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Precepting
6 Things Your Preceptor Never Wants to Hear
Keeping your experience positive by what you say.


Contrary to nursing legend, preceptors aren’t villains. They want you to succeed, and, if given the chance, could be your best advocate. After all, most of them have volunteered for the job or have been identified by their manager as the type of person who would be able to help you best. When preceptor-new nurse relationships get to the point of intervention, it’s not always the preceptor’s fault . . . really. Sometimes, new nurses shut out their preceptor, saying things that demonstrate they don’t want help, don’t need help, or don’t want to work at all.

Kim Rapper, RN, a preceptor for many years, tells you what not to say to your preceptor so that your relationship stays healthy and beneficial to you:

1. “I already know how to do that.”
The know-it-all attitude—and cutting off your preceptor in the midst of instruction—will keep you from learning all you can. You don’t know it all, not even the most seasoned nurse does. Even if you’ve seen a procedure done 102 times, you can benefit from the reiteration. Every preceptor, even if his/her personality drives you crazy, has insights from which you can benefit. And if you listen and watch closely, you may pick up some simple strategy to master the skills you already possess. So, don’t shut your preceptor out, and be open to new ways of doing things.

2. “I can’t do this!”
Most preceptors appreciate when a new nurse admits they don’t know how to do something. But don’t say, “I can’t.” It’s not the right word, because you will be doing it by the end of the orientation. Saying “I can’t” suggests you don’t care to learn.

Instead, say, “I don’t know how to do this yet. I need your help.” This demonstrates a willingness to learn. And it is completely appropriate; your preceptor needs to be in the room watching, helping, and coaching. No one should be doing something they feel they can’t do or have never done before. It’s in those instances that a good preceptor will be able to push you—so, ultimately, you will be able to fly on your own.

3. “Did you hear what so-and-so said?”
Cattiness and gossip are never appropriate. It’s okay for a nurse to say to a preceptor, “I don’t feel comfortable with so-and-so nurse.” But to come out and say things like, “Did you hear what so-and-so did?” chips away at your professional demeanor. Don’t get me wrong, it’s okay for there to be differences. However, when your priority shifts from quality patient care to the “Who’s Who” network, there is a problem. New nurses need to be socialized appropriately, and many preceptors take on that responsibility by inviting new nurses out to lunch and introducing them to the physicians. This needs to happen more frequently. If preceptors don’t socialize new nurses into their peer group in a professional manner, then cattiness takes over.

4. “If you don’t put me on the day shift, I’m going to quit!”
We had a new graduate make this demand. And, as you know, it’s an unrealistic one. New nurses are low on the totem pole, so expect to work the hard shifts. Most new grads start on the night shift; day shifts come with seniority. When you sign a contract, you’re agreeing to work any shift. So it’s shocking to me that new grads start making demands when this is what they’ve signed up for. However, if you are struggling with the night shift, seek support and advice from your preceptor on how to make nights work for the short-term; she’s been there. Also remember that if you want to pick and choose your shifts, you have to stick with your hospital. At many hospitals, seniority is rewarded. That’s why I’ve stayed with the hospital I started with; now, more often than not, I get the shifts I request.

5. “I’d rather be doing…”
Once I heard a new grad frequently and freely talk about changing her career—because nursing was “beneath” her aspirations. If nursing isn’t what you expected, you’ve got to discuss that with your preceptor. But don’t waste your time, or your preceptor’s time, if you know you’re not going to stick with it. Nursing demands passion and a stick-with-it attitude.

6. “I’m doing it just for the money.”
These types are called appliance nurses. I made a commitment to myself when I was in nursing school that I would never keep doing this if it became just a job. That may not be something that everyone can do. But if you find you are seeing your job just as a paycheck, then maybe you need to take a step back. That may mean dumping some of your expectations of yourself. Or maybe you need to pursue activities that recharge you. For instance, I dabble in graphic arts, which rejuvenates me. When I go back to work, I do my nursing job much better because I want to, not because I’m locked in. I’ve learned you need to be able to do this job for the right reasons: to give the best possible patient care and make a difference in people’s lives.


