Preceptorship guidance

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Hello fellow nurses,

I'm an RN student and while I have a passion for babies I decided not to do postpartum for my preceptorship because to me it's not challenging enough and too much paperwork. Anyways, I was hoping to get anyone else's advice on where to preceptor? I'm not ready for an emergency unit or ICU unit, but I would like a place where it's special, but NOT OR because I get dizzy there. Not community or mental hospital either. I was thinking NICU or ICN but I'm just not sure if I can enter that field yet, I have only gotten to see the unit once and I didn't do anything but carry a baby. But if it's not as scary as I think then I know I would like that opportunity to see what it's like.

I'm going to do my own research but I would really like other nurses opinion on the really awesome specials you like? preferably where wound care is done? I just want to preceptor where it is special, not too much documentation, but challenging but not so tiring that at the end of the day I can't even walk. Thank you so much. I'm in Alberta, Canada. I just want a good experience. Lots of love,

melopanda

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Specializes in Emergency Department, ICU.

it sounds like what you want is all over the place.

May I ask what you mean by "not too scary"? I think a lot of people find it scary to try something new. I can tell you that pretty much anywhere that you precept your WILL feel so tired that you don't want to work at the end of the day ;)

Sorry I am not much help, but you're really limiting yourself by what you do and don't want. The beauty of preceptorship is you can use it as an avenue to learn new things while you are still in school so you can find your "home". Make sense? I'm a new grad, right into the ED and I honestly cannot imagine myself being a nurse anywhere else. If you are passionate about babies, then try to precept in that area... but NICU isn't going to be any easier than adult ICU, just as a forewarning. NICU is definitely not for all nurses who love babies.... there's a lot of joy there as babies grow and get to leave but also a lot of sadness for the ones that never leave there...

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Specializes in Education.

Remember, too, that you aren't going to be thrown to the wolves. If your preceptor does that, go to your professor.

But, if you're thinking about working with babies, why not a pediatric med-surg unit?

No, it's not as flashy as some other areas. You will be kept moving. It will also teach you good time management, good ways to interact with patients and their families, and you'll see a little bit of everything.

Disclaimer: I am an ER nurse first, nurse educator second. I do also belive in starting where you want to end up.

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Yeah I totally get what you're saying. But honestly I am following my gut feelings because I have already had experiences that I would not want to encounter again. Like you said there is sadness surrounding NICU so that's something for me to think about. I'm a sensitive person so even though my outershell can stay tough, I'm not good with handling too much sadness or frustration. I would like to work where I can make a difference and put a smile on people's faces that is why I'm contemplating whether it's best if I stay with adults (because I generally get along with them) or babies. Thank you for your input and taking your time to reply.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I'm going to be honest here- your expectations aren't realistic to the nursing profession. Maybe you can eventually find a job that is "special", "not too tiring" and "not too much documentation" not "too much sadness or frustration" and not scary, but it's probably not going to be your first job. And it's certainly not going to be your preceptorship. Your job right now is to learn how to be a good nurse. Learn how to assess, perform skills, communicate with patients and families, develop time management skills, become efficient, develop your own coping skills. Nursing school is not the time to try to find a placement where you are most comfortable.

Your best choice, in my opinion, is to choose a med-surg unit in either adults or pediatrics. There you will be exposed to the widest variety of nursing skills, diagnoses and conditions. There you will avoid most of the stress associated with critically ill and dying patients. I say "most" because on any inpatient unit, there is a risk that patients will take a turn for the worse, and it can happen quickly. If you feel yourself too stressed or overworked, you seek guidance from your preceptor. If you feel the need, take some time to meet with a school counselor during this preceptorship to help develop some coping strategies that will benefit you in your future career.

Oh, and documentation is going to be a big part of your job no matter where you end up working. I highly suggest you get accustomed to it as early as possible.

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Thank you for your comments, I have made my decision. I want to try out ICN or NICU. And my other two choices will just be a medicine unit and long term care. I would really like to see if NICU is the one for me.

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@Double-Helix. I'm already aware of all those assessment skills, time management and documentation. I just wanted other nurses opinion where they liked working. And as a person I already know my preferences so I'm sticking to that. -laughs- you seriously think im just choosing something "special" but one that's not "too hard?" I'm not here to sleep I'm here to be a nursing student to my full potential, and if I want to try out babies then I will, which like I said is a bit scary because I am not fully immersed in it. I'm not going to stay within a box of med-surg (though that is my second choice) just so I can get the experience. I have had plenty experience in my clinical in those units thanks for you "advice" though. I just want an enjoyable yet challenging experience, next time you give someone "advice" I suggest thinking like a nursing student for once. I know what the realities of a nurse are, I'm done being too tired and running around like a chicken, but if you think that's what a nurse is then please feel free to do so.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

Where I used quotes, I was taking text directly from your original post describing what you wanted from a clinical placement. You used the word "special" twice, it didn't come from me.

I suggested med-surg because you yourself said you don't handle sadness well and NICU is rampant with sadness. I would also be hesitant about a NICU preceptorship because many NICUs have very strict rules about the tasks students may or may not perform and you may find yourself limited in the amount of patient care you can perform. The nurse:patient ratio will be lower and you also won't get the same experience in time management and juggling a multiple patient assignment that you would on a floor.

You our asked for opinions, I gave mine. I told you I would be honest, and I was. Floor nursing is a busy job. If you call assessing, giving medications, performing tube feedings, wound care, ADL's, documenting for and otherwise meeting the needs of 5-6 patients for a 12 hour shift "running around like a chicken", I'm afraid you are the one who doesn't yet understand what a nurse is. But how could you? Pure still a student. And no, I'm not thinking like a nursing student, I'm thinking like a seasoned nurse who has worked in the real world experienced the challenges and intricacies of the nursing profession and understands the benefits of a well-rounded clinical placement.

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you have a point there Double-Helix. I am hesitant on it because I do not know what is going to be expected of me. Haha yeah well season away yourself, you should just watch what you say to people, you can come off rude. If you mean well then it's better that you give a suggestion and not with your kind of attitude. I like your honesty nonetheless, and while I am a nursing student you won't understand it from my perspective nor will I yours because your apparently "seasoned." Well, thinking about it, I will probably choose medicine or a pulmonary unit as my first choice because NICU might break me. I know how busy it is, I've been in plastic surgery unit, medicine unit and surgery unit before. I can tell you that there is also more to just those performances you mention. I applaud you though for your effort, you have convinced me to change my mind.

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Regarding all my posts, I apologize for my attitude, I was just offended by your posts Doublehelix. I'm sure you're a great nurse yourself. Have a good day.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I, personally, think you should request preceptorship in a unit that does indeed hire new grads.

I say this because I've heard that your best bet at getting a job is in a unit that you precepted in.

If there are still multiple choices, request a unit that you enjoyed working in during clinicals. This may be a unit with good team work and/or cares for pts you feel competent in caring for.

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thanks vintagemother for your comment. I will definitely put that into consideration as I do want to get hired. Unfortunately none of the clinical placements I were previously in popped out or that I liked the best. However I do think that medicine unit will fit me best at this point, it will challenge me and also get an overall experience with different people.

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