shouldnt precepting be teaching , not working?

Aneroo, LPN · Dec 1, 2008

I am in my 9th week of being a new grad working in the ICU. I was being taught for the first 2 weeks but then they put me out there working and helping me if I have a questions, now Im not being taught at all and my preceptor is telling me Im not catching on fast enough.
Shouldnt my 12 week oriantation be me working next to her learning?
There is none of this, its me working and then she reviews my work and critisizes me that Im missing things.
Im very discouraged.
P.S. my ICU oriantation is only 3 months while most ICU oriantation 6 months, doesnt this sound fishy to you?

Yes, it sounds fishy.

I'd speak to the education coord. (or whoever is in charge of preceptors) and request a meeting with the three of you. Doing it is the best way to learn it, but there are far better ways to get the experience you need without just throwing you out there.

Venetian · Dec 1, 2008

Yes, in reality, Ive gotten a 2 week oriantation. We have three open positions on days that no one is applying for, the ratio is always 2 patients and sometimes three, which I think is dangerous.

My boss has assigned me to a new preceptor because I broke down and quit, she convinced me to come back and train with a different preceptor. To be honest, Im looking for a new job tommarow, I now have ACLS and three months under my belt, so Im not experianced but maybe someone will take me in?

pagandeva2000, LPN · Dec 1, 2008

Yes, in reality, Ive gotten a 2 week oriantation. We have three open positions on days that no one is applying for, the ratio is always 2 patients and sometimes three, which I think is dangerous.
My boss has assigned me to a new preceptor because I broke down and quit, she convinced me to come back and train with a different preceptor. To be honest, Im looking for a new job tommarow, I now have ACLS and three months under my belt, so Im not experianced but maybe someone will take me in?

I think that you should give it a shot with the new perceptor. It seems that your supervisor is trying to work with you and took your negative experience under consideration. The fact is that most nurses are really just thrown out there to the wolves in shorter spans of time. In addition, most people (not sure if this is the case with you) asked to percept are usually not volunteers, or are not fairly compensated to oversee a person. My hospital pays $3 a day for RNs to precept. Not much incentive. Of course, this is not to say that you don't deserve the training, consideration, mentorship and patience, but that is another reality. You may be able to get another position, but unless you are sure of what the market is like in your area, a new employer may not consider three months as enough time to consider you for a position.

Believe me, I understand your dilemma! Being new is scary! But, your supervisor seems to be better than most...the majority of them will tell you to either sink or swim and that's it. She is trying to work with you. Be a bit more patient, try this new preceptor out and see how it goes before you throw in the towel on this one...and good luck!

squirmals · Dec 1, 2008

Boy can I relate. I am orienting for PCU and was told I would train in ICU for several months. After my first month I was sent to PCU without a preceptor, it's hit and miss who I'll be with. I did two weeks on days and they said I was ready for nights. My first noc shift was with a traveler...which was her first noc. So here we are trying to figure out what our responsiblities are. There isn't any regular staff, 3 new grads, one new employee and our travel nurse. It's so frustrating. Then on top of that if our sensus is 3 or less we don't get any help, it's just one RN. We are in no mans land, so support, if needed, there isn't any close by. I'm hoping as I become more confident I won't feel this way. I am so ready to quit. There isn't any critical care training, just get out there and care for the patients. I have no problem doing patient care, I've been an LPN for 27 years. Teach me the Rn stuff, the critical care stuff. Show me where to find phone numbers...which one nurse on days hides the list because they are her number lists. YIKES! :banghead:

RNperdiem, RN · Dec 1, 2008

My ICU orientation was 9 weeks long including the classroom time.

As a nurse, you learn by doing.

It is not clear why you threatened to quit. Did you have a bad experience with nobody to back you up?

You can call some nurse recruiters and ask about employment options for nurses with less than one year experience.

Reading this board however, it seems that nurses with less than one year experience find themselves in an awkward position of not being eligible for new grad programs and not being considered experienced for other positions.

Venetian · Dec 1, 2008

The fact is that most nurses are really just thrown out there to the wolves in shorter spans of time.

This is the best way to :

1.waste the hospitals money recruiting because that unhappy newgrad is going to look for a new job elsewhere, like me today on my day off:banghead:.

2. Endanger their license.

3.Make your department look bad within the hospital because of high turnover. I mentioned already the 3 open slots no one is applying for.

I can probably list more but Im enroute to Starbucks to update my resume.

Venetian · Dec 1, 2008

It is not clear why you threatened to quit. Did you have a bad experience with nobody to back you up?

I go into work and work nonstop one thing after another, fast too. I only get one 25 minute break during the 12 hour shift, which I dont even think is legal but I will leave that for now.

I dont mind, and in fact fully enjoy the hard work because it is my passion. But the one line I wasnt going to allow to be crossed was when my preceptor told me I wasnt far enough in my training and that I was missing important things.

The patient ratio is always 2 to one and sometimes three to one, (in an ICU !) you're so busy trying to stay ontop, some things get missed. How about the 2000 things I did that day that went perfect, but nooooooo. This is why that ratio is so dangerous.

There is NO training/teaching. I cant make this any more clear.

If someone works nonstop for you for the whole 12 hour shift, there is nothing more they can give you.

**canoehead, BSN, RN** · Dec 1, 2008

Responses so far seem less than sympathetic.

I agree you should have more training and and a preceptor by your side helping, not just you doing and her pointing out your errors. Sure this is common practice, but that doesn't make it right, and certainly doesn't mean you should put up with it. I agree that you should get an immediate response to your concerns, and/or find somewhere else to work where you get some training before you are thrown in. No "buts" or "maybes" go where you feel supported and safe, and let those that are OK with this type of orientation take this job. You may have gathered that I am not one of those people.

angel337, MSN, RN · Dec 1, 2008

I am in my 9th week of being a new grad working in the ICU. I was being taught for the first 2 weeks but then they put me out there working and helping me if I have a questions, now Im not being taught at all and my preceptor is telling me Im not catching on fast enough.
Shouldnt my 12 week oriantation be me working next to her learning?
There is none of this, its me working and then she reviews my work and critisizes me that Im missing things.
Im very discouraged.
P.S. my ICU oriantation is only 3 months while most ICU oriantation 6 months, doesnt this sound fishy to you?

i don't think this sounds so bad. after 9 weeks i think its acceptable to expect you to be more hands on. i don't think you should be completely on your own, but i think its good to let you be more autonomous. its really the only way to truly learn, but of course if you don't feel comfortable with that, tell your manager and he/she may extend the orientation.

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Dec 1, 2008

The grass is not always greener on the other side. Your next employer will expect you to have some experience and may look on you as a quitter if you changed jobs so soon. I say try the next preceptor then maybe talk to HR about transferring to another department. It takes a while to feel comfortable in your skin.

Venetian · Dec 1, 2008

Responses so far seem less than sympathetic.
I agree you should have more training and and a preceptor by your side helping, not just you doing and her pointing out your errors. Sure this is common practice, but that doesn't make it right, and certainly doesn't mean you should put up with it. I agree that you should get an immediate response to your concerns, and/or find somewhere else to work where you get some training before you are thrown in. No "buts" or "maybes" go where you feel supported and safe, and let those that are OK with this type of orientation take this job. You may have gathered that I am not one of those people.

Thank You!

I think maybe a major University hospital may be the answer.

I was telling my family the same kinda thing you just said - I said "what I think they have there is a bunch of Nurses that are willing to just put up with it". Plus these are seasoned Nurses that know how to hit the angles right so the day is fine.