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45 Responses to “6 Things Your Preceptor Never Wants to Hear”

  1. Stephanie Says:

    These are all such true and resounding words. I am not yet a graduate, but just thinking about what you have written inspires me to be a better nurse, and even at this point student nurse. Thank you.

  2. Jenny Says:

    Thanks for the article! I am a student nurse about ready to start my first clinical rotation and have no idea what to expect, so this gives me a better idea on things to keep in mind so that I can be sure I am doing the best job possible! -Thanks!

  3. Ryanna Says:

    Great article! I am a graduate, and this article came just in time to get my career started the right way!

  4. steubified Says:

    this is great advice for anyone in the field. i’ve seen veteran nurses say things similar to these to the dr’s face (no no!). i can’t imagine even saying this to a clinical instructor, a co-worker, or a CNA. these statements just show a lack of professionalism and (as stated above) a know-it-all attitude (which is the worst–and dangerous in nursing). thank you for writing this!!!

  5. Kathy Says:

    I think this advice is great. I wish all students, myself included had a heads up on what could be termed nursing etiquette. We are all professionals and we should think about what we say before we say it. We are more respected and credible to each other and to those we care for. Awesome job!

  6. Michelle Says:

    Great advice!

  7. Anna Says:

    Nice 🙂 There needs to be a list for preceptors of what not to say as well!

  8. Christie Says:

    As a new graduate and orientee, I really appreciate this list. But, I do agree that there should be a list of things for the preceptor not to do.

  9. Jenny!!!!!!! Says:

    thanks so much this was really helpful.. But i still wanna work lol

  10. Natalie Says:

    I just started precepting- for my first time!- this past month! I really like this article- I’m only a year out of school and hardly a year into being an RN- so being new is still fresh on my mind. There definitely needs to be a list for what-not-to-do for preceptors too 🙂

  11. Murse Says:

    I figured in this list would be:

    “He was alive just a minute ago…”
    “I’m so drunk…”
    “Where do they hide the good stuff?”
    “I could only fit so many supplies in my pocket…”
    “Where’s the smoking section?”
    “It’s okay to put crushed tylenol in an IV bag, right? I mean…Only for pain, right?”
    “I left the meds in his room so he could take them later…”
    “I let him give his own shots…”
    “I kept calling for a nurse but pump kept pumping…”
    “My English is what?”
    “Was that 1,000 units or 10?”
    “Patch Adams wouldn’t stand for this…”
    “I’m allergic to all the food I just ate off her tray…ugh…”
    “Sorry I’m late…I caused a car accident outside so can you not send me to ER?”
    “I found a hot traveling nurse and an empty closet…”
    “Apical pulse is found below the floating ribs, right?”
    “You put the cuff around their neck if they’re an amputee, right?”

    You’d never believe it, but I’ve actually heard some of these…Bet you’ll never guess which ones are real…

  12. ERnurse8 Says:

    I’m orienting with a preceptor in the ER and i agree that some things should never be said.

  13. Tiffany Says:

    I totally agree with this article – and I agree there could be a comparable article for preceptors as well. There is nothing more discouraging then being a new nurse and hearing certain things. These would include:
    “I’m not a preceptor – I don’t teach. I’ve told our boss that before but she assigned you to me anyway tonight.”
    “The boss is such an idiot, she can’t ever schedule anyone right”
    “I saw such and such hospital is hiring. If it wasn’t such a far drive I’d be there in a heartbeat.”

    Ugh – it is definitely discouraging – I’ve been experiencing this off and on during my past 8 weeks of orientation. Not to mention the “eating your young” syndrome. But, I try and keep my head up and learn as much as I can… what else can I do but make the best of it? It is a saturated nursing market in my area – so I’m lucky I was able to find a job as a new grad at all.

