As a part of our Nursing Transitions class, we are required 120 hours of a clinical preceptorship. I was placed at UPMC Horizon in Farrell, Pennsylvania. My experience was nothing new to me, as I am already an employee of UPMC Horizon in the Emergency Department as an Advanced Patient Care Technician (APCT). Second to my job, I was also a student nurse intern in the UPMC Student Nurse Internship in 2019. For my preceptorship, I was placed in the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU); I was also in this unit during my summer internship.
In the IMCU, I cared for a variety of patient populations. Most notably, I cared for patients requiring Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (NIMV) such as BiPAP, and on occasion, some patients requires endotracheal intubation for less than 24 hours. Furthermore, many of the patients were ordered medications that required titration according to the patient's vital signs, or lab work. Because the unit is is limited on the number of nurses on the unit, the nurse-to-patient ratio is three patients to one nurse. Nurses on this unit are also tasked with responding to any overhead pages for the Rapid Response Team (RRT). I had the privilege to participate in an RRT where I placed a Foley catheter in a high stress situation. I felt much more confident after this experience and I learned how to prepare for similar situations in the future.
Depending on the staff's rotation, my preceptor and I would also take an assignment on the Medical/Surgical floor, 2 West. The patient population varied from orthopedic, gastrointestinal, urological, telemetry, and general medical patients. Although it is not my assigned unit, I reinforced my nursing skills and learned time management, prioritization and delegation. The patient-to-nurse ratio is, at most, six patients to one nurse.
Although my preceptorship time was cut short by COVID-19, I am still very thankful to the Department of Nursing, UPMC, and my preceptor for their time and efforts. During my time, I felt the responsibility and accountability that a real nurse experiences on their shift and am prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
In the IMCU, I cared for a variety of patient populations. Most notably, I cared for patients requiring Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (NIMV) such as BiPAP, and on occasion, some patients requires endotracheal intubation for less than 24 hours. Furthermore, many of the patients were ordered medications that required titration according to the patient's vital signs, or lab work. Because the unit is is limited on the number of nurses on the unit, the nurse-to-patient ratio is three patients to one nurse. Nurses on this unit are also tasked with responding to any overhead pages for the Rapid Response Team (RRT). I had the privilege to participate in an RRT where I placed a Foley catheter in a high stress situation. I felt much more confident after this experience and I learned how to prepare for similar situations in the future.
Depending on the staff's rotation, my preceptor and I would also take an assignment on the Medical/Surgical floor, 2 West. The patient population varied from orthopedic, gastrointestinal, urological, telemetry, and general medical patients. Although it is not my assigned unit, I reinforced my nursing skills and learned time management, prioritization and delegation. The patient-to-nurse ratio is, at most, six patients to one nurse.
Although my preceptorship time was cut short by COVID-19, I am still very thankful to the Department of Nursing, UPMC, and my preceptor for their time and efforts. During my time, I felt the responsibility and accountability that a real nurse experiences on their shift and am prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.