Why do I get yelled at for doing the correct thing??

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Ok so I'm a new grad two weeks into training. I administer a lot of BP meds so I also do a lot of manual BP checks,every time I'm trying to take a blood pressure the correct way like they taught us in school (feel the radial pulse first then inflate the cuff,wait 30 seconds and then go 30mmHg more of what was the radial pulse cut off number) I get yelled at by my preceptor and then she questioned me if I also listen to the pulse with the stethoscope? Duh,of course I do,you kidding me,just because I want to get the feeling of the radial pulse doesnt mean I dont know the rest of the steps on how to measure blood pressure,then another time she asked my why am asculating the breath sounds in eight places (that the max I should asculate would be 4) Ok but this is what I was taught in nursing school,and I'm sure that a good reason behind this rationale,then she said that it takes me too long to assess the lungs (hello I'm new I'm not an expert in crackles,wheezes,so I want to make sure that what I'm hearing is right,after all I will be charting on this patient)Also my preceptor told me I shouldnt be carrying a drug book with me and took it away from me. I dont know,I'm surprised I'm getting yelled for doing the right assesments!:crying2::crying2: I cant afford to take shortcuts,I dont have experience yet

Well, Blackhearted...I'd keep my drug book if I wanted to, tough **** to your preceptor. Actually I have an itouch, you bet I'll use it if I feel I need to. Sure, try the quicky lung sound deal, maybe you do hear the stuff that matters. The thing is in the end it is all up to you. If she just goes on and on about the book, just say... "I understand that you think it's odd to have one on me, but I think I'm gonna keep it for now, thanks." Don't have to be snotty, it's just a plain, I hear ya, but decided my way in this is best. Give her her due on other stuff. If she shows you something new, praise her for it, etc. even if it kills you. You will be on your own soon. Hang in there.

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You are not in school anymore, you are at a job. That means your instructors are no longer the last word on nursing procedure like they were during nursing school.

It seems you are getting yelled at for being a little dense. If you have a baseline BP, you can go 20-30mm hg above that while doing a manual BP. (You should know this.)

If your preceptor wants you to change how you auscultate for lung sounds while she is watching you, then you should try to learn her way. If you hear any adventitious sounds while using her faster method, you can slow down and expand your technique.

As for your drug book, she is right. You don't carry it on your person. You squirrel it away in a place you can get to it when you need it. And you will need it often. You are a working nurse now, not a student so start acting like it. I've seen drug books shoved in carts, in the med rooms, by the pyxis, or at the nursing station and nurses of all backgrounds have their noses in them. But NO ONE carries it with them - she was right to take it away from you.

After your preceptorship (which you were lucky to get and maybe luckier to get through) is over and you are on your own, you can practice however you want.

If I was you, I would start trying to work with my preceptor instead of trying to show her how things should be done according to your instructors.

Calling the OP dense was uncalled for

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Specializes in Med Surg.

As for your drug book, she is right. You don't carry it on your person. You squirrel it away in a place you can get to it when you need it. And you will need it often. You are a working nurse now, not a student so start acting like it. I've seen drug books shoved in carts, in the med rooms, by the pyxis, or at the nursing station and nurses of all backgrounds have their noses in them. But NO ONE carries it with them - she was right to take it away from you.

No one carries a med book with them? I didn't know there was an official spokesperson for all 5 million nurses in this country. Every nurse I work with and every nurse I followed around in school carried a med book with them in some form or fashion. It may have been a pocket sized book or on an I-Phone but they carried it.

Where I work pt. meds are kept in a lock box in the pt's room (except for the controlled stuff of course). No everyone works in a facility with a Pyxis and not all facilities have the nurses gather their meds in the med room or administer them off a cart. You better believe I keep a med book handy. I don't want to keep running back and forth to the nurses station every time I run into a new med or when the pt. asks "what's this for?"

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Specializes in Operating Room.

IMO, I'd rather have my nurse carrying a drug book with him/her rather than think they know everything..those are the nurses who are dangerous. I think this preceptor really doesn't want to be precepting, frankly. She is NOT right taking away someone's drug book. Who the heck does she think she is? OP, you could get a PDA and keep a drug guide on there. I can't get over the fact that she took yours though..I think I would have grabbed it back!:lol2: and maybe bopped her over the head with it.:rolleyes:

I'd try to talk to her calmly and let her know her aggressive behavior is counterproductive-if that doesn't work, ask for another preceptor. This one sounds like a crabby, bitter witch. Sorry, but I've trained people and there is no need to ridicule someone.

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IMO, I'd rather have my nurse carrying a drug book with him/her rather than think they know everything..those are the nurses who are dangerous. I think this preceptor really doesn't want to be precepting, frankly. She is NOT right taking away someone's drug book. Who the heck does she think she is? OP, you could get a PDA and keep a drug guide on there. I can't get over the fact that she took yours though..I think I would have grabbed it back!:lol2: and maybe bopped her over the head with it.:rolleyes:

I'd try to talk to her calmly and let her know her aggressive behavior is counterproductive-if that doesn't work, ask for another preceptor. This one sounds like a crabby, bitter witch. Sorry, but I've trained people and there is no need to ridicule someone.

