I've noticed alot of threads lately from new nurses who seemed quite stressed out, which I can totally understand, I've been there for sure. So I thought I'd start a thread from the other POV. This shouldn't be an opportunity to be sarcastic or uncharitable, but maybe it can help a new grad to see the other side of the story.
I get nervous by a new nurse who doesn't ask questions. I also will have misgivings about a new nurse who asks a question and then argues with my answer. Also, a new nurse who knows it all makes me nervous.
I get irritated by a cocky new nurse. A little bit of deference and humilty is a good thing. But someone who grovels makes me unsettled. I also get annoyed if a new nurse is too bossy with the pts.
After reading all of these useful posts, I am glad now that I asked so many questions when I was orienting. I always felt stupid for asking, and then coming back and asking about something else until finally one day I asked how I was doing, and they were actually relieved that I always asked before winging anything. Now that I am off orientation, I feel more confident due to all of the helpful nurses who helped during orientation. I still come across things that I still have not done, and now I am perfectly comfortable with asking again! Just the other day I have to draw blood cultures, and I still had not had the chance to do it until then, yeah I felt dumb, but I asked anyway, and the most important thing is that I did it right. The focus is on my patients, not my ego!
This shouldn't be an opportunity to be sarcastic or uncharitable, but maybe it can help a new grad to see the other side of the story.
I get nervous by a new nurse who doesn't ask questions. I also will have misgivings about a new nurse who asks a question and then argues with my answer. Also, a new nurse who knows it all makes me nervous.
I get irritated by a cocky new nurse. A little bit of deference and humilty is a good thing. But someone who grovels makes me unsettled. I also get annoyed if a new nurse is too bossy with the pts.
In six years, I have worked in four states and six jobs. All floor or telemetry. I have been precepted many times and have also precepted both students and new nurses, and am currently being precepted in a brand new field; ICU.
I like that I have this vantage point because I think it makes it easier for me to see what a preceptor needs, because they are sometimes just as overwhelmed with the charge of teaching someone. And you want a new preceptor to remain excited about teaching. You want them to be the preceptor that everyone wants to learn from, right? So, even when I have heard numerous times from other preceptors how to do something, I always listen and thank them because I never know if I am going to get just one more tip that really helps out. And it helps them to feel more confident in their role. Even if it's something I've done a million times, like check for NG placement, if they want to teach me, I step back and let them and thank them.
Preceptors and preceptees both, are best when you can exchange information with them, but if you put either on the defensive, they can't learn from you, you can't learn from them and it makes your whole experience tense, so don't interrupt their flow, especially while getting to know them. If they are teaching, listen in earnest and then afterwards ask about other things you have heard or read and discover together which way might be best. Don't tell them, ask them their opinion, KWIM?
I happen to be really good at heart sounds and can differentiate a systolic mitral murmur from a systolic aortic etc, and know when I need to check for carotid bruit and even what carotid bruit is. I don't think I am nurse amazing, as last week, I had to be shown how to run tubing through the kangaroo, and through the IMED and last month, I didn't even know what levo was. I don't flaunt what I know in front of the preceptor, but one of them caught me charting it and asked me about the murmur because no doc had charted it, and she hadn't heard it, and I said "oh yeah, i love heart sounds, it's so much fun to find them, here let me show you where I heard it and tell me what you think." And let her listen where I heard and and tried as much as possible to make it a shared discovery experience rather than "tutoring" her. Because lord knows I don't want her teaching me in a way that makes me feel small and stupid, even when I am acting small and stupid.
So for all of the preceptors who are frustrated with preceptees who are "know it alls" or "not listening" maybe it's your approach. Always try and make it a team approach.
I am having a great time being precetped by everyone, except one preceptor and thankfully, I know enough about the experience to truly differentiate someone who wants to do a good job and someone who HATES teaching, and I asked that I not be put with her, and my request was respected. For all of the new orientees, do not be afraid to explain to your manager how you are feeling with a particular preceptor, because ultimately this experience is for you. And always say positive things about the person you don't want to be with and have a solution already thought out,
"she's really smart, but I'm having a hard time learning from her. is there any way I could be put with X, who seems to know just how to teach me?"
So at least you won't be looked upon as a complainer. You're solution oriented and you see the good in everyone.
txRN07
47 Posts
After reading all of these useful posts, I am glad now that I asked so many questions when I was orienting. I always felt stupid for asking, and then coming back and asking about something else until finally one day I asked how I was doing, and they were actually relieved that I always asked before winging anything. Now that I am off orientation, I feel more confident due to all of the helpful nurses who helped during orientation. I still come across things that I still have not done, and now I am perfectly comfortable with asking again! Just the other day I have to draw blood cultures, and I still had not had the chance to do it until then, yeah I felt dumb, but I asked anyway, and the most important thing is that I did it right. The focus is on my patients, not my ego!