I've been working on my own now, without a preceptor, for just over a year. Finally! The details are coming together! My understanding is starting to gel. This month I've had a lot of complicated patients and I've been working in the step-down unit quite a bit, which I'm really enjoying even though there's a lot of suffering back there. I feel like I'm a better healthcare provider: When my patient is vented, I feel there's more emotional connection. I like the details! I like the charting! I like it when I can fix my patient's problem. And I like playing the supportive role to the patient and family through the dying process.
