Preceptors: What are your expectations?

[mariebailey, MSN, RN]

I'm in my 1^st few days of orientation in critical care after 6 years of experience outside the hospital; in other words, I'm like a new grad. My preceptor, who is a great nurse, doesn't talk a lot (not to me, anyway), but I am asking questions. My fear is that I really don't know what questions to ask & that I'm not going get the big picture if something doesn't change in terms of communication. Should I be assertive & tell her what I need from her, or should I trust that she knows what she is doing? If you have precepted, what were your expectations of your orientees? What's the best way to learn what I need to learn from her? My goal is to be competent & have a positive relationship with her. Thanks!

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

In the beginning you need to learn the routine and physical skills. Things like programming the IV pump, drawing blood off a line, placing an IV, doing an EKG rapid sequence intubation and a thousand other tasks.

Once you are safe with those skills it is time to move on to knowing why we do what we do.

She probably doesn't want to overwhelm you with too much in the beginning. I wouldn't.

You should be receiving weekly evaluations with goals for the following week. Make a copy for yourself.

Ask her privately how do you think I am doing? What do I need to work on?