:redbeathe:redbeathe

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Specializes in ER.

Switch.

You need someone to teach, and help you find your legs. No guilt, I think she may be using you.

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Specializes in Case Management.

Why do so many preceptors act that way? Don't they want the new help to stick around? I never could figure out why they would treated newbies like they had something horribly contagious.

Chin up, hope2B. You are stronger than you think.

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I would work with her to find a short amount of time to talk. Sugar coat it. Tell her you appreciate her time and the things she has taught you but that you are having a difficult time grasping some of the finer points of time management and despite your best efforts things are not improving. Say that you think it might be beneficial to see how other nurses handle this and that perhaps you might work with someone else for a while before you are off orientation. Keep it nonconfrontational, do not accuse, do not blame. Maybe she is using you, maybe this is truly her idea of teaching you. I dunno. Whatever you say, come across as grateful for what you did learn from her and appreciative of her efforts. I think I would change preceptors though, especially since it has already been mentioned to the nursing supervisor. It might get back to her anyway and if she finds out on her own that you were even talking about changing preceptors and she has no real idea why that could end up causing more trouble than if you just talked with her about it. Who knows...maybe she will change some things to accomodate your learning style...maybe not. But I think it is best to express your feelings and concerns...just be careful in the delivery.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I'd also thank her but say that you'd like to work with others just to get a well rounded idea of different styles. Its possible that her style just doesn't mesh with yours. Are you jotting down notes to yourself as the night goes on? I found that invaluable especially in the early days when everything was foreign and hard to remember. FWIW she must think you are very capable because if I get someone who I think is behind the curve I micro manage the heck out of them. :D

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How much longer do you have to put up with this? If you can stand it a little while longer, then, take notes during the shift to jog your memory and take every chance to chart when she is off on one of her bs sessions. Or, you can switch if it is bad enough.

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Specializes in CVICU, CCU, Heart Transplant.

You know what, I think this is really unfair for you! When a supervisor or manager chooses a floor nurse to be a preceptor, they better make sure that the person is a good fit for it! It really puts you in an awkward position!

I thought my preceptor was a monster-- rigid and strict. She is on top of EVERYTHING that I do, and wants to know why I am doing it. But after a short time I realized why she is a preceptor-- Because she IS rigid and strict I was learning the right way to do things. I'm sure glad I don't have someone who makes me feel like they are just pinning their work on me. Uggh...

I totally understand why you don't want to make any waves, but it would sure feel good to tell your preceptor the truth about why you don't want to work him/her.

Best of luck and keep us updated!

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Switch. Nicely. What Jules said.

You must be competent or she would be riding you like a drunk on a bucking bronco machine.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

i had two preceptors when i started out. the first one was horrible (way too sensitive to me asking questions), but the second one rocked! try to talk to management and let them know that due to your learning skills you two are not a good fit. this way it will not look like you are attacking your preceptor's nursing abilities, rather you are requesting someone who teaches at the level you are able to learn. i hope that helps.:D

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Specializes in ED, ICU, lifetime Diabetes Education.

Your post sounds similar to what I would have written some months ago. I got a second preceptor and I am much better RN for it. If a preceptor is not the right fit then don't be afraid to request someone else. Cliques are everywhere. Those not in the clique are likely to be the ones that got your back and will help you.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Intermed, Neuro, LTC, Psych.

I had to switch preceptors with my first job out of school too. The first was a nice enough person, but she gave me tasks to do all day instead of letting me figure out what needed to be done. She didn't let me call doctors or do the charting or learn to manage my time... she just focused on me learned clinical skills... which I had done plenty of in nursing school.

My nurse manager switched me to another nurse for the last couple weeks of orientation, who was much more laid back and just let me figure things out on my own while still giving guidance when I needed it. It may have hurt my first preceptor's feelings a little bit, but this is YOUR career we're talking about here, and you need to feel comfortable doing your job.

Fast forward a year... I was a preceptor on the same unit. Basically you need a preceptor that matches your personality. I'm pretty laid back, so I do best training the new nurses that want to learn their own system of organization and jump right in and do things. I don't use them to do my job, I just let them take the reigns and it builds their confidence and ability to be a nurse... which they are.

Some people like a more structured preceptor that watches everything they do and constantly suggests the way they should be doing things... and that's fine if that's what they want. I've always been one to organize things my own way and I don't do well giving anyone step by step instructions for their entire day... but my first preceptor was, and some new nurses love how she precepts.

Anyway, change preceptors to someone that fits your personality a little better. Soon you will be in charge of your own team of patients, and what you did or didn't learn from a preceptor will help or hurt you.

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Specializes in picc certified.

Trade in your preceptor everyone is different in how they go about our business of nursing,dont worry about the clique thing either,being a male in nursing Ive dealt with situation and in the end no matter what I did or dint do was going to be wrong.Your preceptor is learning too,its 2 different games doing is way easier than showing rookies how to do it and do it right,in the perfect world both win you get a better fit for you and they learn about them as well.Hang in there Aand rookie is a term of affection on my planet

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