:yeah: LMAO, I'm sooo stressed right now waiting to hear from my last few NS I've applied to, thanks for the laugh Squirrel, that was a great visual!

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She has no right to take away your drug book. It's your book and you have every right to reference it as needed. That was out of line on her part.

Truth is you prob are a little slow on some things as you are new. You will get faster as time goes on. I would listen to her advice and see if anything she says has merit and can help to make your life easier. Incorporate those things into your practice. And always say thank you even if she is being a witch. Being a preceptor is a thankless job for some and not all are given a choice. My guess is she falls into this category and the hostility directed towards you isn't all about you. Remain respectful.

Never do anything you feel to be out of your scope or that you are uncomfortable with. The patient always comes first. And if you fear something could put your license in danged don't proceed. Ever.

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Specializes in Operating Room.
:yeah: LMAO, I'm sooo stressed right now waiting to hear from my last few NS I've applied to, thanks for the laugh Squirrel, that was a great visual!
Your welcome..not that I'd really hit someone with a drug book. I would probalbly engage in a tug of war over the book though..:D
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You are not in school anymore, you are at a job. That means your instructors are no longer the last word on nursing procedure like they were during nursing school.

It seems you are getting yelled at for being a little dense. If you have a baseline BP, you can go 20-30mm hg above that while doing a manual BP. (You should know this.)

If your preceptor wants you to change how you auscultate for lung sounds while she is watching you, then you should try to learn her way. If you hear any adventitious sounds while using her faster method, you can slow down and expand your technique.

As for your drug book, she is right. You don't carry it on your person. You squirrel it away in a place you can get to it when you need it. And you will need it often. You are a working nurse now, not a student so start acting like it. I've seen drug books shoved in carts, in the med rooms, by the pyxis, or at the nursing station and nurses of all backgrounds have their noses in them. But NO ONE carries it with them - she was right to take it away from you.

After your preceptorship (which you were lucky to get and maybe luckier to get through) is over and you are on your own, you can practice however you want.

If I was you, I would start trying to work with my preceptor instead of trying to show her how things should be done according to your instructors.

OP-- It seems as if we found your preceptor. :) Just kidding.

But anyways.. is there any way you can talk to your manager and explain that you and your preceptor are not clicking?

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Calling the OP dense was uncalled for

Perhaps, but this new nurse will forget about that slight rather quickly if she follows the advice of the people in this thread and gets canned. There is a new grad very close by who probably cannot wait to work with this preceptor.

She's already butting heads with the person who will evaluate her performance, I don't know why advising her to keep doing it is a good idea. I understand she is new, but after 4 or so semesters of clinicals she should have a better idea about how to interact with a preceptor.

As far as the drug book goes, I am not backing down on that one. No nurse I have ever seen carries their full sized nursing school drug book around with them. Others mentioned books on PDA/Iphone or pocket sized books. Fine, but those are not what the OP is carrying around.

Of course nurses refer to drug books and other references constantly, but they aren't carrying around full sized Davis books.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

Im a new grad too and I always make it a point to assume the style of the nurse I am with as long as it doesnt compromise patient safety. If they are making an effort to teach me, I will be receptive even if I already think I like my way better, because they deserve that respect from me and who knows, maybe I will decide that their way is better. So I would just do the BP in the way that pleases her because it doesnt compromise safety, but I would continue assessing all lung lobes and referring to my med book because veering from those habits could compromise patient safety.

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Specializes in critical care, PACU.

As far as the drug book goes, I am not backing down on that one. No nurse I have ever seen carries their full sized nursing school drug book around with them. Others mentioned books on PDA/Iphone or pocket sized books. Fine, but those are not what the OP is carrying around.

Of course nurses refer to drug books and other references constantly, but they aren't carrying around full sized Davis books.

Why does it matter what she chooses to bring around with her? It's just a lame thing to criticize someone about.

Hey OP! Think about it this way: if thats the only thing your preceptor can complain about, then you must be doing pretty good ;)

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Perhaps, but this new nurse will forget about that slight rather quickly if she follows the advice of the people in this thread and gets canned. There is a new grad very close by who probably cannot wait to work with this preceptor.

She's already butting heads with the person who will evaluate her performance, I don't know why advising her to keep doing it is a good idea. I understand she is new, but after 4 or so semesters of clinicals she should have a better idea about how to interact with a preceptor.

As far as the drug book goes, I am not backing down on that one. No nurse I have ever seen carries their full sized nursing school drug book around with them. Others mentioned books on PDA/Iphone or pocket sized books. Fine, but those are not what the OP is carrying around.

Of course nurses refer to drug books and other references constantly, but they aren't carrying around full sized Davis books.

Your rationale for the reason the OP shouldnt carry her drug book is absurd. And I think you're being WAY to literal. Do you actually think she carries her giant drug book in her back pocket? Obviously she probably sets it down in between references. Just because you've never seen a nurse bring her drug book with her to the floor doesnt mean that is the end all way of practice. If I didnt have easy access to a drug guide on my unit you better believe I would bring my own with me. You cant knock the girl for trying to better her practice and trying to be accountable for the drugs she is administering.

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