  14. Rency… Says:

    You should also leave a list of what a preceptor doesnot say/ shouldnot do. I was a new nurse couple of years back.Later i precepted many new nurses also.But still i cannot forget the bad experiences i had from my initial preceptor that made me to cry several times and i felt like leaving that job. A preceptor can encourage as well as discourage you completly.

  15. Elizabeth Brown Says:

    WOW!!! This nurse must have been precepting with me over the years. I have heard every single one of those comments.

  16. 1claudia Says:

    The list is very true. I am a clinical instruct for a nursing school as well as work full time as a staff nurse. I precept and my primary expectations of my preceptees are to enjoy and embrace nursing. One cannot enjoy nursing when he/she is cocky and negative. Nurses don’t “eat their young” as many did years ago, but egos still persist and when new grads or nursing students tell experienced nurses that they already know everything they are opt to get a “negative” response.

  17. Learned by Mistakes Says:

    Please new nurses, take these tips to heart! They are so….true! Unfortunately, I made all of those mistakes and have paid the price by being terminated. I have really been humbled!

  18. Pat. RN Says:

    I am so glad to read all these comments. This will prepare a new nurse for the challenges ahead, especially when you are waned all the time about how quickly your license could be taken away from you. To be a new nurse could be very frightening. Nursing profession is like surviving in an empty wilderness. Sometimes it feels like every one is out to get you. 23 years ago I started this journey as a brand new nurse, with language barrier. I was born and raised in a foreign country hence I was faced with both cultural and professional shock. Mixing and getting along with co-workers was a big challenge. My preceptors were not patient at all. I wish I had these hints at that time. I do not know if it could have helped me, but at least it would have encouraged me, knowing that I was not alone in my struggle

  19. JohnErman Says:

    Most of it are true but based from my experience there is always a wicked preceptor who does preceptorship for money. I had one…and i hate the experience…good thing i survived.

  20. Tammy Says:

    I had a preceptor nurse who treated me like an unwanted stepchild. I couldn’t do anything right no matter how hard I tried. I was very uncomfortable with her and dreaded coming to work. I learned 2 things in that experience. 1 – to be nice and helpful to anyone I might be a preceptor to and 2- we have to learn to work with all different personalities in our field no matter how hard it may be.

  21. Katherine Says:

    This article was great! Like many of the others I agree the preceptors need to be carefully picked and trained! They are the face of the facility to a newly hired or newly graduated Nurse. I had a horrible experience with my preceptor at my previous job. She had been in the field for 30 years, and was horrible. She was the most negative, argumentative person I have ever met. She was the type that wanted to find something you did wrong, and seemed angry when she couldn’t find anything. She constantly tried to trip you up, nothing you did was right.

    We worked at a Detention Center, and the Nurses there literally said “they are all dogs, and you have to treat them like dogs”. I know that our patients were in there for breaking the law, but I don’t agree that they should be treated differently than any other patient. It turned my stomach the way they treated and spoke to the patients. I was orientated by 4 different nurses that all told me how to do things differently….. so depending on who was working I got reamed for not doing things “their” way. I loved the job, but it was not worth the anxiety of constantly being picked at, and dreading just going to work!

  22. marcie Says:

    I have been a R.N. for over a decade. I teach prenatal classes, do floor nursing, charge nursing and precepting. Since nursing is such a dynamic career and technology and protocol changes so rapidly, I still learn something new every shift. I will admit, the “Know It Alls” scare me the most. I always watch them very closely and their patients even closer. I have learned a lot precepting and always try to be encouraging and patient with new grads…seems like I was just there. I’m so thankful for the “reinforcements”. they bring a lot of enthusiasm and enery to the floor!

  23. meRN09 Says:

    Unfortunately some nurses carry this attitude and phrases all throughout their careers. It’s dissapointing to work with people that just dont’ care.

  24. luvbug Says:

    I had many different preceptors and one question I hated being asked was “were you a tech” as if I wouldn’t be a good nurse otherwise!!!

