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| {Gayle: Capstone Preceptor} |
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I contacted my preceptor, Gayle to arrange the clinical shifts for this semester. I am required to work with her 100 hours. I then give my instructor the schedule and arrange a time to meet with her and to get feedback on
my performance. I am responsible to
contact Gayle before the shift if I am ill, and arrange with her a time to
make up those missed hours.
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I also have clinical objectives
for the experience which I can discuss with Gayle or obtain the information
on their own. I provided Gayle with
a copy of these clinical objectives. I will submit a journal to my instructor addressing these objectives.
The clinical objectives are
not “hands on” skill based but are a reflection of the didactic objectives
which focus on the student gaining knowledge and insights regarding
organizations, leadership, management/delegation skills, and strategies to
facilitate working effectively with others.
·
Each
clinical day, I will have a Preceptor
Evaluation of Student Form. Gayle fills this out and offers constructive advice in areas she feels I could/should improve in.
The criteria on this evaluation form are both skill based and behavioral based. This is a learning experience and her
feedback is very helpful to my education. This Preceptor Evaluation of Student Form can be given in
a sealed envelope to give to my instructor or faxed to the SLCC nursing
department. If she feels that I am not performing at a “satisfactory” level in any criteria, Gayle will note this on this evaluation form and feel free to call my instructor as well.
· I am in turn able to, under her direct
supervision; perform any skills
within the RN’s scope of practice. Some
examples would include: physical assessment, medication administration, clean
and sterile dressing changes, catheter placement, tracheostomy care, and IV
insertion. A strong emphasis on prioritization and delegation of patient care
would be very beneficial to the student.
My first such clinical shift was today and I was very nervous. I woke up early, didn't eat breakfast before driving to the hospital and promptly fainted at the first epidural given of the day. When I woke up on the floor with sweet Gayle instructing me to "stay down" I couldn't remember what had happened. When the anesthesiologist informed me that he had been instructing me on the insertion of the catheter into the epidural space, I turned very pale and hit the garbage can on the way down. It wasn't the first epidural that I have ever seen done, just the first one on an empty stomach. How was your day?
