5 years ago, my final nursing school preceptorship was a disaster. I was so afraid and intimidated by my young preceptor who was well liked, smart and very competent on the unit. I was super socially awkward and shy, and have always had a hard time "joining" in with a new crowd. My preceptor would socialize a lot with her group of friends which also made asking questions weird because I didnt want to interrupt their conversations. I was so bad on the unit my preceptor almost failed me. Honestly I had no sense of direction/time management, bad at knowing my medications, and making my preceptor late for her breaks. For a long time I believed it was all my fault and I just really sucked as a student and nurse. Now, over the 5 years of being a practicing nurse who has precepted students and trained new hires, I've gotten many good feedback from my teaching style. I try to make everyone feel safe, comfortable and included. And yes, I just teach as if the new hires/students know nothing. I also help them develop their paper brain for the shift which I wish I knew as a student. Everything you said in this video was amazing! I also always tell new nurses that if I can be a nurse, they can be one too. After watching this video, I think I just had a really bad preceptor as a student, even though the preceptor was well liked by all. But from that experience, it has taught me not what to be like when teaching
Hi, I was from a Hospice which is so different from the hospital setting and I am now starting fresh in a new hospital in a foreign country but close to mine. I am usually a quiet and shy person. I prefer nurses that are willing to teach me kindly. So I tend to stay quiet when a senior nurse come off as quite intimidating to me. I promised myself that I would be more outspoken however, once I start in the new hospital. I am now on my 2nd month and I was paired up with a preceptor who is like how you described. I was assigned 2 preceptors actually and the second one is so kind and patient with me. She encourages me and eventhough I don't feel confident her words made me feel like I can actually do it. I was following my second preceptor more often the first month because my first preceptor was on her annual leave. I was feeling good about going to work because everyone was nice to me. But just when I thought things were going great, my first preceptor came back and I thought she was fine. Until my manager started assigning us on the same shifts because she was my main preceptor. Now I am just on my third day working with her and I am struggling. She is the type of person that gets irritated because of my slow brain. She would also just walk away leaving me alone in the ward to go do something without any communication with me I know she was always busy doing other more important stuff probably but she just doesn't talk to me. We could sit side by side without talking and it was painfully awkward for me. I feel so dumb around her. Because I am also the type of person that my brain completely shuts down when I am anxious or stressed. And I am always stressed with her around. I go home feeling like I wish I could just disappear. She literally question my decision of becoming a nurse. I even suggested to her (my first preceptor) if maybe I can change preceptors I explained that she already has so much on her plate and I didn't want to add on to that. She said I had to talk with our ward sister about that change and then asked me who I wanted to follow instead. When I told her I wanted my second preceptor, she was skeptical about it saying that I hadn't learn anything from my second preceptor because of how I performed procedures with her. I felt terrible. I am a foreigner and the hospital that I practiced as a student before, do not have computer on wheels and everything was manual charting on papers. So I may be slower than the average new nurse. It's so frustrating that she doesn't try to understand. I am dreading to go to work everyday only to be put down by her criticisms. I haven't gotten a chance to speak with my ward sister about a change of preceptor yet but I seriously need to do something about my situation. I just want to be helpful and learn things properly with someone who is willing to teach instead of expecting things of me that they don't communicate with me about. I had to try to figure things out myself and she seems very unapproachable. I am trying to be more outspoken but alas because of fear and my bad anxiety I get seriously tongue tied. I cannot believe that eventhough I am an adult, these types of situation makes me feel like such a child. Dumb baby. To be exact. I am so glad to hear that you are doing well and that your teaching style was not affected by your preceptor. As a new nurse, I would be so lucky if you were my preceptor. I always thought that in nursing you have to be mean to succeed because from my experience as a student nurse and getting yelled at or scolded often during clmical postings. It was traumatising. I really hope I can pass my 6 month probation and if time allows, maybe I can be successful like you one day. I really pray to God for that day.
I love watching your weekly videos on nursing and studying tips, I'm currently in nursing school. Your account has gave me so much insights to the nursing world, in a way your all of our preceptor.
Coincidentally, I just took a 4 hour class on this topic today! (As part of my nurse residency program, I've been an RN for about a year now) You literally said everything I learned today and more.... except you fit it into 20 minutes!
