becoming rusty with vaginal exams

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  1. by Oct 30, '12
    any ideas where I can enhance my knowledge with vaginal exams? training? continuing education? enroll in midwifery class?
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    by cebuana_nurse Oct 30, '12 8:31 pm
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  3. 11 Comments so far...

  4. Oct 30, '12 by
    Enrolling in midwifery class would entail entrance into a master's degree program, so I can't imagine that's a very cost effective or efficient way to simply become better at vag exams. Do you not have the opportunity at your job?

    I've considered vag exams to be like riding a bike. Once you've figured it out, it's a skill you always have.
  5. Oct 30, '12 by
    I currently have my Bachelor's so enrolling for master's won't be a problem since it's in my plan anyways in the future and my hospital reimburses for it as continuing education as long as I keep my full time status. However, I don't think it'll be happening anytime soon. I am able to know how dilated the patient is but don't have a clue regarding effacement as well as station. Any tips on what I should feel for? I don't know what it feels when a patient has an anterior lip or if the cervix is posterior. I feel useless at times during labor and I kinda noticed that our OB-GYNs prefer the older staff working instead of me which doesn't help boost my confidence with my chosen field.
  6. Oct 30, '12 by
    The best way to learn is to practice, and have a good preceptor who can verbalize what you're feeling.
  7. Oct 30, '12 by
    I work at a small community hospital that only averages less than 100 births per year, so practice with limited patients is really hard. I was looking for like dummies or study materials to know more about this but so far no luck.
  8. Oct 30, '12 by
    I'm a student nurse and the hospital I did my Maternity clinical rotation at has these "vagina models" 10 different vags with different stages of dilation and effacement. I got pretty good after a while!
  9. Oct 31, '12 by
    We had a "vag in a box" when I was training in OB I know you can get them somewhere!
  10. Nov 1, '12 by
    Are you able to check your patients or do the doc's prefer to? I work at a teaching hospital where the nurse-midwives prefer to check their own pt unless they are busy and the residents check all OB so they can learn, so I guess you could say I am in a similar boat. I havent become very good at assessing AL either but all I can do is continue to check my patients when the providers are busy... Though midwifery school is a fine aspiration, being a labor nurse will help you build your sve skills rather than graduate school if that is your current goal
  11. Nov 1, '12 by
    ColoradoBirthRN, what hospital do you work at?
  12. Nov 1, '12 by
    I checked those vagina in a box and the cheapest I could find is $425!!! Maybe I could ask for it this coming Christmas. Lol