  25. Janet Says:

    I’ve been an OB/NSY nurse since 1973; I just wanted to say that I still learn something new every time I go to work. You can also learn a lot from your preceptees; if you’ll only listen!

  26. Naomi Says:

    I am not yet graduated, but wanted to thank you for posting these. I have met several nurses over my small nursing-school-clinical experience who definitely “eat their young.” I was starting to get a little depressed with careplans, class, tons of things to do, etc, and a good preceptor-student relationship was just the thing to turn it around! It has helped to reconfirm my love of nursing and the belief that I really can do this!

    As a preceptee, be open to constructive criticism (as a preceptor, please let this is the only kind of criticism you give us). Even if the day has gone well and your preceptor says you did great, it’s a good idea to ask “is there anything I could have done better?” This shows that you are really open constructive critisicm and want to be the best nurse you can be.

  27. selms312 Says:

    as an RN with only 12 months of experience under my belt, i was told i would be precepting. and i did… thankfully it turned out beautifully and my preceptee is and extremely promising talent on our unit. thank god i never ran into any of those six issues… not sure how i would’ve handled them.

  28. liz Says:

    I havent been put on night shift and im a new nurse. Though this week i had the whole week of earlies. and then next wk got late, late early then day off and then 3 nights….

    Though i did since last thursday have the same patient load..so annoying when you want to learn

  29. Bonnie Says:

    Luv Bug brings up a point…as a nursing student, I would like to know, is it easier to make the transition to RN from tech.? I was hoping to not do tech work, focus on getting my RN, and then go from there. I was a tech many years ago, and it’s not something I care to repeat.

  30. Ashlee Says:

    Bonnie,
    I am also a nursing student and can’t tell you if it is easier to transfer from Tech to RN I can tell you that the students who have been Tech’s are much more prepaired, and much more comfortable as nursing students, than those who have jobs in other fields.

  31. Diana Says:

    As a preceptor all I want is for you to want to be there and want to participate. I am not going to task you with wiping a butt if you are past that stage and something better is available.

    Please do not disappear. I view you to a degree as my responsibility regardless of how you see the situation. I have plenty to do and having you with me is fine- wondering where you are is stressful.

    If you are a brittle diabetic or have some other chronic condition please consider what you are getting into. I respect you desire to share your personal experience with other patients but nursing school is a challenge and the first couple of years should be mentally and physically challenging- take care of yourself and when you are stable then rethink nursing.

  32. sydney Says:

    How about a list of preceptors?

    For starters, make criticism CONSTRUCTIVE!
    Don’t assume your way is necessarily the only way.
    Remember, your students/new grads might not be experienced nurses just yet, but yes, we notice YOUR mistakes too. 🙂

  33. Tara Says:

    I have the worst preceptor ever. She always has a head ache expects me to know things before I do them. Quizes me on everything. Makes me call pharmacy 100 bizzilion times a day, tells me things that aren’t even right. Gets upset when I don’t have questions. It’s driving me crazy!!’n

  34. Breann Says:

    I’ve moved around a lot (because of my husband’s job) and have had several preceptors. I try to be very appreciative of my preceptors. But as an experienced nurse, I usually get the unexperienced preceptors or the preceptors that take advantage of my having some nursing experience. They usually greet me in the morning, then disappear for most of the shift and then reappear at the end of the shift to let me know what I have not done.

    Most preceptors do not take a preceptor class. I think this should be MANDATORY no matter how much experience you have.

  35. MARIA Says:

    Hi Breann,

    This is an a sad story because nursing is one of the best professions and it seems that nurses the the ones to hurt one another.

    The Preceptor you mentioned is not a preceptor.

    I was a preceptor back in the day and preceptors are supportive, encouraging and, informative, and share their knowledge. A good preceptor allows you to ask questions and to participate, giving you feeback on the spot.

    It’s fine when a preceptor allows you to spread your winds, and not breath down your neck, but to leave you all day, and then to provide negative feedback is a distasteful.

