[SmilingBluEyes]

Mugwump had a great idea offering services to new grads as a mentor (thank you for that!)

So, I thought having a "sticky" for new grads, OB nurses, students, and others with questions who want to post these can do so here. We also seem to see many of the same questions over and over, so perhaps this would help serve as an ongoing discussion of common issues/questions we all seem to have on our minds. This could serve not just for those asking directly, but others who may be "lurking" and looking for information or considering a career in OB, newborn, GYN nursing, or midwifery, doula services, childbirth education, lactation consulting, or other related work.

So if any mod thinks this is a good idea, mind stickying this?


Let's give this a go and see how it works out. We have many potential "mentors" here among us who, I am sure, would LOVE to help a new nurse/midwife/doula or student on his or her way to a rewarding career. I know I would love to help out!

[daisybaby]

Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes

Mugwump had a great idea offering services to new grads as a mentor (thank you for that!)

So if any mod thinks this is a good idea, mind stickying this?

FABULOUS idea. I second the motion for stickying this- it's always good to get advice from the 'been there/done that' crowd. I ask TONS of questions at work, but ideas/info from RNs outside my little corner of the universe would be helpful.

[SmilingBluEyes]

I agree, this could be a GREAT opportunity for information-sharing and reference. And those questions that do keep popping up again and again, answers can be easily sought here. Thank you for that vote of confidence!

[leo_bsn]

I think this is a great idea! I will be graduating in late 2005 from an accelerated BSN program and am about 90% sure that I want to go into Women's/Maternity nursing. I have about a million questions! I know this has been asked before, but I will be moving to the Northeast (I am currently in the South) after graduation and am wondering if hospitals hire new grads directly into PP/MI? How do I even begin my job search? If I know that I want to work on a MI floor upon graduation, do I start looking now for available positions? How will hospitals know if they will have openings in December of '05? Can I work in Massachusetts without having taken the NCLEX yet or do I need to graduate, take the NCLEX, THEN apply for jobs? I am not getting much guidance from my school. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks...

[porterwoman]

I'm working toward doula cert thru DONA and I'll graduate from ADN in May. Anybody out there double as a doula and a nurse? How do you work it out with your work schedule?
Rebecca

[LauraLou]

I work as a nurse tech on a postpartum floor. We have a lot of pts from other countries. Many of them have different ideas about postpartum care, such as not bathing, not getting out of bed, not caring for their infant except to feed.

Do I respect their beliefs and let them to stay in bed, etc. or do I try to make them conform to the plan of care? We are taught to respect cultural diversity but what if that diversity puts pts at risk for DVT or infection?

Some nurses force the pts to ambulate, bathe and demonstrate infant care, while others allow the pts to do whatever they want. I am not sure which approach is correct.

Thanks for your help!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Originally Posted by leo_bsn

I think this is a great idea! I will be graduating in late 2005 from an accelerated BSN program and am about 90% sure that I want to go into Women's/Maternity nursing. I have about a million questions! I know this has been asked before, but I will be moving to the Northeast (I am currently in the South) after graduation and am wondering if hospitals hire new grads directly into PP/MI? How do I even begin my job search? If I know that I want to work on a MI floor upon graduation, do I start looking now for available positions? How will hospitals know if they will have openings in December of '05? Can I work in Massachusetts without having taken the NCLEX yet or do I need to graduate, take the NCLEX, THEN apply for jobs? I am not getting much guidance from my school. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks...

Yes PP/MB units DO hire new grads-------------some of them, not all. Some will not hire new grads into L/D especially. You may want to go to:

www.hospitalsoup.com

to find the names of hospitals in the area in which you will live. You can find out specifics such as their own hospital website addresses, numbers/ street addresses and other info like phone numbers to OB units/HR Depts. Start that way and see what comes up. If they have a website, chances are, they will have job postings there too, although not all post openings. In any event, it is always a good idea to call the Human Resources departments for openings/details.

You can work in any state you choose as an RN only ONCE you have passed the NCLEX. Check with the Board of Nursing for the state you are interested in living and working for specifics as to how to obtain licensure in that state--- beyond taking your boards. You MUST graduate your nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN to work as an RN in any state. But--- you can, in some states and hospitals, get a job as "graduate nurse" (at considerably lower pay) until you are licensed as an RN. Check w/the specific hospital HR dept for details.

Good luck to you; I truly hope it all comes together and your dreams of becoming an OB nurse and and whatever else you aim for are realized.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Originally Posted by porterwoman

I'm working toward doula cert thru DONA and I'll graduate from ADN in May. Anybody out there double as a doula and a nurse? How do you work it out with your work schedule?
Rebecca

Hello and welcome to the boards. I am not a doula, just an L and D nurse----but I know there are a couple who are doing both. I hope they see this and can help you out. I just wanted to welcome you.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Originally Posted by LauraLou

I work as a nurse tech on a postpartum floor. We have a lot of pts from other countries. Many of them have different ideas about postpartum care, such as not bathing, not getting out of bed, not caring for their infant except to feed.

Do I respect their beliefs and let them to stay in bed, etc. or do I try to make them conform to the plan of care? We are taught to respect cultural diversity but what if that diversity puts pts at risk for DVT or infection?

Some nurses force the pts to ambulate, bathe and demonstrate infant care, while others allow the pts to do whatever they want. I am not sure which approach is correct.

Thanks for your help!

I have come across this time and again in caring for patients from certain cultural backgrounds. I usually find the "caregiver" or "person in charge" in such cases, often a senior female family member, and appeal to them regarding the importance of early ambulation for their health and to avoid things like DVT and atelectasis, esp. in post-op patients. OFTEN if you can get this person to see the good in what you are saying, they will help you to get the patient herself to see it.

Forcing won't work, and it is VERY disrespectful----often they will just begin not to trust you and not listen anyway. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION to family dynamics and relationships. Observe how the family members interact. Often the ladies who will not get up or do anything for themselves have SOMEONE helping and caring for them---someone "in charge" per se. Like I said, often it is a senior female family member, like a mother/mother-in-law or sister/aunt. It may also be the woman's husband.

Appealing to and gaining TRUST from this care person, as well as the patient, is critical in order to gain cooperation. It CAN BE DONE, believe me. But you do need to appeal to their sense of what is best for them and to get the cooperation and support of their family members/significant others if you are to get any place. Respect their cultural beliefs and preferences as much as possible -----just work to gain trust and it's more likely they will work with you more.

Also may I recommend you get hold of a good transcultural nursing book? There are bunch out there. I have a spiral bound one I keep in my locker at work that I love---and use as a reference as needed. Also there is the Transcultural Nursing Society as a resource ------- you can check out:

http://www.tcns.org/

may be of good use to you! Hope I helped. Welcome to the boards.

[Marie_LPN]

Voting to sticky this thread.