ONS Connect - July 2008 - (Page 5)

EDiTOr’SNOTE Preceptors Can Make a Difference for Student Nurses [By Debra M. Wujcik, RN, PhD, AOCN®, Editor] fter a recent conversation with a student nurse, I asked her to put some of her thoughts in writing. It reminded me that despite the increasing use of technology in health care, it is still the personal touch that makes the difference. Following is an excerpt from the student’s enthusiastic description of the positive influence of her preceptor. During my nursing school education, I have worked with many preceptors. Some nurses are really excellent teachers, and some are not. The nurse I worked with this week was an amazing preceptor. She was interested in me as a student. She trusted my abilities, viewed me as a team member, and gave me positive feedback. She answered all of my questions and did not make me feel stupid for not remembering what a certain medication was used for. Later in the day, she would ask what the medication was used for to be sure I remembered. She also told me that I pick up on things very quickly and that she was really impressed by my charting and assessment skills. Working with a preceptor like this really helps to build a student’s confidence level. It makes you think, “Okay, I really can do this.” My preceptor has been a nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for 46 years. You would think that she would be burned out and not want to work with any stu- A dents. However, she was the best teacher and the most encouraging nurse I have ever worked with. I saw how much she cared for her patients. I had the opportunity to see a reunion with a patient she had cared for when the patient was three years old. The young man had a secondary tumor arise when he was 19 years old and had been readmitted to the hospital. I went with my preceptor to go see him. After 16 years, the patient and the family still remembered the nurse; this was amazing to see. I thought that I wanted to work in the neonatal intensive care unit after graduation. However, after this experience on the pediatric oncology floor and working with this preceptor, I am beginning to think differently. This preceptor helped to show me how amazing the field of pediatric oncology can be, and she helped me to see that I would be an amazing pediatric oncology nurse. At the end of the week, she gave me a big hug and told me to follow my heart to where my passion is. I left that day feeling really good about myself and my abilities. That’s what makes a good preceptor. I just wish that every preceptor in teaching hospitals had an attitude like my preceptor. I want to thank my daughter, Kari Wujcik, for sharing her experience and acknowledge Linda Fenoglio, RN, as a preceptor who makes a difference. ✱ July 2008 ONS CONNECT Debra M. Wujcik, RN, PhD, AOCN ®, Editor “She trusted my abilities, viewed me as a team member, and gave me positive feedback,” Kari says of her preceptor. 5

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ONS Connect - July 2008

ONS Connect - July 2008 Contents Editor's Note Just In Technologic Advancements in Cancer Care A Year in the Life - Month Seven Web Connect Capitol Connection Notice Nursing Now Caregiver Care Computerized System Standardizes Symptom Assessment and Management Nanotechnology Treats Cancer at the Atomic Level Rise in Mastectomies May Be Linked to Increased Use of MRI Detection Working for You Calendar of Events Staying on Top

ONS Connect - July 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.