Too many preceptors

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Hi all! So let me start off by saying that I was hired on a floor that I believed at the time was my dream job. I seriously felt like I hit the jackpot and was so lucky and happy to have been chosen for the position. I have been on orientation for 4 weeks now. My problem is that I feel I have had too many preceptors. I am an experienced nurse. My last job was my first job and I stayed there for 3 years. I couldn't wait to get out of there as fast as possible so when this job came along, I felt so relieved. My last orientation was honestly the best orientation I could have asked for. I had one preceptor throughout the entire process and it was a good match up. I felt supported and there was a trust between my preceptor and I. This orientation, I have had 3 preceptors so far. One of my current preceptors is now getting rotated out and starting next week, I will be with someone new. My experience and skills have helped me immensely in this new position but I feel like my confidence is dropping every week I go through. I feel like it should be the other way around. I felt more confident the first week to be honest and not in a cocky way, I just felt really good about where I was at. Maybe that was the "honeymoon phase" and reality hadn't set in yet. With new jobs come new responsibilities and that is terrifying, at least to me. I actually miss my old job and I never thought I'd say that. I guess I just miss being independent and feeling like I knew what I was doing. My preceptors have been mostly good but the randomness and going from one to the other is throwing me off. I feel like I have to start over every week and prove myself to my new preceptor. My manager actually told me (in the nicest way possible) to work on my confidence and that comment just broke me down even more. Is this a normal feeling of being on orientation? Has anyone else felt this way? Any words of advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated! I also tend to be very hard on myself so maybe I just need to stop thinking about it so much. I do like this job and I think I will like it more once I get started on my own but this orientation process is beating me down. And once I orient on nights, I will be with 2 more people. I just feel like they are putting me with too many preceptors and I am not getting the best learning experience due to lack of consistency. Each new preceptor doesn't know what I am capable of and I feel like I have to prove myself again and again.

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I agree that it's difficult to be placed with multiple preceptors, especially when they have different ways of doing things and are micro-managing. When I oriented for my second nursing job, after a few days (and a few preceptors), I started asking for what I needed.

For example, I'd ask the preceptor to let me take all the patients and deal with all the issues ....even if I seemed like I was struggling a little bit. I asked them to check things that I wasn't certain about, but to let me do all the work.

They were all happy to oblige and I came off orientation before the rest of my group because I was able to develop my own routine. I think some preceptors feel "lazy" if they don't stay really involved and manage every aspect of care ...but if you suggest your own plan to them, they just might be agreeable.

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Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.

You're getting a very long orientation for an experienced nurse. Is this field of nursing totally different from what you were doing before?

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Yes, I agree. Originally they said 12 weeks but after like 3 weeks they said I probably could do with 8 weeks due to my experience. I feel lucky to be getting that long of orientation being experienced. I just wish it was more consistent. Maybe I just need to lower my expectations a bit. I was on a gen med surg floor and got 6 weeks. Now peds with some trachs and vents so that is why they offer longer orientation but still longer than most other places would do

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I agree that it's difficult to be placed with multiple preceptors, especially when they have different ways of doing things and are micro-managing. When I oriented for my second nursing job, after a few days (and a few preceptors), I started asking for what I needed.

For example, I'd ask the preceptor to let me take all the patients and deal with all the issues ....even if I seemed like I was struggling a little bit. I asked them to check things that I wasn't certain about, but to let me do all the work.

They were all happy to oblige and I came off orientation before the rest of my group because I was able to develop my own routine. I think some preceptors feel "lazy" if they don't stay really involved and manage every aspect of care ...but if you suggest your own plan to them, they just might be agreeable.

I think that is a great idea. Thank you! I need to ask for what I need rather than let them take the lead and hopefully they will be on board. Either way it doesn't hurt to ask!

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Oh my goodness I could have written your post. I'm going through a re-entry orientation because of time away from nursing. 1/2 way through I've had 7 preceptors. I have had similar feelings as you describe. What I've really tried to embrace is that each preceptor has learned unique tricks of the trade so I'm focusing on that rather than the cons of the experience which are what you so eloquently describe. It's does feel like a beat down to be corrected over and over for doing something the way the last preceptor showed you on top of your own learning curve.

No you're not alone. :)

I'm positive I will be better for this experience at the end because it is unique, as you will also. I know there's even going to be a positive from the beat down....I just must find it ;)

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I'm glad I'm not alone! Sorry you're not having the best experience either! At first I did like having different people bc I was able to see different ways of doing things. As the weeks go on, it's just difficult bc like I said I'm starting with a new person and that can be challenging. I know I will get through it and come out stronger by the end. I honestly forgot how much orientation..how should I put this? Sucks! Lol

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Hi all! So let me start off by saying that I was hired on a floor that I believed at the time was my dream job. I seriously felt like I hit the jackpot and was so lucky and happy to have been chosen for the position. I have been on orientation for 4 weeks now. My problem is that I feel I have had too many preceptors. I am an experienced nurse. My last job was my first job and I stayed there for 3 years. I couldn't wait to get out of there as fast as possible so when this job came along, I felt so relieved. My last orientation was honestly the best orientation I could have asked for. I had one preceptor throughout the entire process and it was a good match up. I felt supported and there was a trust between my preceptor and I. This orientation, I have had 3 preceptors so far. One of my current preceptors is now getting rotated out and starting next week, I will be with someone new. My experience and skills have helped me immensely in this new position but I feel like my confidence is dropping every week I go through. I feel like it should be the other way around. I felt more confident the first week to be honest and not in a cocky way, I just felt really good about where I was at. Maybe that was the "honeymoon phase" and reality hadn't set in yet. With new jobs come new responsibilities and that is terrifying, at least to me. I actually miss my old job and I never thought I'd say that. I guess I just miss being independent and feeling like I knew what I was doing. My preceptors have been mostly good but the randomness and going from one to the other is throwing me off. I feel like I have to start over every week and prove myself to my new preceptor. My manager actually told me (in the nicest way possible) to work on my confidence and that comment just broke me down even more. Is this a normal feeling of being on orientation? Has anyone else felt this way? Any words of advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated! I also tend to be very hard on myself so maybe I just need to stop thinking about it so much. I do like this job and I think I will like it more once I get started on my own but this orientation process is beating me down. And once I orient on nights, I will be with 2 more people. I just feel like they are putting me with too many preceptors and I am not getting the best learning experience due to lack of consistency. Each new preceptor doesn't know what I am capable of and I feel like I have to prove myself again and again.

Three preceptors seems about normal to me. Your preceptors should talk to one another and share perceptions of your progress and what you sort of experiences you need to progress. The only way to get one preceptor is if you are willing to follow their schedule 100% of the time . . . and most orientees aren't willing to do that.

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