new clinical rotation tomorrow!!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2007

i can understand your trepidation. 1/3 of my nursing class were guys. i have some nice websites for ob that will be a big help for you.

http://www.brooksidepress.org/products/military_obgyn/home.htm
http://www.childbirths.com/euniversity/mainpage.htm
http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_london_maternal_1 - online student companion website for maternal-newborn & child nursing by marcia l. london, patricia a. ladewig, jane w. ball, and ruth l. bindler.
http://www.nsu.edu/nursing/formbook/ob_hp_phy_exam_form.doc - obstetrical history and physical exam form
http://www.nsu.edu/nursing/formbook/8_point_assessment_worksheet.doc - postpartum assessment
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/obstetrics_and_gynecology.htm - listing of emedicines topics on obstetrics and gynecology
http://www.aafp.org/afp/990501ap/2487.html - interpretation of the electronic fetal heart rate during labor
http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/impac/images_c/normal2.gif and
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/wha/labor.gif - good pictures of cervical effacements and dilatation during labor
http://www.medem.com/medlb/articleslb.cfm?sub_cat=2001 - links to medem consumer teaching articles on labor, delivery and postpartum care
http://www.medem.com/medlb/articleslb.cfm?sub_cat=2005 - links to medem consumer teaching articles on pregnancy and fertility
http://www.medem.com/medlb/articleslb.cfm?sub_cat=2006 - links to medem consumer teaching articles on ob/gyn procedures (c-section, colposcopy, d&c, endometrial ablation)

you can do this. don't let the ladies in your class who have had babies intimidate you. i've never been pregnant or had a baby and i made it through ob just fine. the thing is this. know the normal female anatomy and physiology. think of the baby as being a stress on the system. the growing baby exerts pressure on all the surrounding organs--result is symptoms such as backaches, varicose veins and having to pee all the time because the bladder is squashed so it won't hold it's normal volume. when the baby comes through the birth canal, more trauma and pressure on the involved tissues--result is all kinds of little trauma from swelling of the tissues to tearing of the tissues--and you can't see it, so assessment is all you have to go on. although many will try to tell you childbirth is the most normal thing in the world, the fact is that there are more complications associated with it than you can imagine. more goes wrong than people believe and most of the damage can't be seen with the naked eye because all of the organs are internal. most women are so elated after that baby is out (like having a huge constipated bm) that they are willing to overlook the little problems that are left behind). epidural anesthesia is not without it's side effects either and it is commonly given these days. and, keep in mind that a c-section is still a general surgery and carries all the side effects of any surgical procedure with it since tissues are being cut into and have to heal afterward. don't let all the estrogen and emotions flying around in the labor rooms distract you too much from the science that is going on.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/lady partslbirth/htm/index.htm - "lady partsl birth" an interactive slide show. also includes a picture and short explanation about c-section.