Sharing a Preceptor???

PacoUSA, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2014

I agree, it should be one to one. Unless the preceptor is working with each orientee on different days ... But it sounds like they want the preceptor to orient two at once. Not efficient I say. I did a DEU program in nursing school in which 2 students were matched up with one nurse for the entire clinical and capstone, but that was different (still better than a traditional group of 8 students to one instructor). A licensed RN needs one on one orientation.

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icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2014

If this nurse is very experienced, this could be an excellent opportunity for teamwork and mutual support. It might just be okay.

It depends on the abilities of your preceptor and the abilities of each new graduate nurse.

For safety, neither orientee should have a full assignment.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 26, 2014

I have worked at a couple of hospitals that did this routinely -- and everything was fine. It worked well. Whether it will work in your case will depend on whether or not your preceptor is prepared to have 2 orientees and her workload is appropriate for that assignment. If that is what the unit is accustomed to and they are set up for that, there is no need to worry any more than you would with a preceptor all to yourself.

In other words, you can have a terrible orientation if your preceptor is awful -- even if you have that awful person 100% of the time all to yourself. You can have a great orientation sharing a preceptor if the preceptor is good.

In the end, it's the quality of the people involved that count and whether they are prepared for what is expected of them. Assume the best, go in with a positive attitude and make the most of the situation. It can work very well if you all want it to work.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 26, 2014

It also depends on how far along in orientation the two of you are- we routinely do one-to-one orientation with our new OR hires for 24 weeks (with the goal being that the preceptor starts stepping out of the room and functioning as a resource only by the end of week 12). After those 24 weeks, one preceptor will function as the resource for two or three of the new hires (we typically hire in groups of 4-6).

If your preceptor is experienced and prepared to handle two orientees at the same time, I think it can be made to work. I don't think it's the most ideal situation, especially if you are both first week on the job brand new nurses.

paging_nurserae · Sep 26, 2014

Thanks for the great tips! I guess I was worried that I wouldn't get the individualized instruction that I need. I'm going to keep a clear mindset and look forward to lots of learning! Thanks!:)

paging_nurserae · Sep 26, 2014

Tuesday will be my second week on the floor and the new person's first week on the floor. I have been doing well, but not comfortable to take a full load of patients. Our orientation is supposed to be 12 weeks.

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Sep 26, 2014

When I was a preceptor, I usually had two preceptees if they were experienced nurses who were new to our unit. It worked out fine unless one of the newbies was a little slower than the other to catch on, in which case I had to give her more attention and let the other figure more things out for herself. But new grads were always 1:1.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 26, 2014

I don't see a problem at all, UNLESS the assignments are not the right ratio or acuity. If the preceptor is good at what she (he?) does, it can and does work just fine.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2014

New grads should be a 1:1

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2014

Our last group was 5 to one preceptor, but only one nurse was brand-spanking new. I don't agree with it, either, but our manager is a control-freak, and thinks she is the only one who can precept/orient anyone. I could really see the deficits with that group, and think she should have allowed other nurses to help.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2014

I shared a preceptor with another new hire towards the end of my orientation with this job. It went okay just because I was almost finished, and he was just a little newer on the unit than I was. Neither of us was a new RN though.