BlueJean

Thanks for all of your insights- my role as a preceptor has actually been another opportunity to learn about myself as a nurse. Since my last post, I spoke with our nursing educator and my orientee using our weekly progress worksheets, keeping my comments very factual and observation focused. The new nurse was immediately forthcoming about some personal and professional issues that, she felt, were hindering her progress with me. She apologized, insisted we stick with it, and she's done a great job since. It's nice to know that we can help each other progress in a mature fashion! Thanks for all your ideas- much appreciated.

Hey AllNurses- I'm a second-career RN who started my nursing career in a small CVICU/CVRU two years ago. As such, my learning curve has been very steep (including 90+ hours of intensive classroom and simlab orientation at hiring), but I can finally function independently and have much more realistic expectations of myself, the job, etc. Dare I say- I even like my job some days. :) A couple of months ago, I was asked to be a preceptor for another New Grad RN to our unit. While she is technically a new grad, she has also been in the healthcare field for decades and has an ease about assessment and patient care that comes with lots of clinical experience. Rewind to add that MY initial orientation to nursing was very harsh, very difficult, and not well managed. I survived, let it go, and met this opportunity to be a preceptor with the idea that I would not let this new grad sink or feel hazed instead of supported. To the issue: My role as a preceptor is not going well. We have developed a dynamic that includes her not knowing what nursing actions to take- and she is hostile when I prompt or attempt to help her prioritize. So I'll confront this and let her move on to another preceptor, but it's disappointing. I wonder if it's me... or if healthcare education teaches to expect a harsh teaching style.... Any resources or ideas how to become a better preceptor? Would love any insights.

Wow- this is a relief to read. I am a new grad (May) on a critical care unit and, despite good school grades and a successful previous career, I am apparently HORRIBLE at nursing. Argh. My first preceptor was so on top of everything, I basically just shadowed her. Didn't realize the problem until NEXT preceptor saw I had no independence, no independent priority-setting practice, etc. So now I'm mid- termination process and am nauseated and miserable all the time. So humiliating and disappointing! First couple shifts with third preceptor went great- so maybe something is finally clicking. Lawd.