I'm joinin' the ranks!

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hello, everyone!

I accepted a job to work L&D. There are about 230 births per month in the unit. PP and L&D are separate units. I will float there or to the special care nursery if census is low. We are in a major metropolitan area with a lot of different kinds of people. I'm very excited! I've wanted to do this for years.

So, I have some questions.

1) I'm not good with IV's. Any tips? I haven't had to do "skills" like that in awhile, as I've been in clinic and school nursing for nearly the past 2 years.

2) I have my OB textbook from nursing school. I will focus on fetal and newborn assessment. What else should I focus on? My employer will have me take PALS and a basic FHM course.

3) Any other advice? Brain sheets?? (: I could use some good ones.

Thanks!

CalamityJane08

10 Posts

I don't have any advice but wanted to say congrats!!

I've been in school nursing for 3 years and would love to one day switch L&d so I think it's awesome that you are doing so! I'm sure you will be great :)

I too worry about gaining back my hospital skills but also believe school nursing exp. is invaluable and has taught me a lot about relying on my own assessment skills and instinct.

Good luck to you!

NYNurse828

6 Posts

Specializes in L&D, Postpartum.

First and foremost, congrats on your new position!

I know you said your employer will be sending you for a basic EFM course but one thing I would recommend to you is to purchase Lisa Miller's EFM workbook. The majority of your work day will most likely include strip monitoring. A good thing to start reviewing on your own is how to interpret the EFM strips and what your interventions would be for problems on your tracings.

Also you could review some common problems in pregnancy like PIH and GDM. Know where to focus your assessments for someone with these issues as well. There aren't too many medications that we use on L&D but know the contraindications for some of the commonly used medications like Methergine and Terbutaline.

Having that basic knowledge will take a huge weight off your shoulders. Having to master skills like IVs in addition to learning L&D can be extremely overwhelming (My first job as an RN was on L&D). One thing I did was after every week of orientation, I asked myself what I learned, if I could have done anything differently and set a goal for the following week. Labor and Delivery is a really great area to work in. Hope that helped! Good luck!

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