Originally Posted by LND Nurse
The duties vary depending on what kind of l/d unit you work on. It could be a small community hospital without any residents were you will do most everything for your patients including occasional lone deliveries. Or you could choose a big teaching hospital with several ob residents who do (most) vag exams and placement of internal fetal montoring. The other factor is the type of patient(s) you have for the day will dictate your duties. But the overall job is caring, comforting, and advocating for a laboring patient. Sorry so vague it's just that l/d nursing is not that easy to put in writing. And I am in the midwest so the pay is probably vastly different as well. Good luck anyway
I have to agree: every day is different and ever scenario is different. Personlly, I love being in a small hospital without interns and residents because we have so much autonomy (but more liability,I'm sure). I am in the ortheast adn are among the highest pay rates in the country. I would suggest that you ask to shadow a nurse on an L&D unit Some will hire new grads right out of school and some will not: we do not. I still feel that some time with med-surg patients will be a great base. Going directly into a specialty can be very stressful.
Do NOT accept any job that gives you anything less than a minimum of 3 months of general orientation. Good luck.
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