A Perfect Preceptorship
In a previous post I wrote about my
nervousness about precepting a graduate nurse. Even though I am adjunct faculty
for a local college, and enjoy the experience immensely, I questioned whether I
could offer her a satisfying experience. Could I provide a one-on-one personal relationship
where she had my undivided attention? Could I fill the time with
evidence-based research and impart on her knowledge that would be relevant and
that would transcend all types of settings no matter what she decided to
do?
Well, we just completed the practicum experience last week and she really
enjoyed it! Caring for individuals in a correctional facility providing primary
to urgent care is sometimes perceived as hard, intimidating, depressing
and maybe at best futile, but she was able to see the relevancy of the care we
provide offering alternatives and much-needed education to those who
often misuse the emergency room and hospital as their primary care provider, not taking responsibility for their own well being. I was
impressed with her because she took a leap of faith and entered an environment
where many would not care to go, or care about at all. But she was able to see that
these individuals need healthcare and they represent approximately 45% of the
population suffering from chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes,
seizure disorder, asthma, hepatitis C and HIV, just to name a few.
She was able to see
the same care is administered when someone gets into an altercation, regardless of whether it was
inmate-on-inmate or inmate-on-correctional officer. We are able to perform
basic suturing, casting and splinting and provide Schedule III-IV medications
(we do not support the drug seeker or drug addicted). We make referrals for
those with pathologies that we are unable to treat in correctional facility
such as HIV, cancer, urological issues and trauma that perhaps occurred prior
to entering the facility. My student caught on to the dynamics of key words
and phrases when someone is attempting to manipulate and ask for narcotics. She
found the humor in those individuals who wanted treatment for anything just so they could get a bologna and cheese sandwich and an orange
drink (a "snack," given at the end of the day).
She would listen to the many
stories of patients with permanent injuries from years-old gunshot wounds. These inmates never found the need to follow up and although they can recall being told to do so. Now they are in jail and their injury is an emergency; now they have
to go to the hospital. We ask, “Why didn’t you take care of this two years
ago?” and they say, “Well, I was running from the law and I had warrants!”
She is now able to answer those who
inquire, “What do you do at the jail?” She is able to share so many
experiences; she can say every day is an adventure.
After reading her
evaluation of me, I was so honored and appreciative that she thought of me as a
role model and most importantly she found the experience worthwhile and that
everybody was so nice to her. She said she was sad to see it end, and so was I.