7 weeks into orientation, now this?

TheMiss · Oct 31, 2012

Maybe your preceptor just realized that he hasn't done the best job in preceptoring you and sees this as a way to improve. Take it as a chance - it'll be an easier day for you if you go along and shadow him. And you can ask him all kinds of questions. Or he might ask you some. It'll give him good one on one teaching time too.

And maybe he is not that good at being a preceptor and giving feedback and found something he would like you to change but doesn't know how to address - and therefore hopes that you pick it up by shadowing him.

Bringonthenight · Oct 31, 2012

I agree with the above post, try not to take it offensively and just use the day to compare your routine to his. You might find bits of it that you might want to adapt to your own routine. Sounds like your doing great though!

born2circulateRN · Oct 31, 2012

Maybe you're right. Thanks for the feedback!

born2circulateRN · Oct 31, 2012

I apologize if I sound like I'm complaining, which wasn't my intention at all. But, IMO I think it'll be better if he observes how I do things while telling me what improvements I need throughout the day so I can adjust that way. Because when I have my load, he helps around with everyone or/and takes a patient. So, I'm sort of by myself which means he can't tell me what he agrees or disagrees with my routine. Thanks again.

DoeRN · Oct 31, 2012

I think since you are still in orientation and your preceptor holds your job in his hands do what he asks as long as it isn't against hospital policy or your SBON regulations. It will be an easier day for you. Trust me when you get on your own you will cherish light days. He has more experience and he may have forgotten to show you something.

I remember when I first oriented someone it was the last week and I felt she was ready but had her shadow me and my manager let me be the task nurse that day. Normally we didn't have a task nurse but we did that day. We did all the wound changes, set up suction, did trach care, suctioned the trachs, dropped an NG tube, I hung chemo but she watched all the steps, did a bladder scan, discontinued a foley, set up a tube feeding pump, helped with some of the blood sugar testing, started all new IV's. It was an oncology floor so we changed out any port huber needles that were due, drew all the labs because we didn't have phlebotomist, the techs or nurses drew labs. So needless to say she said this was of great value to her learning how to do all of this.

So suck everything that he tells you in and learn from that. Y

born2circulateRN · Oct 31, 2012

doeRAYmee, thanks for your input. And as far as a task day/nurse - that would be really really beneficial since I haven't done every skill in the book; we do not have a task nurse. I know he has good intentions and wants me to succeed, but I guess I just don't understand the reason of him doing all of patient care while I just watch the whole shift- vice versa is fair though. But, I guess I'll find out how the day will go - it's only 1 shift and I'm pretty much an open person to things that are helpful. thanks again!

military spouse · Oct 31, 2012

Maybe he does this with everyone he orients. Initially, he may allow you to do and then at the end give you the opportunity to follow him and fine-tune any skills and have the opportunity to ask questions. I can actually see the benefit to giving you time to develop a style and have time to think of pertinent questions and then give you a final shift to follow and ask. I really wouldn't take in personally. I'm sure he has a vested interest in your success, just as you do. Nobody wants to work short :)

Aymese · Oct 31, 2012

I think it's crazy that they are giving you nursing students already!

born2circulateRN · Nov 1, 2012

@ military spouse - Thanks for your input. And maybe this is how he orients - Idk? Next time I am orienting with him I going to ask some questions about it. And, I guess I shouldn't take it personal since this is orientation and I'm a new graduate - but it just sort of sucks that I wasn't given any slack because I thought I was doing a good job with having students. Oh well - I'm not going to dwell on it, I have a hard back-bone, haha...thanks!

@ Aymese - Thanks...I thought I was the only one who thought that. lol.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 1, 2012

I am wondering why your preceptor had one patient and you had the students........

The oreintee/new grad should never have the students........I think you did fine but as you are still getting your feet wet you should notn have to monitor the students.

IMHO....your preceptor was taking advantage of the situation and not doing their job.

Simply Complicated · Nov 1, 2012

Here's my take on it. When you first start out, you are very overwhelmed and trying to take it all in. So when shadowing, you are trying to get the whole picture. Then you start taking your own patients, and developing your own routine. You get to know the process, how to do things the way the facility likes, their policy's etc. The further you get, the more comfortable you are.

Having another shadow shift later, you are likely to be able to focus more on things. You may pick up some tricks and tips that you missed before, because you had no idea what to look for. Being on your own, even though you are learning what your doing, you still have a lot on you. Being given the chance to shadow again, you can put more focus on specifics, that you may not even have the time to think about, or identify. Rather than being focused on the over all picture, or being sure you are getting everything done, you can take step back and process, and take a deeper look at things. I don't think it's a bad idea at all. Doesn't mean he necessarily thinks you "need" to do this because you are lacking or did something wrong. Good luck!