#1 Reason: You have a guide to help you navigate the nursing journey and successfully navigate through all the pitfalls!

So, you completed nursing school, graduated with your degree, passed the NCLEX, and landed your first job as a new graduate nurse. You are feeling excited, but anxious to start putting everything you have learned in your nursing program into practice on your unit.

You may be thinking, how do I make this transition from novice to expert, as smooth as possible?

Here is where your preceptor steps in. An excellent preceptor is a leader who helps you along this journey, by creating a strong professional bond, where you feel comfortable asking questions, completing skills checklists and honing critical thinking skills.

Nurse Tanya has been precepting and coaching for nearly a decade and sees no reason why the guidance into the registered nurse’s role by a seasoned preceptor, must end when you clock out.

As this is the first blog, we will hear from Tanya herself, about her history and role as a preceptor.

Tanya, how would you describe the ideal working relationship between preceptor and new nurse?

Great question! The relationship between the Preceptor and the new nurse is one of a guide.

I am here to walk with you step by step, through your first 6-12 months as a new grad nurse. I will show you how to successfully navigate past all the pitfalls in nursing to avoid. A few of these common pitfalls include unit gossiping, getting involved in cliquish behavior, procrastination, succumbing to new nurse anxiety and self-doubt and imposter syndrome.

I will also help the new nurse to gain confidence in themselves, as a competent nurse, by teaching skills beyond the bedside and how to navigate the nursing profession to their ultimate dream role. The ideal relationship between Preceptor and Preceptee is one built on honesty and accountability.

That’s excellent. Do you feel like you had this experience with your preceptor?

With my Preceptor as a new nurse, I feel I had a lot of guidance as to what skills and competencies to complete, however regarding my ability to be a good nurse and confidence in myself came from within.

Extra Benefits

So, what I hear you saying is that every nurse has the ability and confidence to become a great nurse with a little guidance. With that said, what has been your most rewarding experience as a preceptor?

My most rewarding experience as a preceptor was with one of my previous students, who I will call E.Z. He was in nursing school, and I taught clinical at a hospital in Florida. E.Z. had a Bachelor’s degree, and was a registered dietitian. While working on his nursing degree, he continued to work part-time as a dietitian. However, his ultimate goal was to become a Physician's Assistant (PA).

He came to me and asked for advice on how he should manage his career, because he had applied to multiple PA schools and had not been accepted into any of the programs. The main school he wanted to attend was Miami Dade College's PA program. He had reconciled himself to going to a Nurse Practitioner program instead. After he told me this, I had a heart-to-heart with E.Z. and I told him, "go for what you really want and do not settle for anything less."

A year or so later, after he had passed clinical rotations with me, I received a glorious email notifying me that he had been accepted into a PA program of his choice at Miami Dade College! That to date has been my most rewarding experience because, not only was I able to help someone have the courage to go after his dream, but also to succeed.

That must have been such a great feeling. Now on the other hand, what challenges have you

encountered and how have you managed these challenges?

I find my greatest challenges in working with different personality types and, the different ways in which people learn and receive critical feedback.

Some new nurses are very analytical and feel as though they must do everything perfectly, all the time. Possibly leading to hesitancy.

While other nurses are more laid back, regarding their skills that require improvement. Possibly leading to confrontation when receiving critical feedback well.

So, I have learned to ask. I ask each student/client/mentee, the hard and uncomfortable questions, such as how do you like to receive critical feedback? What are your strengths and areas of weakness? What are your expectations from this preceptorship? What do you want to have gained from our time together?

Asking these questions, and maintaining open communication between both parties, provides for a better outcome overall.

Conclusion

Lastly, what advice do you have for your mentees?

My best piece of advice for my mentees is to learn the value of a mentor before it's too late. You have heard the expression, that you can either learn the hard way or the easy way. I would recommend learning from the experience of someone who has your best interests at heart. You will go down your own path expediently and competently.

Thank you for this insight. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Coach Tanya……

Go to mypocketpreceptor.com

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