You are probably excited and apprehensive about starting your preceptorship. I know I was many years ago when it was my turn. I wondered whether I would make it – whether I was cut out for this job, whether I had spent so much time and effort studying only to fail, to have to hang my head and admit I wasn’t cut out for the job.
Do not worry. I know you. You are smart and enthusiastic. I like that. You will pass. Precepting with me will not be a rigid test where you are constantly at risk of having a trap door open beneath you, sending you spiraling out of the profession you have studied so hard to join. If you fall down, I will pick you up. If you forget something during a call, we’ll talk about it later. If you miss an IV or a tube, no big deal, you’ll get more chances. My only expectations are that you care about being a good paramedic, and that you’ll do your best, which if you do, will be good enough.
Here’s what I want to see:
I want you to always introduce yourself to your patient by name.
If there are first responders on the scene, I want you to look them in the eye and hear their report, and then thank them. This goes for nurses and bystanders as well.
I don’t want to you to cop an attitude with anyone.
I want you to see that the patient is comfortable as can be, and reassured that you are there to help them.
I want you to explain to them what you are doing and why.
I want you to ask questions after the call, anything you didn’t understand or were curious about.
Here’s what I’ll do for you:
I will never badmouth you. If anyone asks how you are doing, I will say great.
I will be honest with you and if I don’t know the answer, I will look it up or seek someone who knows.
If I am tired or in a bad mood, if I ever take it out on you, I will apologize to you.
I will do my best to make it a fun, learning experience for you.
Precepting should be a buffer period between class and the real world, a chance for you to learn and grow and gain some measure of comfort before having to deal with the job on your own.
I am looking forward to precepting you. Precepting is a privilege not only for you, but for me, the preceptor. When I have a preceptee I can look again at this job I love with fresh eyes. I may learn things that I have forgotten as well as lessons I may have missed along the way.
Let’s have a good time and do some good.
Your student is lucky to have you as a preceptor. I was especially impressed with the “I will never bad mouth you” part. I think every student is worried that their preceptor goes around telling everyone how much of an idiot they are.
Good advice, Peter. More preceptors should adopt the same rules.
I wish some of the preceptors I had acted this way. Some of the ones I had only were doing it because they had to and acted like students were a waste of their time. Now dont get me wrong, I had a few good ones, but the bad ones seem to stick more than the good ones.
As an EMT-B student (almost finished) I enjoyed this story alot. I always read your blog, as it is very informative, and I too, am very eager to learn. I get nervous when I do my ride alongs, because of the reasons you have just stated. Luckily, most have been truly great learning experiences. Thank you for having this blog out there, it is great!
I hope that I when I get to the point of having a preceptor, his or her expectations of me will be this concise and clear.
Great letter. Clearly you will be an excellent preceptor!
I think any student who might have been nervous entering this phase of training would have all of their fears and worries put to rest after reading this. What a fantastic letter Peter, and as always….a real gift with words.
Having been fortunate enough to be precepted by yourself when I first became a medic, I have no doubt that you will do all of the things listed for your new preceptee. It will be a great relationship for both of you. If only more preceptor’s would take this kind of mentality, we would see an overall increase in the quality of patient care in our region. Hopefully someday I’ll be able to pass information on to a new preceptee as you did to me. Great letter, and one that every paramedic who works with students or new paramedics should read and take to heart.
As a soon-to-be-graduating medic, I have seen my share of preceptors. Around here the thought process is to put the student with several different medics so the student can learn all the different ways to accomplish the same task and come up with their own way. I have had good ones and bad ones and the main thing I have learned is to show whomever is precepting you that you want to learn. If you show them that you want to get in there and get your hands dirty and aren’t afraid to ask questions then they will be more apt to “take you under their wing” so to speak. I’m sure your an excellent preceptor Peter and I would have loved to have had the opportunity to learn from you.
Wow truly a talented man who also enjoys teaching. I can only hope that when my preceptee time comes I’m lucky enough to be assigned to someone with your passion.
Excellent! My fears would certainly be put to rest… I wish more preceptors took this kind of attitude. I like the first line about introducing yourself to the patient by name, my instructor was big on this too.
Thanks for all the comments. I really enjoy precepting. Having people in the past like Shane has been a pleasure.My new preceptee and I had a good day yesterday. Unfortunately, she’s only part-time so we won’t work again until next week.
talking about her first day of precepting she was most excited about your letter and impressed with you not saying anything to anyone if she messes up.i only know you in passing, but out of everyone in the company i think you two are an excellent fit, you both have a strong desire to learn and to better yourselves.i picture her talking your ear off, but ehh…we’ll see.
Hah. Wow. I should go to medic school up there. My preceptors threw me to the wolves down here.
As somebody who knows your preceptee personally, I have heard of the profuse excitement that she has towards her upcoming precepting shifts. When it comes to the topic of medicine, I have never seen the amplitude of enthusiasm that is put forth by your preceptee from anybody else. I know that you will enjoy her company, and I know that she will make you proud.
I first read this blog before starting my field training, and I was hopeful that my preceptor would be the same way. She has been, though sometimes she’s a bit hardcore…I always know what to expect and I know that she “has my back”. I’ve had to extend my hours because I simply don’t have the field experience, but things are finally starting to fall into place. When she told me that I have the ability to be a great medic, I wished I could’ve recorded that!! Thanks for your contribution as a preceptor.
This is great! Preceptors should all read this!!
Great article. Reminds me of my preceptor many years ago. I learned more from my receptor than I did from any text.http://www.emsprime.com
Peter, there needs to be more preceptors like you out there. As I am in the middle of my internship now, I wish all preceptors would establish the same attitude…. I think it would alleviate the constant feeling of doubt and dread throughout this already stressful process.
Peter,This is great stuff. I want to be you in my next life. (Watch out, I’m gettin’ old…)I agree with the responses you’ve received; more people need to be exposed to this wisdom. I wonder if you would consider making this a “Tricks” installment.Thanks for your goodness.Much R,Thom Dick
Excellent post!All who precept should consider it required reading.Keep up the good work.
I just became a preceptor 2 months ago. This is what i will adopt as a preceptor especially the rules for the medic at the bottom. As i recall we all wish we could have had this preceptor although mine was good and followed by the rules of this many have not… Thanks for this post
I am a soon to be nursing student. I can only hope that my preceptors will have the same type of attitude which fosters growth and learning when I am the preceptee.
I absolutely love your blog and read it regularly.
I'm about to head into my final medic internship and I can only pray my preceptor is like this. It's a long shot out here, but I can hope.