    Get a voice and request a new preceptor, simply and respectfully, ask for a preceptor who will respect you as a new colleague,and team member and one who is interested in your growth.

    Maybe, you should think about being a preceptor yourself.

    When I was starting out many eons ago, I was a nurses aide. I watched the nurses and though I can do this, so I went to school. I became an RN, and then I watched and thought I can become a preceptor, and I was required to take a preceptor course and many facilities have preceptor/mentor programs,. Facilities back in the back randomly picked anyone to participate, and it does take a special individual who has the passion and desire to educate and instruct, I did.
    Then I said to myself I need to be able to supervise and I took many leadership courses to fill those shoes.

    Today I am a Director of Nursing / Administrator and I thoroughly enjoy what I do. I encourage many nurses to continue on with their education or find a specialty and focus on helping others to grow to reach their true potential.

    I think Breann, you would be a great preceptor, you already know what not to do.

    Regards,
    Maria

  36. looloo Says:

    i am a new grad. i had a preceptor on my new unit in one way or another tell me that i had a smart ass rebuttal for everything new that she tried to teach me. i have never been told this in my life. i was so upset. i told her i was “sorry” and tears were welding up behind my eyes because i was crushed as she continued to tell me names of two other co-workers(buddies) who felt i was the same way with them. i was crying at his point and appologizing. she kept on. finally i said “do you think maybe we just have different personalities? (this was a major part of the case, but i’m just more honest than others would be about pointing to the obvious–a flaw of mine). maybe we just don’t communicate well.” i told her that i have never had anyone who instructed or precepted me tell me this before. i know that i’m kinda quiet and you’re a little louder and we might just be having a personality conflict, but that i am sorry if i wasn’t being a good listener and that i would work on it” a wave of ursula the witch came over her and her head literally spun around as she stood up and said “there you go again. i am trying to instruct you again, and you do this. so it’s ME that’s the problem. fine.” she stormed over to the phone as i am telling her “no, you have been a great orienter….”….she ignored me and said “yea whatever” and clocked out and said on her way out the door ” all i have to say is ‘good luck on night shift'” and slammed the door. to make matters worse she did all of this with a nursing student in the room. i was broken. here i was about to go to night shift nervous as hell being a new nurse with a bad omen…. and already had new enemies on this small unit. fabulous.everyone that heard this story said she is a nurse that is on a power trip, and i didn’t play her game. they said they knew me and my non-confrontational personality, and that she is crazy. i think that her constant loud criticism around all her buddies, probably rubbed me the wrong way and i got short with her and she did not like it. i am always trying to do my best and talking things out as i go, and she thought i wasn’t competent—who knows. i have over-analyzed it all as my husband would say…i sent her daises the friendliest flower i could think of with a letter saying thank you and that i had learned so much from her. i also sent brownies to the other day shift staff on the floor. she called to thank me and tell me that she just thinks of all her orientees as “her children”. she is only 10 years older than me. weird. i don’t know what to think. that was my intro into nursing. wow.

  37. addie Says:

    ever remember the overwhelming amount of things you had to retain just to get thru nursing school? Ever remember being taught the same thing a 1000 different ways and thinking oh god I just want to remember it schools way, your way, her way any way that will get me through this? Ever remembering getting taught ‘best practice’ and then saying ‘hey I learned that they’re saying that this is a way they are saying cuts down this or prevents that. Then getting labeled a ‘know it all’. Yes there a million different ways to do things but why chastise young new knowledge why not take the time to discuss it? Just as we are always taught to meet the patient ‘where they’re at’ why are we not doing the same to new grads and students guess what they’re people too?

  38. NADIA Says:

    HEY TO ALL OF YOU. THAT WAS VERRY INTERESTING TO ME READ YOUR ARTICLES AS I JUST GRADUATED AND I AM LOOKING FOR A JOB AT THIS TIME. I WOULD KEEP IN MIND ALL YOUR ADVICCES, THANK YOU GUYS. WISH ME GOOD LUCK.

