Had to gush about a clinical

[Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP]

Hey,

I'm in a CNA training course and about to finish. I'll be an ADN student this Fall. I just had a clinical rotation in L&D and had to gush about it! It was wonderful. It was my second clinical, so I was still unfamiliar with things the aides do. My first clinical was dull because the aides in Telemetry didn't show me anything (I was really interested in Telemetry, too.) I was very excited to have been selected for the specialty unit because they are assigned by grades and lab success. Only one person is allowed to have a clinical in ICU, L&D, etc. There were only four specialty units available and 12 of us students. Anyway, when I got there my instructor was told that there was no aide in L&D to show me around. My heart sunk. We were told in class that if this happened, we wouldn't be allowed to stay without an aide with us. My instructor however, allowed it, maybe because she knows I'm going into nursing in the fall. Thank goodness. So, I got shown around by the four RNs on duty. One wasn't too interested (not mean, just not interested in teaching), but the other three were so wonderful. I got to do vitals for all nine patients twice, hook up a heart monitor, observe a circumcision, watch meds administered by IV, watch an IV be removed, and bring out babies. Two of the babies I brought out hadn't been held by their moms yet, so I got to see the first interactions of mother/father and child. It was beautiful. I made rounds and made sure everyone was happy with ice/snacks/covers/etc and got to talk to them all in depth. Two were current nursing students! I was even told by one lady (the mother of the new mom) that I was the first person that had been so attentive to them, and they had been there for two days already! I got along great with the three nurses, who were so grateful to have someone, anyone to do the aide work. I even got to hold one new mom's hand as she tearfully told me that her husband had died a few months back and how she thought he'd think the world of his first child if he could be there. I cried when I left the room, but I was so glad to be there for her to talk with. When I left, the nurses and patients were all upset to see me leave. I was a very active aide that day.

At any rate, this one day had such an impact on my choice of nursing as a career. I have never had a satisfying job before, and this one day that I worked for free, I was more happy than I can tell with words. I want to be a nurse so bad it burns me. I want to work with that department so bad that tomorrow I'll be banging down the door of the manager to see if they have any recent openings for aides. I hope so. I would love to work with that department. I'll call and ask every day if I have to. Sorry to go on for so long, but I can't help it. Nursing is my calling, I know that now. Also, I thought this might help any who need to hear a little good stuff for a change.

[Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP]

Oh, and by the way, if you have any suggestions for how I can go about begging for a position, please let me know. I'm sure L&D is one of the more sought after positions for CNAs, so I probably need a good game plan to get this person interested and listening to me instead of immediately telling me to apply on their website in order to get me out of their face. Thanks all.

[SmileyCNAII]

Volunteer in their unit and that way when you go to look for a job they will already know you and you will know them as well as where things are, etc. It helped me get a coveted position in the ER. Good Luck!

[JoniL&DRN]

Well in our unit L&D is not one of the more sought after areas because the aides don't do a heck of a lot. They function more like a housekeeper. No vitals no direct pt care except an occasional cup of ice or water. They spend most of their time setting up delivery carts and cleaning up the mess.

If you want L&D, my experience has been that persistance pays off. Find out who the nurse manager is and give her a call. That's probably the best way to get in the door. Be honest with her. Tell her that you love it and want to work there. On our unit, and any other for that matter, the nurse manager always has her eyes open for the next RN she'll hire.

Good luck to you!