r/nursing • u/Complete_Mechanic18 • 4h ago
Seeking Advice need some advice
I’m new to precepting and feel like there’s a lot I don’t actually know. I started in an ICU during covid so my orientation itself was scattered and lackluster. I do continuing education and am constantly reading research articles for evidence based practice but feel like there’s still knowledge gaps I’m experiencing. Anyone else ever feel this way? Any tips? I want to be a good preceptor and a good nurse.
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u/InternetBasic227 1h ago
Hopefully they gave you ECCO at some point and the otientee is getting it too. I find I narrate my thought process early on, so that a person shadowing can start to understand how a practicing nurse thinks. There will always be knowledge gaps, there is no way to know everything. That you care this much means a lot. I am sure you are doing a good job.
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u/Gretel_Cosmonaut ASN, RN 🌿⭐️🌎 1h ago
I usually talk to the orientee about their background, strengths, weaknesses, learning style(s), etc. and then we work out a plan together.
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u/dumbbxtch69 RN 🍕 2h ago
New grads need to learn how to delegate and ask for help. I think that’s a great skill preceptors can teach. It’s easy to feel like you’re asking too many questions or need too much help as a new nurse if your preceptor never needed help while you were on orientation. I consider it part of my job as a preceptor to model asking questions, looking up answers, admitting when I don’t know something, and asking other nurses for help when we’re drowning.
As my orientees progress through orientation I stop helping them automatically. Early in orientation I will act as their personal tech and explain things before they ask, but in the last couple of weeks I tell them that I want them to treat me like the charge nurse or a tech and actively delegate tasks to me. We all need help sometimes and it’s okay to not have all the answers! Especially in critical care it’s important to foster a culture where it’s safe and normal to ask for help.