  39. Dream Chaser Says:

    My preceptor was soooo negative…behind my back!!!All I ask from a preceptor is to correct me!!! Show me!!! Direct ME!!! not report, ridicule me on a sheet of paper to a nursing manager!!!! How disgusted I was!!! Some people don’t have a clue or heart!!! I was new to the unit..new nurse and all and the RN preceptor was like….hollering, quick-tempered, impatient, and I’m like please rescue me…I couldn’t even retain from her for trying to use stress techniques…to keep me from knocking the —- out of her! I had weak clinical and lab experiences in nursing school and maybe she didn’t but to belittle someone just because you feel like uh! you should know this and uh! you should think faster! really erks me! Everything I said to my preceptor was help, why, and when,….never got any real answers but you need to be doing this and you need to be doing that quickly! where they do that? in the south….Have a good day yall…I had to get that off me….

  40. Sheila G Says:

    These are all very good suggestions, but it is not always the preceptee. There are some preceptors who shouldn’t agree to mentor/precept nursing students. Some don’t know what a preceptee nursing student is and expect them to help & do the work for everyone of the nurses on the unit. They are in their last term means they are getting training to be independent, improve their skills, etc. 1)the student is not personal assistant 2)it takes a way the students learning experience 3)devalues the poor student. Preceptors must make any expectations they have clear and stick w/ it. Your preceptee is not a mind reader. You can’t always change your expectations of the student to fit your mood. For instance, my preceptor told the other nurses I am a preceptee & she will not let me do their work since I have my own patients. Next thing you know, I’m getting a eval that I’m not helping the nurse do their work?!(But, I do! if I’m not busy w/ my responsibilities to my patient). She expects me to ready the rooms for admissions, while she textes & gossips the entire day @the nurses station.. She rolls me eyes when I ask her a question (not a silly question) or when she doesn’t like something OR ignores me completely & textes on her phone! For charting, I followed her recommendations & weeks later she tells me it’s not right? huh.. lol. I check on my patients frequently & hardly ever sit down since I’m so busy; on my eval she tells me all I do is sit down & do my paper work for school?..huh? I tell her I’m actually charting throughout the day (which I’m suppose to do! I wish I could do school work, but this is my patient & work is my priority). She tells me I don’t answer the phone correctly too..how many variations can go w/”Hello, Unit 3, this is__. how can I help you?” she wants me to start off & tell them I’m the student before anything. I find it insane how she expects so much from me, but never helps me..she passes me to other nurses & leaves early..On my final eval she tells me honestly that I wont make it as a nurse, esp in her specialty, she doubts anyone will hire me, I’m not assertive, I’m not confident, I’m not independent, I don’t do things the way she wants, I disappoint her, & that she wont put this on my eval so I can graduate. She compares me to other preceptees & their preceptors too in post-partum (mind you, their preceptors actually help them! or, at least give them some guidance lol). I was very hurt since I know I must be doing something right when my patients are very happy & thank me for everything during discharge or throughout the day, I’ve been in ICU, ER, etc. & I do all my work, prioritize, manage my time well & offer to help my fellow nurses on the unit when I’m done w/ my own priorities. I felt like I didn’t deserve what she said..do I? I can definitely relate to the saying “Nurses eat their young”, she definitely tried to break my confidence in myself. What a horrible person to treat a student, or anyone that way. It sucks since if I report her, she will give me a bad eval so I don’t graduate. So, be careful students & to preceptors please don’t offer to be one if you don’t want to..it really isn’t healthy for student nurses. Everyday was a very tense environment working w/ her & I tried my best.. I just tried to keep a smile on despite it all.

