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Journal Entry D442Clinical JudgmentPreceptorshipProfessional Development

Preceptor FAQ: Questions Every New Nurse Should Ask

Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM UTC

Concordance Topics

Adverse Drug Reaction AVPU Barcode Medication Administration Brain Sheet Clinical Assessment Code Status Documentation Double-Check Fall Prevention Fall Risk Glasgow Coma Scale Head-To-Toe Assessment Hendrich II High-Alert Medications Heparin Incident Report Independent Double-Check Informed Refusal Insulin IV Site Assessment MAR Medication Error Near Miss PQRSTU Patient Identification Patient Safety Phlebitis Polypharmacy Potassium Chloride Prioritization PRN Order SBAR Scheduled Medication Shift Handoff STAT Order Time Management Triage

I added a comprehensive Preceptor FAQ to the Clinical Judgment section — a reference of the questions every new nurse should be able to answer (and ask) during preceptorship.

What's in the FAQ?

The FAQ covers six core areas of clinical practice that preceptors commonly test new nurses on during orientation. Each category includes realistic questions with evidence-informed, practice-ready answers.

Category Sample Topics
⏱️ Prioritization & Time Management ABCDE triage, brain-sheet use, batching tasks, morning routine
🛡️ Patient Safety & Error Prevention Medication rights, fall prevention, near-miss reporting, SBAR handoff
🩺 Clinical Assessment Head-to-toe efficiency, breath sounds, pain (PQRSTU), neuro exam, fall risk beyond the score
💊 Medication Administration High-alert drugs, insulin protocol, barcode overrides, IV site assessment
📝 Documentation & Communication Charting standards, SBAR structure, night-time physician calls, conflicting orders
🔬 Clinical Skills & Procedures Urinary catheter insertion, sterile field, procedural safety checks

Key Principles Reinforced

Prioritize by acuity, not by habit. Always ask: "Which of these patients could deteriorate if I don't act in the next 5 minutes?"
Escalate early. Most rapid deteriorations have warning signs 6–8 hours before the arrest. New restlessness, rising RR, and subtle confusion are red flags.
Never override a barcode scan without a manual double-check. Removing one safety barrier requires immediately restoring it another way.
High-alert medications (insulin, heparin, potassium chloride, opioids) always require an independent double-check. No exceptions.

SBAR at a Glance

The FAQ emphasizes that SBAR is the standard for every physician call and shift handoff.

  • Situation

    "I'm calling about [patient], I'm concerned because [brief problem statement]."

  • Background

    Age, admission diagnosis, relevant PMH, allergies, current meds.

  • Assessment

    Your clinical interpretation. Vital signs, pertinent labs, what changed.

  • Recommendation

    "I'm requesting [specific action — evaluation, order, medication change]."

Building this FAQ reinforced that preceptorship questions are not trivia — they're the clinical reasoning skills I need to demonstrate on every shift. The full FAQ is in the Clinical Judgment section and covers every major area from prioritization to documentation.
D442 Clinical Judgment Preceptorship Professional Development → Open Preceptor FAQ
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