SICU New Grad Preceptor Problems

[kimpatrtan]

Hi all.

I just got a post on SICU as a new grad. I have a preceptor for the next two months. I've only been with her two days but I'm already afraid I'll have problems with her.

I graduated with a BSN from a nursing program that's locally known for putting out good nurses and did well. I got 75 questions on the NCLEX. Since I found out I was interviewing for the job, I've been reviewing my advanced med surg notes and reviewing material online. I'm a very visual learner. I learn by looking and watching and writing things down. So far I haven't had been stumped by too many things on the floor so haven't felt the need to ask a lot of questions of my preceptor. However, after asking her how she thought I was doing, she said that I don't ask enough questions and that I seem disinterested which I felt was completely off base especially after two days not only as a SICU nurse but as a registered nurse in the first place.

I'm not saying I know everything or that it's easy. It's not easy at all. I love what I'm doing but I'm exhausted after the day. I honestly don't know what to do next though because I feel like if she's already made this opinion about me, I won't learn as much from her as I could.

As preceptors, what do you expect your new grads not know? Should I ask questions to clarify things even though I know the purpose of some medications or arterial lines?

If there are any new grads out there, how are you going about things? I feel like I'm jumping into things when I can, doing hourly checks, zero-ing pressure monitoring lines and playing with vents but my preceptor doesn't think I'm doing enough apparently.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks all.

[edogs334]

I'm not a preceptor- I'm a new grad who just got off orientation in an ICU. If I were a preceptor, I would be very wary of a new grad who doesn't ask questions- not so much because I don't think they're interested- but chiefly because ICU nurses (new or old) who don't ask questions are the ones who will cause harm to their patients. It's a safety issue- it's that simple. Take the administration of Amphotericin B for example- you probably know it's an antibiotic (anti fungal to be specific) but do you know the side effects it can cause or how many ml's to give per hour (without causing toxicity)? Most importantly, did you know that one has to give the patient a fluid bolus prior to administration? Do you know exactly what you would do if the side effects manifested themselves (ie- giving Demerol for rigors)? Remember, asking questions will save your butt as well as your patient's; it's when you think you know something and you don't ask questions (even just to double-check) that you'll make a serious error. As my preceptor said to me multiple times "check and double-check."