When did you start precepting/mentoring?

[Miller86]

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

[umcRN, BSN, RN]

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.

[VICEDRN, BSN, RN]

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.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

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.

[AnonRNC]

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.

[beckster_01, BSN, RN]

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.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

Ours is a minimum two years.

[ukjenn231]

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!

[LouisVRN, RN]

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.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

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

[Scarlettanager]

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

[Miller86]

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