  41. Sheila G Says:

    Also, she did my final evaluation at the nurses station, as she continued to ridicule me..I asked her if we could please continue in another room. She said “No”, rolled her eyes and gave my eval papers to another nurse to fill out! I didn’t feel it was appropriate where nurses and patients are passing by. She always told me the other nurses are talking about me, which I found odd since I have pretty good relationships w/ the nurses and help them when I can..except one!(I was in mid-teaching my patient & she told me to do a patients bed? I told her “I will try to help you when I’m done teaching” She gave me a mean look when I came out of my patients room & did the bed herself..that’s who I feel the negative comment from “nurses” my preceptor meant); I know I wasn’t wrong, who leaves their patient to do a bed? My preceptor is also the charge nurse & I’m confused how??..I’ve been w/ other charge nurses & I wasn’t babied since I was a student, but they also never treated me this way. All I have to say is good luck to all students. No one deserves what I went through…

  42. Rose Says:

    Aloha everyone!

    I had a wonderful experience(good and bad) in a student nurse technician program. If you have this option, it certainly is something to consider. Of course, having great preceptors who are open to teaching makes an enormous difference, it helps make up for the bad days with other more challenging preceptors.

    Being in Hawaii, I had an opportunity to be exposed to all kinds of nurses with diverse ethnicities. Following my preceptorship, I had to float to different floors. There were cruel nurses that gave me some of the worst assignments, for whatever reason. It was survivalship. I quickly learned to be resourceful by developing allies with staff, especially with the nurse aides as they help with all the personal care, and heavy lifting.

    Bottom line is that the preceptorship experience, having both good and bad experiences early on provided me a the strength and conviction to be the best nurse . One that is independent in decision making and resourceful. Look at difficult situations as opportunities. It usually is. Someones cruel attitude towards you is usually due to an insecurity and jealosy. Just be mindful that preceptorship is transient, you will have the option later to choose where you would like to specialize. Nursing offers an array of choices.

    To optimize the preceptorship experience, I would suggest having the preceptor accountable as well in their performance. As it is their responsibiltiy to create a nurse to become comfortable and independent nurses at the end of their program. By having in writing a guideline and expectation for the preceptor and also be evaluated during the entire process,beginning, middle, and end. It allows for intervention at each stage. If your facility embraces teaching, then it would be beneficial for all parties and also a great investment for the facility to retain excellent nurses.

    I wish you all luck with your endeavors! Hang in there, the efforts and hard work will be worth it!

    Mahalo!!!

  43. Paul Says:

    There a many bad preceptors out there and many who do not care.
    They should be chosen very carefully, I was told, ” I am not going to treat you any better than I was treated.” start of shift and experience many times…And I was treated worse I am sure than they were. However, Nursing is dynamic as well as the good and bad attitudes and personalities you will find. There are many villains out there in teaching and many good ones. It is the school’s responsibility and the facility responsibility to weed the rotten apples out. AND NO I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS “PROFESSION” TO ANOTHER PERSON – IT IS MORE OF AN OCCUPATION. IF THE HORIZON VIOLENCE WAS NOT THERE OR HERE THAN MAYBE, I WOULD CONSIDER IT A PROFESSION.

  44. Angela Wolf Says:

    After being in the restaurant biz for many yrs and training jerks who “know that”, I’m so aware of being “cocky”

    My preceptor/trainer seems to find me annoying. I wouldn’t be so sensitive if she wasn’t so sweet to patients, coworkers, and anyone that isn’t me. All the other nurses say she is awesome (in front of her)

    What’s my problem? (Im a new grad, 1.5yrs after graduating b/c I was taking care of my son w/ cancer)

  45. Alisa L Says:

    I just had the worst experience ever! My clinical instructor introduced herself on the first day of clinical by saying she would make one of us cry. She would leave me alone the majority of the day only to return and tell me what I did wrong. She called me stupid, ADD and insisted that I was ” a know it all” and dangerous. She asked me which area of nursing I plan to pursue. I told her eventually I wanted to go into Mental health nursing. She said that was great because those people have stinky breath and she could never work with them…they are crazy and they stink! I was shocked that a nurse would say such horrible things about patients. People with mental illness deserve compassionate quality care as well. I understand that working with individuals with mental disabilities is not for everyone but her statement was harsh. I took offense because I’m passionate about mental health.

