This week I worked 40 hours and was able to observe the nurse manager and nurse leads in my unit. I was not able to closely see what exactly the nurse manager was doing but when I did see her she often popped in patients rooms asking if they were receiving sufficient care from our nurses and other health care staff.  That day, as incentive, she bought pizza because a good amount of patients completed the unit’s care and work.  Another day during the “morning huddle” she read an e-mail received from a patient’s wife stating how appreciative she is with the unit’s care.

As for the lead nurse, they come to work 30 minutes early to prepare the patient assignments to the nurses, lead the morning huddle, and overall oversee the nurses care for the patients.  Also, they cover for unit clerk when they are on lunch and when nurses go to lunch.  They are the go-to person when a problem arises, like today, several patient’s IV’s infiltrated (whom were hard sticks), so she immediately started the lines with ease.  Also, a patient was experience SOB but she and assigned nurse immediately intervened and a rapid response was not necessary.

Both positions act in overseeing patient and nursing care.  Both interact with nurses and patients.  I believe the lead is more involved in ensuring fluidity in the unit and the manager is more of making sure both parties are satisfied. 

I do enjoy the nurse manager’s at Kaiser because of the unity and warmth provided during the morning meetings.  The morning meetings allow a meeting spot to acquaint the staff to all who are going to be worked with that shift.  I believe it is very important for the nurse managers to initiate the day with that drive to promote teamwork in order to care for patients with adequate care and nourishment needed to make the patient better.   With the correct start to the day within the nursing staff it then relays back to the patients whom which receive the optimal care needed to get well.

My preceptor has been really supportive this first week of my preceptorship.  Upon the first day of precepting we discussed my capabilities, goals and her expectations of me.  I told her that I would like to get acquainted with the unit and staff as much as possible to make preceptorship a fluid process.  The second day I was able to take 2 patients and also help out with her other two patients, the third day I was able to take 3 patients.  She has constantly reminded me tips to prioritizing, cueing me to prep patients for tests, check labs, and new orders.  Today she wanted to “leave me alone” and have me take care of my patients “sort of” on my own.  Aside from assessing and documenting, she wanted to challenge me in seeing any significant lab values or symptoms of patients and actually communicate to the MD and advocate for any care I would happen to suggest, in which I did.  She also has me giving patient report.  I believe having more a grasp with the patient’s care as a preceptee and also being overseen by my preceptor, creates a very beneficial learning environment.  I believe she is very supportive in pushing me to my limits in being an efficient critical thinking nurse.  She gives me a lot of feedback in things I need to be vigilant about and what I can improve on.  She is not too tough and also not so laid back, which is a perfect balance. 

I feel my preceptor is the exact same way for me, as all of them should be.  She never ceases to teach me anything and everything, but also gives me a little leeway to be on my own and do my own that.  She does not hover over my actions too much.  Also, I believe it is important to develop a trusting relationship with your preceptor initially to allow for a smooth experience towards our careers.  I do appreciate a comfortable and trustworthy relationship between a preceptor and preceptee, as there is no intimidation involved and more room for learning.