When did you start precepting new nurses?

[FlorenceNtheMachine]

So when did you start taking on new RNs to train? Did you feel ready?

I'm a new grad nurse in the ICU. I'm thankful that I have a good group of people around me with experience. I've been doing okay, and I feel like I'm coming along as I should (as far as a new nurse goes).

My concern is that they are having me train a nurse soon. So I will have been a nurse for 6 months and off orientation for three. I expressed my concern to the manager and asked if she thought it was okay, since I'm so new. And she said I'd do fine.

I'm worried, because there are still situations I'm not familiar with. I'm very friendly, and that may be a reason, and that there is a huge influx of new employees to the unit. I guess we have to all start sometime, but in my heart I feel like it may hinder this persons growth learning from a newbie.

And just to add, I haven't seen anyone less than one year of experience precepting new nurses before in my unit.

[Mandychelle79, ASN, RN]

I am precepting my first new hire right now and ive been there for almost 2 yrs.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

I'd tell her you aren't comfortable. Our new people have a resource for 3 months off orientation and we don't let people precept for at least 2 years.

[kungpoopanda]

As soon as there was someone newer than me.

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

I've never precepted a new nurse, although I'd love to! I love to teach! I've been a nurse for six years.

[proud nurse, BSN, RN]

I think 6 months is soon to precept a new nurse. Perhaps someone new to the company, but coming in with some experience. 6 months is fairly new yourself, but it sounds like that's the practice of your unit.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I was surprised when they asked me to take students and new hires under my wing when I had been there about 5-6 months (PACU) as a new grad. They pointedly did not ask the other two new grads the hired at the same time, one a graduate of their own hospital school of nursing. It's important to remember that the mgmt has been watching you and knows that you have the smarts to communicate what new people need to know, because they've seen you learn it yourself and have assessed your communication skills AND your clinical performance.

They aren't stupid; they know you aren't a Level 4 staff nurse with 20 years of experience. But you know what? You don't need to be-- all you need to be is a good role model for a new hire, including modeling how to get help and ask questions if you need to do that.

Take this as a compliment to your ability thus far, and enjoy yourself. You may find that you continue to be this kind of a resource as the years go by, assuming even greater responsibility as your own knowledge and professionality increases. Congratulations on the confidence they have in you!

[FlorenceNtheMachine]

Everyone's advice is duly noted. Thanks GrnTea for your kind response, I hope in a few years I can be that resource person that everyone goes to. I'll update this thread after all is said and done.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

I've been a nurse for 2 years and I just recently oriented a nurse who was new to the hospital. There are definitely some people who never get asked to orient anybody, so I was very pleased take it as a compliment, but if you really don't feel like it's a good idea I would talk to your manager.

[RileyRN2013]

The Versant residency program advocates for starting new grads with new nurses. The reasoning being that new nurses understand and remember what it was like for them

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

Watch one, do one, teach one.

I've not trained new employees, but I have been a preceptor for nursing students - I probably learned more than they did...

[Swellz]

My floor had a new grad (6 months) precept a pool nurse. I thought it was odd at the time, because another nurse told me you had to work a year first, but maybe they took into consideration that the pool nurse had floor experience already as well as how exceptional of a nurse my coworker is.