Nursing preceptor helps with learning process

Julia Judge

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By Julia Judge, Health Care Today Updated 5:01 PM Monday, May 4, 2009

Today was my last day of undergraduate classes, although it seems like only yesterday I began writing about my nursing school experience. After completing 336 hours of my senior practicum, I feel I am finally ready to embrace my future as a nurse.

At the beginning of this semester, I was prepared to feel inadequate when taking my own patient assignments. Yet, to my surprise, by the forth shift with my nursing preceptor, Vicki, I found myself comfortably handling the entire assignment. I truly believe it was because of Vicki's encouragement and confidence in me that I was able to find confidence in myself. Therefore, I dedicate this journal entry to her.

Since the first day of my senior preceptorship, I knew Vicki would not only be a great nursing role model, but she would also be a great friend. Vicki is the type of nurse everyone desires to work with on their shift; she is kind and considerate and always willing to lend a hand. Vicki taught me the importance of being a diligent and thoughtful nurse, and she also showed me the importance of developing positive relationships with fellow nurses, clinicians and staff.

I assume it is difficult to take a hands-off approach to being a preceptor, but Vicki was able to find a perfect balance between giving advice and allowing me to correct my mistakes on my own. She gave me the opportunity to learn at my maximum capacity by being there for me as a guide, but also taking a step back and letting me come to her with questions. I was amazed by her ability to keep rack of everything I was doing while giving me the autonomy to practice being a nurse.

This skill made her an exceptional nurse and preceptor.

While she already had years of varied nursing experience, she inspired me by her constant desire to learn.

I often heard her saying as we were looking up medications, "I am so glad I am precepting because I am relearning what I learned in school."

She taught me the value of being knowledgeable about my patients and it gave me more confidence as I communicated with interdisciplinary teams.

Vicki was an outstanding preceptor and I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such a wonderful nurse and person. I would like to thank every nurse who chooses to be a preceptor. The impact you have on new, impressionable nurses is significant and valuable. I will always be appreciative of my experiences in clinical and I am thankful for the nurses who made those experiences positive.

I would also like to thank mentors and colleagues in Dayton's health care community who have been supportive throughout my educational career, and who have been willing to help me find a job - in Chicago! No luck yet, but I'm still hopeful.

Julia Judge is a 2005 graduate of Oakwood High School and is a student at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

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