Going to L&D

[MadpeysRN]

Would a nurse with MS and OR exp be eligible to work in LD? Here were I work L&D has there own OR staff. Is that usually the case at most places? I am currently learning the OR, but if I can find a mix of OR and bedside I think I would like that more fulfilling for me. I still work bedside when I have free time.

[MadpeysRN]

And once in LD would it be likely that you could alternate between working where delivering babies and working bedside? Or is that completely unheard of?

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

Any nurse could work L&D...just need to get hired there. The orientation for L&D is usually a longer one...lots to learn. I'm not sure what you mean by working OR and bedside in L&D. Where I worked I would be assigned a patient (or 2 or 3)....we would end up in the OR if the patient needed it. So a nurse could go some time without stepping into the OR if she had patients who were doing well. There was no guaranteed time in the OR. I would recommend setting up a chance to shadow a nurse in L&D.

[MadpeysRN]

I meant scrubbing and circulating c-sections

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I meant scrubbing and circulating c-sections

Our hospital uses surgical techs for scrubbing...some nurses scrub trained as back up. The RN for the patient is the circulator. This all varies hospital to hospital. If all you want to do is OR in L&D....as an RN that might be hard to find.

[MadpeysRN]

No, OR and bedside-I would like to do both

[IrishIzCPNP, MSN, RN, APRN, NP]

I can tell you where I was we only went into the OR if our patient was headed in. OR wasn't an assignment. Make sense? So I might have a scheduled section...so going I to the OR with my patient. I could go weeks without seeing the OR or I could be there all the time because patient was scheduled or my patient had an issue and required a section.

[RunBabyRN]

I can tell you where I was we only went into the OR if our patient was headed in. OR wasn't an assignment. Make sense? So I might have a scheduled section...so going I to the OR with my patient. I could go weeks without seeing the OR or I could be there all the time because patient was scheduled or my patient had an issue and required a section.

This was my experience where I precepted.

From what I've seen (in my limited experience), any nurse is eligible to apply in L&D. You'll increase your chances with NRP, ACLS, AWHONN FHM courses, etc. Different hospitals are more amenable than others to taking on a RN with no OB experience but with other hospital experience.

[MadpeysRN]

So having both bedside and OR exp could be a plus. I'm just exploring options. I am currently in my 4month of training in the OR. But I have MS exp and feel like if I could get a mix of both bedside nursing and OR that would be perfect for me

[Sezza83, BSN, RN]

I work both in the OR and L&D but in Australia with 2 partime jobs in 2 different hospitals. I was a OR nurse first for many years then after having my daughter decided to go back and do midwifery. I really enjoy working both areas. I get hands on patient care with mid but also get to retreat to the peacefully OR (I think it's peaceful lol).

It can be done. And I don't find it difficult swabbing from one area to another.

Get the OR under your belt first and consolidate as it's a different area completely from any area of nursing I've worked. Then ask to go to L&D.

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

I meant scrubbing and circulating c-sections

Some of our nurses are scrubs as well (if they happened to start on the unit as a LNA bc we train all our LNAs to scrub in), but all RNs are trained to circulate. So if your labor patient needs to go back for a section, you're her circulator. Then after you recover her in her room.