Really nervous about starting preceptorship, anyone else feel the same?

April, RN, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2011

Relax! Your preceptor knows that you're still a student and are there to learn. The point of the preceptorship is for you to learn from him/her, not for you to be judged! It's important to ask questions, but it's also important to listen and pay attention. Once you start to feel comfortable, take the initiative and offer to jump in whenever possible rather than always being asked first. The experience is what you make of it. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it. If you'd like to get more experience with IV pumps, dressing changes, or cardiac rhythms, let your preceptor know. When I precept, I try to seek out foley insertions, IM injections, NG tube placements, etc., for the student to get experience with.

Again, relax! No one expects you to know everything. :)

turnforthenurse, MSN, NP · Mar 9, 2011

I was nervous before I started preceptorship, too. But I got comfortable very quickly. Your preceptor is there to guide you, not make your life miserable. I wasn't just "thrown in" from the beginning. First I followed my preceptor around for awhile and then later that I day he started having me give medications, but other than that I just shadowed him at first to get a feel for the unit and how he does things. The next day he had me start doing patient assessments and that sort of stuff, but again he didn't just throw me into everything. He gradually increased my workload until I was practically doing everything myself (except for IV stuff, he had to be with me for me to give that stuff). There were a few times where I really was left by myself because he had to go to some mandatory unit meetings but there was always at least a couple of other RNs on the floor that I could seek help from if I needed it.

Overall I LOVED my precepting experience. I learned so much and it made everything sort of "click" and come together. :nurse:

Turd Ferguson · Mar 9, 2011

Don't be afraid to ask questions! Have fun and learn a lot!

myty23 · Mar 10, 2011

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling a little better lately. I think it just kind of started to sink in all at once that I'm really at the end...starting preceptorship, then on my own in the nursing world. I've been waiting and wishing for this for so long and knew it was coming, but it just didn't really hit me until we got our assignments for preceptorship. I'm so excited, nervous, but happy to be here at the end!! I felt this way before starting clinicals too, so I know I will probably get over it fast, it's just a little scary jumping into the unknown....But here goes!! :) :)

manu705 · Mar 21, 2011

I felt the same way, I've done 10 clinicals so far with my preceptor. They know you're a student and your there to learn and they remember when they were in your shoes. My preceptor has only been a nurse for a few years so she knew how nervous I was! Don't be nervous just remember to ask a lot of questions and learn as much as you can at this time. After this you will be on your own!!