My preceptor was 100% everything you said in this video. I felt very lucky to be trained by her. I felt so safe under her. She included me in our unit activities, she introduced me to everyone we met, she made herself available for a brief/decompression after work. She was willing to stay and talk about the day even after a long day of work. She trained me to be a team player, and help everyone whenever I can, including helping my CNAs to take vitals whenever I can. She taught me as if I didn't know anything, which I appreciated so much. She gave out compliments when I did a good job (which REALLY boosted my confidence) and told me what I needed to work on (which made me a better nurse). Truly blessed that we meshed really well.
Thanks for this video! I'm still fairly new to the ICU and am a little nervous about being a preceptor. Your tips made me feel so much better! The tips at the end for new nurse preceptors were particularly helpful. Not every nurse is going to get a seasoned preceptor with 20 years experience; especially on some units.
I’ve been an LPN for 2 years and am going to be a preceptor for a PN student for the first time this fall. I’m so excited. So many people have helped me along the way to become a nurse and I can’t wait to give back. Great video! 😊
I just want to thank you SO much for all of your tips and advice. Currently an NP student, and have NO idea what to expect with clinicals, testing, funding a job, etc. Your videos have helped relieve a ton of anxiety, so thank you!
Thank you so much for this video! I'm really nervous to be a preceptor since I still feel like (and still am) a pretty new nurse, but I like what you said about leading by example in seeking information 👌 my favorite nurse preceptor introduced me to everyone and made feel like an important part of the team, which eased my fears immensely
I am currently being precepted into labor and delivery and my favorite preceptor and I have been very good at working as a team. At least she makes me feel like I'm helping as part of the team. Even though I don't know many many things, when she is doing something that I am no where near ready to do on my own, I work on smaller things that I absolutely know how to do (run vitals, print strips, change pitocin dosage) and we have a good rapport that I know what she expects me to do and she knows what I still need reminders on or guidance through. My favorite thing she does is when we are charting (unless it's an emergency, she has me chart everything) instead of telling me what I need to be doing, she asks. Like, "Okay, so we did this and this, what else haven't we got to yet? Have we charted this? When are next vitals due? Are we caught up on strip charting?" And it helps my mind to start organizing what needs to be done without floundering around trying to think of the million things that I need to do. On the flip side, I have had preceptors just assume I know how to do things and leave me alone to do them without clearly communicating what I need to do and then come back an hour later and ask how it went. That day was full of many tears.
I'm so glad the one you are working with now is helpful! It is definitely SO frustrating when they assume you know things. I've also shed many a tear over those situations. I felt so helpless and overwhelmed. Hope the rest of your orientation goes well!
I am currently a CNA in nursing school and while I was training to be a CNA it really helped me when they told me who they went to first and why. Also who takes the longest/ wakes up the earliest, etc. I love to take other people’s routines and make them my own!
Just hit my two years as an RN and about to have my first senior focus student - a little nervous because I still consider myself newer and I’m still learning every shift but I want my student to have a great experience so thank you for the tips!
Haven't been at my job for 2 years yet... and I was a new grad. I just had to take over a new (experienced) nurse in the middle of her orientation. She is finishing this week and I am taking a new nurse from the start next week. I want to be better prepared this time. Lol.
Yayy!!! A precepting video. Thank you! That stigma is so true and it's sad. I wanted to tell some of the nurses I encountered to learn how to be better humans lol.
Thank you for all your advice and videos. I am going into my last semester of nursing school this fall. Yay! However I am doing a summer externship it starts on June 3rd. I'm so excited and nervous. Can you do a video on externships or do you think an externship is pretty similar to being precepted?
Can you please make a video on how to make the most out of your clinicals...for Np students... I just started clinicals and I would like of make the most of it but I find myself stuck and my soap presentation to my preceptor need some work lol
5 years ago, my final nursing school preceptorship was a disaster. I was so afraid and intimidated by my young preceptor who was well liked, smart and very competent on the unit. I was super socially awkward and shy, and have always had a hard time "joining" in with a new crowd. My preceptor would socialize a lot with her group of friends which also made asking questions weird because I didnt want to interrupt their conversations.
I was so bad on the unit my preceptor almost failed me. Honestly I had no sense of direction/time management, bad at knowing my medications, and making my preceptor late for her breaks. For a long time I believed it was all my fault and I just really sucked as a student and nurse.
Now, over the 5 years of being a practicing nurse who has precepted students and trained new hires, I've gotten many good feedback from my teaching style. I try to make everyone feel safe, comfortable and included. And yes, I just teach as if the new hires/students know nothing. I also help them develop their paper brain for the shift which I wish I knew as a student.
Everything you said in this video was amazing! I also always tell new nurses that if I can be a nurse, they can be one too.
