[calemjess]

I am a RN who has been out of the "loop" now for 7 years. I have been at home raising small children. (the plan was to be off 5, but we had a surprise - our 3rd child).

I have just recently started looking for a prn job.......My problem is I feel like I need a refresher course. I always keep my CEU's current....but it just isn't the same as being in the trenches!

I have over 5 years of experience in Neuro ICU, but would like to do something different. I always enjoyed L&D and considered it when I graduated nursing school, but at the time the hospital I went to work for didn't have a L&D unit.

Well, I guess my main question.......would it be worth my time to apply for L&D.........I would be willing to go through any training.......and from my working history......I tend to stay with things for awhile because I like to be familiar with my unit and surroundings etc.

I guess, I'm just worried I won't even be able to get my foot in the door. !

Thanks......sorry didn't mean to ramble so much......I'm a newbie here and this is such a resourceful board!

Kim

[SnowieRN]

Its always worth the time to try Good luck.

[imenid37]

It may be difficult to do L&D prn, since you don't have a background in it already. How about mother-baby until you have more time to orient and work on a regular basis? I always wanted to do L&D, but it was hard to devote myself to the 6-12 week full-time orientation when my kids were small, so I worked mother-baby for 6 years. I t was a lot less stressful than the telemetry unit where I had worked and i really bonded w/ the pt's. who were going through a lot of the same things as me at the time. When I was ready , I moved into a position where I do mother-baby and L&D at a small hospital and I truly enjoy it. Best of luck to you whatever you decide!

[calemjess]

Thanks for your reply. I have checked with my local hospital and they offer a 6 mo. residency type program just for people like myself who have experience but have been out of nursing for awhile. I've got to find out some more details.

I'm even willing to go through a short period of working full time (the necessary 6-12 week orientation etc) to be able to do this. I have two kids who are now in school. (Kindergarten and 2nd grade) It is just my youngest (age 2) that I have to find child care for. I've already got a friend who can do it 3 days a week. I'm just keeping my ear to the ground for the other two days. Of course, this is assuming I would get a job to train for!

[BETSRN]

I'd go for it, do mother/baby for a while, then learn NSY and then when you can copmmit to a longer orientation (and you decide you like OB) then go for L&D. It takes a good long time to even begin to get comfortable with L&D, fetal monitoring,etc. Yo have one patient you can see and one you cannot really "see". Best of luck.
Betsy RNC
CT

[SmilingBluEyes]

what Betsy said.

good luck!

[calemjess]

Everyone mentions mother/baby. This particular hospital has it set up as one unit for all. You do everything in one room. As a matter of fact I had all 3 of my children there. It was sooo nice because it is like being in your own living room, then when it comes labor time........wow! all the cabinets turn into a birthing center.

They do not send the mother/baby to another room afterwards. All of the nurses work it all......or at least to my knowledge.

Thanks for all of the enouragement from everyone.

Kim

[BETSRN]

When we refer to mother baby, many of us are just talking about learning parts of the job first. We are an LDRP unit but some of our per diem staff ONLY do mother baby. Any new nurse to our floor is oriented that way also. You learn ONE area at a time so that you can function independently in one area as you learn another. That way, the new nurse can be a productive memeber of the staff while they are learing. L&D takes a LONG time to learn. If you ahve postpartum and nursery skills under your belt (like your neonatal resuscitation) you can functions in many assistive capacities while youlearn labor.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Betsy is right. Mastering labor/delivery skills takes a LONG time. It's complicated and you have to be VERY competent in fetal heart monitoring, risk situations, as well as develop a "gut" feeling when you know things need intervention. THAT only comes with time and much experience.

Take care and good luck!

[mother/babyRN]

It takes a long time to become proficient in delivery but try for post partum to start and get your feet wet, as it were. Then, maybe you can ease into delivery or if you are in a ldrp area, watch and learn.....good luck to you!