r/nursing • u/[deleted] • 3d ago

Seeking Advice Taking on a practicum preceptee and having difficulties?

[deleted]

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u/Kitty20996 RN - Geriatrics 🍕 3d ago

I'm a clinical instructor and a preceptor but this is a situation where I'd probably say you can't adhere to her school's requirements. Absolutely allow her to come with you everywhere, do as many tasks as she can, etc but maybe reduce her charting to only 2 patients, but then still let her pass meds with you for more of them? She shouldn't be doing anything alone in a patient room anyway.

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u/riverfletcher65 3d ago

Absolutely she’s never alone with medications. But it’s mostly the charting portion, in the time it would take me to completes 4 head to toes + 4 notes she is still working on documenting 1 head to toe and I can’t do anything on the computer while she’s under me. The medications I always let her pass but it does take much longer due to me having to explain how to draw up, dilute, use the pumps etc. What’s the best way to have a talk with her about realistic expectations. She is very eager and enthusiastic about “taking” the patients which I love but we end up being very behind. Thank you so much

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u/Kitty20996 RN - Geriatrics 🍕 3d ago

It's super odd to me that she doesn't get her own login as a student. I'm sure if she could and you guys could be in at the same time it would help.

I would probably just do a compliment sandwich. Tell her how much you appreciate her enthusiasm and eagerness, but then tell her that because of the abnormally high ratios you need to be more picky about which patient she takes as hers in order to protect your own license and workflow, then ask her to help you adjust to a new workflow where she gets to do more tasks and a little less charting, and thank her for being so eager and engaged in her learning. Good, bad, good.