As a nurse just entering the workforce, she provided insight on the fears, anxieties, and successes of her transition. Now, with a little experience under her nursing belt, our contributor Chelsea is starting a new column where she’ll be providing weekly insight to help new nurses get a glimpse into their futures and to help experienced RNs and managers learn about their newest generation of colleagues. Q: It seems like a lot of new...  Read More »

It’s been quite some time now that I’ve been working, already more than a month. And at this point, I still can’t get over the fact that I’m not in school! Even though I’m constantly under supervision from my preceptor, it is strangely liberating. For the first time, I don’t have to rely on my professors for feedback. Now, I am the one patients are looking to for information about their diagnosis or prognosis....  Read More »

It is understandable to be nervous about dealing with a doctor. And it’s understandable to be nervous about calling a doctor. But, with any nurse-physician interaction, there is something important to keep in mind: You may be nervous (or you may not even like the doctor) but you are contacting them on behalf of your patient. You are the patient advocate, and you want to make sure patients receive the best care possible. I learned how...  Read More »

Our Preceptor Place columnist, Sarah Jane, has covered a wide variety of topics during the past few months. As a young nurse (in the Buckeye state!) who is quickly becoming a veteran, her advice and insight have been a welcome addition to our pages. She’s given us a first-hand glimpse at her relationship with a new nurse and provided some fantastic general advice for new graduates. Last time, she gave us an inside look at the roles...  Read More »

As a new nurse, you will come across many experienced nurses who will influence your professional life in different ways. Two of the most important should be your preceptor and a mentor. Today, let’s dive into the difference between a preceptor and a mentor. Preceptors are teachers or tutors while a mentor is a trusted counselor or guide. In my experience as a nurse, the preceptor gets new nurses ready and trained to work on the floor...  Read More »

After all the tears last Friday, I have come to the realization that I am not a nursing student anymore. What a weird feeling! This has been my identity for the past four years and, all of a sudden, I am without that title. I wouldn’t want to stay behind for another four years or anything, but I will miss nursing school. What am I going to do for the next four weeks? It’s time for me to really start my job search. Things have...  Read More »

Our Preceptor Place columnist, Sarah Jane, has given us some sound advice on how to get to know your preceptor. Today, she shows us the other side of the coin? What if you are the preceptor? How can you make a new nurse feel comfortable? When you are orienting new grads or nurses transferring from another unit, it is important to make them feel like they matter and count. Make them feel like you are glad to have them on your unit and that...  Read More »

Our Preceptor Place columnist, Sarah Jane, has shared some captivating stories during the past few weeks. She gave us an inside look at her first experience as a preceptor, which included two memorable patients that changed a new graduate’s view of nursing. Today, Sarah Jane provides some sound advice for new nurses on how to get to know a preceptor. See what she has to say. First, I’d like to share an important piece of advice...  Read More »

Last time, Sarah Jane walked us through the beginning of her life as a preceptor with a new nurse on the ICU. She gave some great advice on putting the patient’s best interest first, and helped lead the way through a bloody trauma. Now, the time with her new nurse was coming to a close–but not without some excitement. As I was saying, during the homestretch, we had two very memorable patients that were great teaching opportunities...  Read More »

Our new preceptor columnist, Sarah Jane, an ICU nurse from Ohio, gave us an introduction to her experiences last time she wrote. She told us about her quick transition from new nurse to preceptor. Now, in a two-part article, she gives us a closer look at her first experience. Here’s the first installment. The time had come when the leadership on my unit thought I would be able to handle a new grad nurse. I had seen her around the unit...  Read More »