I was able to spend the day in the surgical ICU--I thought it would be a fantastic experience. Instead, my first interaction with my preceptor was "I'm going to interventional radiology--see you in half an hour." Oh, wait--my patient needs medications at 8 am which I cannot get from the cabinet (fingerprint required) or administer (supposedly) independently. What happens now?
My preceptor spends the entire day with her other patient--which I can't blame her since the pt. is confused and combative; however, I'm only in med-surg II and need her assistance as well. In addition, I'm not up to speed on their charting (it's only my third clinical day), and most of the other institutions that I've been at have computer charting (and this one has ten million different forms that need to be filled out). When my medications are due, my preceptor hands me a bunch of meds and lets me go--never mind the fact that I've been told that I'm NEVER to give IV push meds without my nurse being within touching distance. Oh, and the IVP was furosemide, btw.
So then my preceptor and I FINALLY meet up, and she tells me that I did everything WRONG. I guess that hospital policy is that all patients who have G-tubes get 200 cc of water q8h. Well, gee, I'm sorry, since I DON'T WORK HERE, I am unaware of hospital policy.
Then, my clinical scholar comes to me and gives me this half hour lecture about the meaning of the word pathophysiology (I'd put that I wasn't sure what the patho was for my pt. since she was the victim of a head-on collision and had multiple fractures. The patho? Well, she got in a car accident and sustained multiple fractures!). To add insult to injury, this "explanation" of what pathophysiology meant was given in kind of a condescending way. Oh, wait a minute--is that why everyone asks ME about patho (patho is my strong suit) is because I'm such a STUPID IDIOT??:angryfire
Another insult to injury is that this "lecture" took place in front of another one of my classmates. DOUBLE :angryfire
Several of my last clinical experiences I've been told TO MY FACE that we (as students) are in the way and we've definitely been treated like we're not welcome (oh, sorry, I wasn't BORN an expert in nursing ).
I'm thinking that these nurses want to retire at some point, wouldn't ya think? Well, gee, guess what? WE'RE the ones who are going to take their place!!!! Ya'd think they'd be a SLIGHT bit nicer, wouldn't you? Unfortunately, not so.
Thanks for letting me "vent" (ha!) after such a crappy day.
Chickdude1 (BSN graduate in May 2006 if I survive that long--looking doubtful at this point)
PS--the pt. did GREAT! Her trach was capped and she was finally able to TALK for the FIRST TIME in 6 weeks!!!!
Take a deep breath, you just had a bad day. Some days will be like that as you learn critical thinking. While this forum is a good place to vent, try not to generalize all preceptors with the experience of one clinical day. Good luck in future clinicals!
Nurses like that ......well, I just don't know what to say about nurses like that.
I love teaching and orienting new nurses or students to the facility.
In fact, where I work, we have a new nurse starting work today....on Thanksgiving Day!
So I hope that I can be of a help to her, not a hindrance.
I look at it this way.....she's coming to work, which will in turn help ME.
We won't have to work with just 2 nurses so much.....we'll have 3 on more days.
So I want to help this lady learn the job and feel good about it so that she will STAY. {And that's the way we should feel about students also.....HELP them learn the job...maybe they'll come to work with us, also, if they have a good first impression.}
I heard that this new nurse has been out of nursing for awhile.....so she's not going to be so familiar with alot of things, it will take time, but I'm confident that she can learn the job with good orientation and support from the rest of us. And I'm willing to give that because I WANT the extra HELP!
I hope your students spoil you rotten--because you obviously deserve it!!!!
Actually, I've been a "preceptor" myself when I was a CNA at the nursing home I worked at. I LOVED taking students. Whenever I was I was assigned students, I would ask them what particular experiences they wanted to get out of their time with me. If I had that experience available, I was sure they either got to observe or I would have them do it with me standing by. If nothing else, they were a desperately needed second set of hands and eyes!
I guess what rubbed me the wrong way is that I'm one who really feels like "we're all in this together," whether one be a nurse, CNA, instructor, etc.
And the rest of you are right--I've been trained so much to be a patient advocate, I've forgotten that I need to advocate for MYSELF as well!
I hope your students spoil you rotten--because you obviously deserve it!!!!
Cheers!
Chickdude1
I like having students, in fact having students has made me consider taking a group on when I get my BSN (I can't teach without a masters, but I can lead a clinical group).
The last new grad I precepted did give me a $150.00 gift certificate. He liked me, he really liked me. :)
You definately deserve more than you're getting now. I hope it gets a little better for you. Good luck.
I have to say that being a student in clinicals is difficult, but it goes with the territory. I am a student myself and I just finished my first set of clinicals. The one thing I always kept in mind is that the nurse that I was assigned to to care for one of his or her patients is busy and having a student with them is an extra burden. I dont mean this the wrong way, but it is true. They have so much else going on with getting new admits and also the discharges that needed to be done, that they dont always have the time to hold our hands. That is when I make sure that the nurse I am working with knows that I will take care of thier patient and will most definently contact my instructor for assistance with med pass and any skills that need to be performed. I kept them informed throughout my shift of when my assessment was done and how the patient is doing. I always checked the chart for upcoming labs and results as well as any new orders by the doctors. It is our job as the student to know what needs to be done with out patient and to carry this out with our instructors permission.
You can build a relationship with your nurse by knowing what they want and expect. Always offer you assisstance with any task, let your nurse know if you are behind. Always, Always, Always keep your nurse informed of how your patient is doing. This builds trust and confidence between you and the nurse you are working with. Granted it is not always easy, but doable. It is not the responsibility of the nurse to teach us, it is our responsibility to know our limitations and to get help when needed.
I sure hope this doesnt sound like a lecture, that is not my intent. I just wanted to share some information from my experience as a student. The best of luck to you, some days will be better than others.
SFCardiacRN
762 Posts
Take a deep breath, you just had a bad day. Some days will be like that as you learn critical thinking. While this forum is a good place to vent, try not to generalize all preceptors with the experience of one clinical day. Good luck in future clinicals!