Will you watch what I'm doing for God's sake!

trippinwitchu · May 16, 2008

I get what you are saying. If someone asked me to check their chart, I would do it. I could take this in couple of ways--that the person needs help or the person wants things double checked and is just being thorough.

It was wrong of the preceptor to yell or get on you in front of everyone--there is a more tactful way of constructively criticizing someone--you do this in private. The way it was done was humiliation, not cool.

Most importantly, as a preceptor, it is your job to go back and check to make sure things are done correctly and in a timely manor. This also goes for procedures/tasks performed by unlicensed personnel. It ultimately falls upon the responsibility of the nurse/preceptor and falls on his/her license.

During my 1st year, a similar situation occurred with a preceptor I had the unfortunate honor of being paired with. I had told the preceptor multiple times during the shift about a particular finding concerning the patient. Each time she said okay and went on. She was more concerned with leaving the floor to smoke or run to McDonald's, or talk to her boyfriend via her cell. When shift report came, I gave report, the oncoming nurse raised the issue and my preceptor berated me that I was supposed to tell her that kind of information so it could be brought to the doctor's attention. I stood my ground, and put it back into her court with a matter-of-fact I did tell her and promptly gave her the times I did (because I had written them down) and her responses. The oncoming nurse didn't get on me, she turned her attention to my preceptor. I had gotten the feeling that my preceptor had a reputation for half-a##ing things.

My advice to you is to make sure you stand up for yourself, nobody else is going to. Be tactful and respectful.

Make sure you communicate clearly. If you need something, ask for it. Part of being a good communicator is making sure your message was received. If a similar episode happens again, clearly ask for help, "I need help with my charting. Will you please check it and make sure I did not leave anything out. I am still trying to get the hang of it."

State your purpose/goal and make sure they received the message. If they don't do it, you might ask for a different preceptor. Sometimes it can be a personality conflict, too much is going on for the preceptor (possible burnout), etc. However, it is your orientation and you want to get out of it what you can and make the most of it.

Good luck to you and hang in there.

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · May 17, 2008

Next time she yells at you in front of your peers simply say "Oh I am sorry there must have been confusion when I asked you to check over my paperwork"

Dont let her get to you...easier said than true I know. Sometimes some people will test you to see what they can get away with. Nice manners and a smile go a long way, but dont let them take advantage!!

Scrubby · May 18, 2008

If she yells at you again calmly tell her that you cannot understand what she is saying, perhaps lowering the voice will help. Sometimes though this doesn't work because some people can't be reasoned with. If you yell back yes it works in some situations but it doesn't do you any favours if you both end up in the managers office. My advice-turn you back on her. It works believe me! That will make her look stupid not you! If you end up in front of the manager then you just say that her behaviour was out of line and you did not wish to engage in conflict with such an aggressive personality.

Obviously this is not the person you should be going to for advice. Any nurse who yells in front of co-workers, doesn't check things properly is not fit to help a new nurse. Can you request a different preceptor? Is there any experienced nurses in your area who you feel you can ask for advice?

sarahbellum · May 19, 2008

There are lots of preceptors on my unit, and I have been kind of switched around over the last couple of weeks (not by my own choice) I think my manager is trying to figure out who is the best preceptor for me.

I have my review next week, I was going to bring up my different preceptors personalities, and which ones work best in which situation, which ones are getting "burnt out" and need a "break" from being a preceptor

I have noticed they seem to switch people around a lot in the middle of our training. Then, once you find someone you can really work with, they put you with that person until the end, when you really need that final push and the confidence to be on your own.

inthesky · May 27, 2008

Ive had preceptors who just sit back.. i asked a bunch of questions and asked them to go over my work. 'oh its fine'.. i wanted to scream 'im not learning anything from you!!!!!!!!'

Chloe'sinNYNow · May 28, 2008

Ive had preceptors who just sit back.. i asked a bunch of questions and asked them to go over my work. 'oh its fine'.. i wanted to scream 'im not learning anything from you!!!!!!!!'

OH yes!! And also this one when you cannot get through and the preceptor is fed up w/ trying to explain, "just do whatever you want" in an aggressive tone mind you. Do what I want? How do I know if that's right? Proper? Permissible? Oh never mind you helpful wonderful considerate selfless energetic preceptor, I will do it myself and I will get the ding by the chart auditor and I will have to UNlearn this way since you were so helpful in precpeting me inbetween reading your gossip rags, Internet shopping, checking email, gossiping w/ other veteran nurses about where you get to float next week and all other stuff not relevant to me.

Oops, went long here...This is a great topic. I have the same preceptor y'all have!

Chloe