After watching this video, I think I just had a really bad preceptor as a student, even though the preceptor was well liked by all. But from that experience, it has taught me not what to be like when teaching
Hi, I was from a Hospice which is so different from the hospital setting and I am now starting fresh in a new hospital in a foreign country but close to mine. I am usually a quiet and shy person. I prefer nurses that are willing to teach me kindly. So I tend to stay quiet when a senior nurse come off as quite intimidating to me. I promised myself that I would be more outspoken however, once I start in the new hospital. I am now on my 2nd month and I was paired up with a preceptor who is like how you described. I was assigned 2 preceptors actually and the second one is so kind and patient with me. She encourages me and eventhough I don't feel confident her words made me feel like I can actually do it. I was following my second preceptor more often the first month because my first preceptor was on her annual leave. I was feeling good about going to work because everyone was nice to me. But just when I thought things were going great, my first preceptor came back and I thought she was fine. Until my manager started assigning us on the same shifts because she was my main preceptor.
Now I am just on my third day working with her and I am struggling. She is the type of person that gets irritated because of my slow brain. She would also just walk away leaving me alone in the ward to go do something without any communication with me I know she was always busy doing other more important stuff probably but she just doesn't talk to me. We could sit side by side without talking and it was painfully awkward for me. I feel so dumb around her. Because I am also the type of person that my brain completely shuts down when I am anxious or stressed. And I am always stressed with her around. I go home feeling like I wish I could just disappear. She literally question my decision of becoming a nurse. I even suggested to her (my first preceptor) if maybe I can change preceptors I explained that she already has so much on her plate and I didn't want to add on to that. She said I had to talk with our ward sister about that change and then asked me who I wanted to follow instead. When I told her I wanted my second preceptor, she was skeptical about it saying that I hadn't learn anything from my second preceptor because of how I performed procedures with her. I felt terrible. I am a foreigner and the hospital that I practiced as a student before, do not have computer on wheels and everything was manual charting on papers. So I may be slower than the average new nurse. It's so frustrating that she doesn't try to understand.
I am dreading to go to work everyday only to be put down by her criticisms. I haven't gotten a chance to speak with my ward sister about a change of preceptor yet but I seriously need to do something about my situation. I just want to be helpful and learn things properly with someone who is willing to teach instead of expecting things of me that they don't communicate with me about. I had to try to figure things out myself and she seems very unapproachable. I am trying to be more outspoken but alas because of fear and my bad anxiety I get seriously tongue tied. I cannot believe that eventhough I am an adult, these types of situation makes me feel like such a child. Dumb baby. To be exact.
I am so glad to hear that you are doing well and that your teaching style was not affected by your preceptor. As a new nurse, I would be so lucky if you were my preceptor. I always thought that in nursing you have to be mean to succeed because from my experience as a student nurse and getting yelled at or scolded often during clmical postings. It was traumatising. I really hope I can pass my 6 month probation and if time allows, maybe I can be successful like you one day. I really pray to God for that day.
I love watching your weekly videos on nursing and studying tips, I'm currently in nursing school. Your account has gave me so much insights to the nursing world, in a way your all of our preceptor.
Thank you so much for the support! so glad it's been helpful :)
Coincidentally, I just took a 4 hour class on this topic today! (As part of my nurse residency program, I've been an RN for about a year now) You literally said everything I learned today and more.... except you fit it into 20 minutes!
I remember taking a really good nap the day I went to my preceptor class haha. Oops. But really. They need to learn to spice those things up.
My preceptor was 100% everything you said in this video. I felt very lucky to be trained by her. I felt so safe under her. She included me in our unit activities, she introduced me to everyone we met, she made herself available for a brief/decompression after work. She was willing to stay and talk about the day even after a long day of work. She trained me to be a team player, and help everyone whenever I can, including helping my CNAs to take vitals whenever I can. She taught me as if I didn't know anything, which I appreciated so much. She gave out compliments when I did a good job (which REALLY boosted my confidence) and told me what I needed to work on (which made me a better nurse). Truly blessed that we meshed really well.
Im so glad you had that experience! Seriously makes all the difference in the world!
Thanks for this video! I'm still fairly new to the ICU and am a little nervous about being a preceptor. Your tips made me feel so much better! The tips at the end for new nurse preceptors were particularly helpful. Not every nurse is going to get a seasoned preceptor with 20 years experience; especially on some units.
