Any advice that would help me be as prepared as possible?
So thankful for the opportunity to get this preceptorship, thankful for the RN that has agreed to precept me, and for the hospital for allowing me into their NICU. Hoping that it will lead to an offer of employment there in the NICU for when I finish this last bit of school at the end of September (Pinning on Oct 2 - whee).
My wonderful wife bought me an infant steth for our anniversary on Aug 28, so I'm set there. Anything else I should take with me? Anything I should study up on beforehand? I do plan to do a review on ventilators.
I'm an older student, a grandpa who spent 15 or so years working on death row in the state prison (corrections officer and supervisor), and have known since the first semester of my program that I want to work in NICU. This is a level IIIb NICU, and the manager of the dept has told me they're starting to handle cardiac surgeries and that they train all their nurses in chemotherapy as well. I feel it'd be a great spot for me to get a few years experience in the field.
A bit nervous, I must admit, but my preceptor seems to really enjoy mentoring, and we hit it off pretty well at our first meeting. I have to do 160 hours with her throughout the month of September. She told me to relax, ask lots of questions, and that she'd soon have me so busy I won't have time to be nervous. LOL, sounds good to me!
So, anything I should study/do/buy to be better prepared for my first day?
I've completed 105 hours of the 160 required, and should wrap it up in about 4 more shifts and a half. We'll have our pinning ceremony Oct 2. Good times. :)
Good for you, that's how I got my new grad position in the NICU two years ago.
Now I'm a preceptee all over again, for high-risk deliveries and admits.
Your next step will be your new hire/new grad orientation, which will be a challenge, and the step after that will be that first shift where you have your own assignment, and regardless of the support of your peers, you will know you bear the final responsibility for the babies in your care.
And after that your first code, and your first jet, and your first med error, etc...
It's done. Graduated Friday night, and now awaiting receipt of the ATT. Was told to call the NICU director "As soon as the NCLEX is passed" so that she can begin the hiring process. :)
RainDreamer, BSN, RN
3,571 Posts
Lots of good advice here already. Just wanted to say congrats!!
I did 144-hour preceptorship right before I graduated and I absolutely loved it.
Good luck to you, I wish you the best. And feel better!