When did you start precepting/mentoring?

I had my first student 1 month after being off my 6mo orientation to NICU. It's not to bad with students...remember when you were a student, pretty much seeing or doing AYTHING made for a good day. Precepting new nurses however I would expect someone to have at least a years experience. I just switched over to a peds cardiac ICU. My preceptor had started the same year as me in the same hospital only I had started in the NICU. I on the occaision had a different person with more experience and I could see that my younger preceptor had some trouble in some areas but overall was still a fine preceptor. In fact had I not left the NICU I would have likely been precepting new grads this year as well.

I definitely agree that our unit seems to be more flexible with who can orient a student nurse versus a new nurse on the unit. Anyone with a year or so experience can orient a student nurse on my unit but you need more like three or more to orient a new grad RN or new staff nurse to the unit.

I started orienting people 7 months into my job. After a year and a half, its not unreasonable for them to ask you to help precept. You know more than you think or they wouldn't ask.

Benner's Novice to Expert model suggests that some new nurses can be better teachers than some old nurses. Sometimes the old nurse (and I am one) doesn't remember how to break down assessments and tasks. Sometimes the new nurse can explain things better to the student because they remember what it's like.

If I were a new nurse, I would be FINE precepting a student. But I would think twice about precepting a new hire; the stakes are higher.

I had a capstone student about 1 month off orientation...crazy I know but at that time ALL of the full-time, experienced nurses on the floor had new hires. I just finished orienting a new grad (I have a little over a year of experience). It wasn't that bad. There is tons of support where I work, so if I wasn't sure of something I would just refer him to charge or a nurse leader. Plus, each orientee has two preceptors and they try and pair a more experienced nurse with a less experienced one.

Ours is a minimum two years.

I oriented a new nurse six month off orientation. I was resistant but there wasn't much choice in the matter because it was a brand new unit and everyone was training someone. I just was honest and knew when to tell the preceptee I didn't know, and what resources I had to direct her to. Now, the nurse I trained followed me to a travel contract where I will be working with her!

I started orienting new grads students and experienced transfers after six months. Everyone said I picked things up quickly, knew my resources when I didn't have trhe answers and was a good teacher. I have a 0% attrition rate on the people I have oriented and overall the rate on our unit is very high.

Five months in and i was orienting new grads. no choice in the matter.

my 2 cents as a student currently precepting, I definitely prefer the newer nurses from what I have seen so far.

Thanks everyone for answering back:D

I guess having 1 year is plenty enough in comparison to some of your length of times. I will go into this with an open mind and I am sure I too will learn through this experience. It just makes me nervous thinking I may not know enough! But there's plenty of resources to look into and ask for assistance when needed.

Most of the mentor's I had always had tons of experience but it is nice younger staff get the opportunity to start teaching earlier.

Thanks all nurses:D

hey everyone,

it's me...again.

i was wondering when you first started precepting, how far into your career was it?

my manager asked me if i would be interested in precepting a 4th year consolidating student in january? i graduated last year and feel unprepared to mentor someone. it's not that i am not interested, i would love to teach someone (some day) and show them around the unit but i can't help feel that i need at least another couple of months or a year?

i told her...."i need more time!" and she said "well it's a requirement for all nurses to rotate between students."

i asked other nurses on the floor and they said they have done it within a year and half of being new grads etc etc. so it appears to be a common practice on this floor! i started on this floor end of september, so i am just getting used to the unit/staff.

please tell me a little of when you started and if you have any advice?

thanks a million

i started in 1978; one year of experience. or less. those students knew more than i did!