taking students, precepting

[Agnus]

I do not precept and I do not take students. At one time I thought I would never say this. However, students deserve better. I want you to learn and do well and have good experiences.

Taking students is very taxing and time consuming and frankly at times frustrating, when we are not on the same sheet of music.

It takes a lot of energy and patience and teaching to take on a student. I don't have it. And when I have a day when the demands are already high I do not need to spend extra time and energy with a student.

I will accept a student occasionally but not as a matter of routine. Ask me first. Perferably ask me after I know what I am up against for the day. If I have a patient go real sour very fast I need people I can rely on around me not a student.

I will galdly allow you to do proceedures on my patients when you are with another nurse. However, if I say this patient needs cathed and you waite several hours until you get around to it don't bother. I saw this done when anouther nurse offered to let a student do a cath. The student was with a diffrent nurse and both accepted the offer. Yet more than 2 hours passed and they made no move toward doing it. The patient was suffering. The student with her nurse was not that busy. The nurse who had the patient continued to waite after reminding the student because another hour passed. Finally she did it herself. I am not here to waite until it suits the student to do a procedure. If you want the experience take it now or not at all. Life moves fast in a hospital. Be pro active.

Be willing to jump on an oportunity when it presents itself. Waiting does not cut it. True you may not be able to jump on every oportunity if you can't because you are taking advantage of another opertunity say so. Say when you will be free and keep that commitment or at least tell the nurse you will not be able to keep it.

I found myself a few weeks ago trying to explain something to a student and I realized that because it is so ingrained in me by now I do it automatically and could not explain it. For many of us it gets to be that way. I do not want to go back to where I have to think about every detail so I can explain to a student. I want to just do it and be done with it.

Because you deserve better than what I am willing to offer I will not accept you on. If you are a pia (pain in the tush) for what ever reason I don't want to react to that in an unkind or unfriendly way. You deserve better. I deserve to choose to just do my job without the added stress and challenge of teaching, and being a textbook example because that is what you need right now.

I did have a student last week for one day. He was within 2 months of graduating. I tried to get him to do the meds. He told me he, "has the procedure down and does not need to do it." He watched me. HELLO. I am not the student. I really do have it down. Either you are here to practice your clinical skills or you are not. I did not respond it was his loss. He watched me do assessments. I had to push him to do assessments and they were incomplete. Why was he even there. What a waste of both my time and his.

I guess he had that down too. So why tell me why did he even show up if he had everything so down pat that he did not need to do anything. He lef tsaying he would ask to work with me again. I think not. I know this is not every student. But no matter how good you are you take energy that I am not willing to give as mine has become limited as I age.

You may find that unfriendly but I can assure you you will see more unfriendly if I take you on. You need and deserve much more than I have to give.

[rrepass]

I see a lot of entitlement, and little true appreciation for how difficult precepting can be. I would love for students/new grads to remember that we experienced nurses have been in your shoes, but you have not been in ours. You do not know what it is like to try to blalnce pt. care plus be there for the student's needs.

I'd love for the students/new grads to read what they've written here 20y from now. I would be willing to bet they'd have a different perspective.

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My previous post was not meant as an attack on Agnus or anyone else. The above quote assumes that I feel entitled to something....and in a way, I suppose I do. I have been taught that teaching is a major responsibilty of nurses, or health care providers in general. I, too, hope that I will be able to read these posts 20y from now. That would mean that I am still nursing. And you are absolutely correct in saying that I haven't been in your shoes. But since you have been in ours, then surely you can understand how we feel. I am assuming that you may have had some of these same feelings. I understand that the patient load can be overwhelming, but the sooner we students/new grads complete our preceptorships successfully, the sooner you will have more qualified nurses to help ease the load!

I have worked with both good and bad, nice and not so nice nurses. And....I learned something from each one of them. So, thank you!

I don't want to be the added stress in any nurse's day. If we could discuss what is expected from each other, I will do my best to HELP you, asking for the same in return. I agree with Agnus!!!! If it is beyond your limitations to do this, BRAVO!! for saying this. It is the "seasoned" nurses that I look up to, admiring the work they do with such skill and finesse.

I would love to lend an ear for the nurse to vent her frustrations. But, please, I want to learn to be a good nurse too!

[onconurseRT]

Well....I would like to say something. I saw a quote a long time ago that reminds me of this: In 20 years, I will not remember what one person said, or what one person did, but I will remember how that one person made me feel! I, being a "new nurse" of only a year, hope that every single new grad/new nurse does reflect now and in years to come. Granted- some of it we may laugh at ourselves, however, some of it we need to remember and not forget where we came from. I am taking very carefull notes, because one day... I won't be the new nurse.

[jesting15]

I'm late replying to this thread, but as full time faculty- teaching and leading 8 students clinically, I am compelled to reply. I know what kind of a day my students will have when I see which Co-RN they have- could be awesome, or could be a day when I warn the student to stay clear of the nurse. I agree with so much of this post- if a nurse doesn't like/enjoy precepting, they shouldn't have to. However, this isn't always possible. I rarely know who the nurse will be on the night I pick appropriate patients.

I love teaching, and still precept at the job I work part time to keep my skills up. Yes, you're right, it *does* require extra time and work. But, I find it pays off in the end. Admittedly, some may not have the extra energy to give- those who don't want to precept shouldn't have to. Unfortunately, not always possible.

I counsel all my students when interviewing for their first RN position to thoroughly ask what the preceptor program is: how long? who? vounteer or mandatory? what's in place if the new-grad/preceptor isn't a good fit? support for new grad? support for preceptor? allowances for extra time if new grad needs it? I could go on and on, but this is a start. The new nurse needs the very best shot at success. The new grad I teach or precept may one day be *my* bedside nurse, and I want them to be good.

Sorry it's so long, thanks!