I’ve been an LPN for 2 years and am going to be a preceptor for a PN student for the first time this fall. I’m so excited. So many people have helped me along the way to become a nurse and I can’t wait to give back. Great video! 😊
Thank you for having this video. Resourcing for preceptor experience.
I love these kinds of videos where you reflect on your experiences and show others how to grow! Great video Liz!
Thank you!
I just want to thank you SO much for all of your tips and advice. Currently an NP student, and have NO idea what to expect with clinicals, testing, funding a job, etc. Your videos have helped relieve a ton of anxiety, so thank you!
I'm so glad they've been helpful!
Just signed up for NCLEX, waiting for ATT date ... your videos are amazing! Super helpful, Thank you so much!
Best of luck with NCLEX! You got this!
Thank you so much for this video! I'm really nervous to be a preceptor since I still feel like (and still am) a pretty new nurse, but I like what you said about leading by example in seeking information 👌 my favorite nurse preceptor introduced me to everyone and made feel like an important part of the team, which eased my fears immensely
I am currently being precepted into labor and delivery and my favorite preceptor and I have been very good at working as a team. At least she makes me feel like I'm helping as part of the team. Even though I don't know many many things, when she is doing something that I am no where near ready to do on my own, I work on smaller things that I absolutely know how to do (run vitals, print strips, change pitocin dosage) and we have a good rapport that I know what she expects me to do and she knows what I still need reminders on or guidance through. My favorite thing she does is when we are charting (unless it's an emergency, she has me chart everything) instead of telling me what I need to be doing, she asks. Like, "Okay, so we did this and this, what else haven't we got to yet? Have we charted this? When are next vitals due? Are we caught up on strip charting?" And it helps my mind to start organizing what needs to be done without floundering around trying to think of the million things that I need to do. On the flip side, I have had preceptors just assume I know how to do things and leave me alone to do them without clearly communicating what I need to do and then come back an hour later and ask how it went. That day was full of many tears.
I'm so glad the one you are working with now is helpful! It is definitely SO frustrating when they assume you know things. I've also shed many a tear over those situations. I felt so helpless and overwhelmed. Hope the rest of your orientation goes well!
I am currently a CNA in nursing school and while I was training to be a CNA it really helped me when they told me who they went to first and why. Also who takes the longest/ wakes up the earliest, etc. I love to take other people’s routines and make them my own!
That would definitely be so helpful!
Just hit my two years as an RN and about to have my first senior focus student - a little nervous because I still consider myself newer and I’m still learning every shift but I want my student to have a great experience so thank you for the tips!
This was so helpful! thank you!
Well said, you learn the most from teaching.
So so true!
Perfect timing!!! Thank you!
Haven't been at my job for 2 years yet... and I was a new grad. I just had to take over a new (experienced) nurse in the middle of her orientation. She is finishing this week and I am taking a new nurse from the start next week. I want to be better prepared this time. Lol.
You got this!
Yayy!!! A precepting video. Thank you! That stigma is so true and it's sad. I wanted to tell some of the nurses I encountered to learn how to be better humans lol.
Maybe we should just start doing that haha
Thank you for all your advice and videos. I am going into my last semester of nursing school this fall. Yay! However I am doing a summer externship it starts on June 3rd. I'm so excited and nervous. Can you do a video on externships or do you think an externship is pretty similar to being precepted?
I have a video on being a new nurse that would probably be helpful for that :) Congrats on landing an externship!
Happened to me my preceptor used to go on break without asking me if I took break or not. I missed so many breaks during diarrhea
What do you do if you have a condescending, negative preceptor? This is at the postgraduate level. Thanks!
any tips for preceptees? doing a internship this summer and dont know what to expect.
I have a video on tips for new nurses that would probably be super helpful for that! Congrats on landing that internship!
Does a preceptee's schedule consist of any part of 12 hour shifts, 7 days/ week, day shifts or is it solely based off the preceptor's schedule?
Can you please make a video on how to make the most out of your clinicals...for Np students... I just started clinicals and I would like of make the most of it but I find myself stuck and my soap presentation to my preceptor need some work lol
I have a video on that already! If you search "Nurse Liz NP School CLinical" it should show up, or just search in my "NP school" playlist :)
@@NurseLiz thanks...I need to watch it again
Starting my preceptor tomorrow. ICU new grade a lot of talking. 🤣
My precepter embarasses me infront of pts and coworkers.She will literally highlight my incompetence, she is very condecending.
Thats so unacceptable. I'm so sorry . Some people are just so miserable.
@@NurseLiz My nurse manager replaced her with another precepter, I'm excited.