    It’s interesting that she would say I’m dangerous or ADD, yet leave me alone all day to care for patients and often time ask me to help other students who were getting behind in their patient care. She would show up at med time and apologize then disappear again. Eventually she stopped coming to assist me at all. She humiliated me in front of doctors, patients and the other staff. She would sit out in the open and critique the smallest detail of my care plan. Every time I asked a question she would threaten to fail me or say, “What do you think” in a condescending tone. She would ask me questions then before I could finish answering she would yell, boo! Next she would say, you better get your shit together before I fail you. I was miserable and soon became too intimidated to ask her any questions. I went home each day upset and dreading the next clinical. She would harass me for an hour then say to me,” You know why I’m doing this right?” Then she would say ” You think you know everything, we are going to show you”. I had no idea why she felt I thought I was a know it all but I was terrified of her. I would just sit there with tears in my eyes and say yes ma’am to her insults because I didn’t know what else to do. She told me I was pretty but not smart saying she couldn’t believe I had made it this far. I can’t begin to explain how much stress this put me under.

    I think I was being singled out for having complained about an instructor in a previous semester on an evaluation. I was forced to rewrite my evaluation and began to notice that staff treated me differently the following semester. I was told the previous evaluation I had done did not process through the system. I felt I was a targeted and they would eventually find a way to fell me. The next semester I had all one-hundreds and a 90 on my quizzes. My instructor emails me and tell me he is giving me a zero for the final ECG quiz because my time ran out on the exam and I didn’t complete 2 of the problems. This was strange because previously if your time ran out it would grade the portion you completed and shut off. It wouldn’t cause you to receive a zero you would only be counted off fir questions you did not answer. I also saw in the syllabus were it should have ended later that night. The time it actually ended. He told me he was basing the zero on the syllabus. When I asked about the questions I did answer he stated the system didn’t record my answers but he could see where It stop at number 49. I was also getting failing scores on my exams which I couldn’t explain. I knew the answers and would answer most questions in class. I studied for 10-12 hours a day for exams but my grades were not reflecting my efforts. Prior to this class I had done well academically .

    I passed my clinical and was told the only reason she didn’t fell me is because they would finish me off in lecture. I was so upset but I just sat there and said…”yes ma’am”. I wanted to cry and felt so humiliated. I knew I couldn’t do anything about it. So I decided that I would review the next test. I did and found numerous questions that were incorrectly graded. I went back to the book and provided the place where I had gotten my answer and the points were given back to me. I ended up with an 80 on that particular test. It made me wonder about the previous tests that did not reflect my efforts. This happened several more times in addition to being harasses by my clinical instructor and the stress was tremendous. I’m currently failed as of yesterday and asking to have my exam reviewed again. I feel so stressed as I have spent 38 thousand dollars on this degree and now I’m possibly not going to be graduating. I feel extremely angry and I pray that he allow give me to review this exam. He stated that I should enroll in the other campus program because students that go there do better. I live an hour away from there, it is more expensive per credit hour and I don’t feel I have been treated or graded fairly. I pay cash each semester and I have not worked since the beginning if this program. I feel that I have been targeted because of the evaluation.

    Nursing was a second degree for me. I graduated with honors from my first degree program. I’m not lazy and I’m accustomed to the rigor of higher education. I have done numerous all nighters to get the grade I desire and I have always been respectful of my instructors and looked up to them. I have a meeting scheduled with the chairperson who also teaches the classroom portion of my course. I emailed him twice asking if I would have the opportunity to review my final exam but he did not respond. I’m terrified that I will be dismissed without the opportunity to review my exam or challenge the test questions. This university also uses this faulty calculation method. They dismissed several students in a previous term but ended up having to readmit them because it was uncovered that their grade calculation method was erroneous. I don’t know what to do at this point. I’m feeling defeated but also not ready to give up on my dream. I would appreciate if any of you have advice for me.

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