Preceptorship

[mikasa]

Hello!

I'm a senior and have to choose which area to precept in and I'm not sure which one I should pick! I enjoy working with older adults, I do NOT want to work with pediatrics. I currently work as a nursing aide at cardiovascular ICU. I'm really thinking about going to Anesthesia school but that's far in the future and I know I have to have a couple years of ICU experience before applying. So I'm wondering if I should precept in the ICU but I already work in the ICU...or should I choose a different unit so I can experience something new?

Here's a couple of choices that interest me: Critical care adult (CICU, MICU, SICU), Cardiac/telemetry step down unit, Ed & Trauma, Mental Health & CD, General Med/Surg

So, I'm not guaranteed a unit. I have to choose my top 3. What unit do you think will benefit me? I see what they do at the ICU and the nurses I work with tell me I should precept in telemetry because I'll learn a lot there. What do you think? Thanks!

[RN403, BSN, RN]

An ICU, telemetry, or ER preceptorship would probably look the best on a resume when applying to work in an ICU setting. You will also gain valuable experience and insight.

[RunBabyRN]

I would choose ICU for #1 if I were you. ED you'll see peds sometimes, and you cannot say, "I don't want to work with peds." I'd say #2 probably tele.

[ZooMommyRN, ADN, RN]

I was pushed into the ICU by my instructors who felt I was selling myself short by only going after Med/Surg jobs. I liked and did well, was even offered a job, but I stuck with my Med/Surg roots. After 6 months they started rotating me to the ICU because they knew where I did my practicum lol after a year I got curious about ER and transferred. I was the one playing rock paper scissors to NOT get the peds patients, I felt the same as you. Now? I work in a peds ER, my friends were dumbfounded when I turned in my resignation and told them where I was going. 3 yrs later I love and occasionally miss the adult ER stuff but then I look at the adult board and realize I am in shangra-la and off I go to deliver another Popsicle because they can cure a lot lol So never say never! put down your choices but keep an open mind and be willing to jump in like it was your first choice!

[mikasa]

All my instructors have said that they like a certain unit as a student but once they became a nurse they found themselves switching to a unit that they never expected they like but now they love! I am hoping that I end up in a unit that I absolutely love and your right, maybe I will like peds! Lol Thank you for the advice

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

you are not getting married to this decision. Just find something and learn from it and relieve yourself of this stress. You can learn from any preceptorship and you are not stuck with that area the rest of your life. PLUS, real life won't be like the preceptorship anyway. Just think of this as another loop to jump thru.

[dah doh, BSN, RN]

If your goal is CRNA, you will need to work ICU! However, a preceptorship can be looked upon either as reinforcing your choice to do ICU & a potential to impress someone to get an interview there or as trying something else since there is no obligation!