So I taught a new preceptor class today. Actually, it was more like facilitating the class. My facility requires the preceptor candidate to fill out an application and get three peer assessments. The manager approves the preceptor candidate and then I assign them online modules about learning styles, communication, cultural influences, and conflict resolution. I had a good showing of 11 "students". We had good discussions on preceptors and I told them my horror story of being a nursing student in the labor and delivery unit from the underworld. I swore off labor and delivery as an option for my career after that encounter. I also talked about the nurses I see roll their eyes when they are told they have a nursing student or new employee. I witnessed one nurse say something not nice when told she was to be a preceptor. Unfortunately the new employee was sitting right across from her. I was embarrassed and horrified that the nurse did this. I volunteered to take the new employee.
One thing that came up in the class today was how to deal with a know-it-all. Does anyone have thoughts on this?
There are some great resources for the nurse educator. One I find helpful is the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) website www.anpd.org. ANPD does charge membership fees, but they are well worth the cost if you want great information. Their journal has great articles on many subjects.
It is always hard to know the best way to deal with a fellow nurse that thinks they know it all. I usually just use the take-it-or-leave-it policy. I sort through the information they so willing give, keep what I need, and discard what I don’t. My personal opinion of know-it-alls is that they are actually afraid that they may be seen as unimportant, or in some cases, they may feel threatened by the fact that new nurses may know more up-to-date information than they do. It may help to try to reassure this nurse that they are valuable and knowledgeable. When placing a new nurse with a know-it-all type nurse, I would pre-warn the new nurse of what to expect so they wouldn’t feel insecure or threatened.
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