Training with Nurse who apparently doesn't like to train

Published

Okay guess I just want to get opinions or advice or maybe just vent a little, I just started in a LTC facility which I absolutly love, Everyone has been very nice... I am sceduled for 3 weeks of orientation so far. I did 2 days with one nurse who went through a checklist with me of Everything I needed to know for the first day. The next day she sent me to follow the mednurse. 3rd day, I'm with a different Nurse. She looked surprised when I walked in to train with her, I guess she wasn't told she would be training someone. She didn't look very happy about it at all... Okay I didn't take it personally. She wasn't good about explaining things, just kind of worked and did her paperwork while I sat there and watched her... I had to keep asking questions cause she wasn't really "training" me... So then I started to feel like I was being annoying..

I am a new Grad and never worked in a facility (she knows this) so I really want to learn Everything. When she goes to do something ( a treatment, assesment..ect.) she just gets up and walks away... Not saying " Do you want to observe this" ect...

Any suggestions how I should handle this. I will be training with her again before going to another unit to train.

Thanks for any help

Bea

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Respiratory, Cardiac, ED, Maternity, Ped.

I would speak to your manager and ask to train with someone else. Just simply say her training style is not how you learn well. You are a hands on person and really want to learn as much as possible.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

I like tinkerbell9681's approach. If your facility offers 3 weeks of training (unheard of in LTC, I got 1.5 DAYS as a new grad!) then they must value training. Try for a non confrontational approach like that will hopefully leave no hurt feelings. Feel out the other nurses and see if anyone would be okay with you following them a bit. Personally (as a newer nurse) it can be really intimidating to train someone, and I have oriented nurses with far more experience and better skills. It's intimidating, and can leave you with a bad taste for orienting. Also LTC is about time management and sticking to your routine. Moving fast is a key to leaving on time and managing your workload without burning out. If you throw anything else into that mix (like training a new grad) it can make for a difficult day. Also quite frankly most nursing homes don't function like the best practices they taught you in nursing school. It can be hard to openly teach a new grad the short cuts that nurse might take every day. New grads are taught to question short cuts, so some nurses are unhappy about the possibility of having to show "real world" nursing to a new grad.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Not everyone is cut out to help train. Speak to either the manager or the staff development coordinator

Up Vote Up Vote ×

*JenniferSews... I think you hit the nail right on the head! I know she is very busy and has her own routine... and she has told me that she was "thrown into the wolves" after a couple days of training. I know "things are different in the real world" and I'm not questioning those things to her or making comments.. just taking it all in.

I don't want to "stir up any s@%t" I just want to be comfortable being on my own, be a team player and do a really good job. I know some people just aren't cut out to train, or just want to go in and do thier job. I just wanted to get feedback on how other people would handle this. Or if I'm just being too nitpicky.

thanks for your input.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If I were you and I were placed with her again....... try to tell her your needs at the beginning of the day. For instance, "I'm really interested in the procedures you're involved in today. I haven't had the opportunity...blahblahblah." I'd be apprehensive about speaking to the manager like that so soon (Aren't we supposed to work as a team, work well with others, be able to adapt, etc?) On the other hand, if avoiding that preceptor altogether is the only way to get a valuable training experience, then I'd speak with someone.... just wouldn't be my first move.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You really need to speak up. You will find yourself having to speak up for yourself alot in nursing, because if you don't people will think they can say and do anything to you. Once you nip it in the bud the first time, it will come easy throughout your career. You need to know whats going on because once you get off orientation, you need to know what you are doing so you don't cause harm to anybody. If you don't feel that you are getting the right training, let the manager know so she can place you with another nurse. This is not your fault, this happens all the time, no matter where you work. Mostly because, management don't have the descency to let the trainer know that they will be training someone. This won't be the last time you run into some snobby nurse who acts like she didn't have to get trained. Just go to work do your job and go home to your family. Stay away from negative nurse's like her. Longterm care can get busy at times. I'm glad you like the place.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

That sucks, I'm so sorry. I just did my own precepting of a new nurse and I made sure to introduce her (as well as letting the nurse know) who would be precepting her next.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Two options here

1. you don't have to shut up and bear it. When she walks away, let her go and seek a more amiable nurse and work with her.

2. Have a conversation with her in explaining to her, that you need to understand more.

3. Just be more alert and follow here. If she has to invite you to follow her each and every single time, it;s going to be tiring.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in FNP.

I agree with ask for someone else. I am someone who always resented being asked to precept new hires, or worse, students (no offense). I was always in a groove at work and didn't like interruptions, or having to explain stuff. I don't like to orient, it is not my "thing." I will gladly teach someone how to do something, but to get stuck with someone for a whole shift, or multiple shifts, yuck. It has nothing to do with being unfriendly (I'm not in the least) or eating my young (I'm a vegetarian). I just don't like to do it, so even though I was expert at my job, students and new hires were better off with someone who did like it, with brief 5-10 minute demonstrations on some topics, from me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

How you handle this depends on what you're equipped to deal with. Are you comfortable with confrontation and possible animosity? If so, speak to the nurse or manager about your concerns. If you're like me, chase this nurse, learn everything you can, and pray for the end of orientation. I had a nut case training me and I was stuck for 16 weeks. I just smiled and curse that ****** out in my head, lmao.

But it depends on how bad it is for you. The person who trained me was a nutcase but she knew a lot and wanted to teach, so even though we were complete opposites I dealt with it

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, MDS.

I know I'm more of a doer, so when I was in orientation, I asked to do everything.

However, that comes back to bite me in the butt when I try to train someone. I just "do" cause that's the kind of person I am. And I forget that they don't know everything I do. And unless I set them on a separate task, I rarely ask them if they want to accompany me, because I kind of assume that they are there to shadow me, which means they are there to follow me. I know I'm not the best orienter, but it's not cause I don't like to train! I'm just not too good at it XD

I love it when my orientees ask me questions. Offer to do more, and maybe she'll be better at showing you how to do it while you do it, instead of just doing it herself.

Keep your eyes and ears open and soak it all in. Even if someone doesn't like to train, you can still learn A LOT from them just by watching.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion