L&D/PP interview tomorrow---help :)

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I have an interview tomorrow for an RN position in Labor&Delivery/Post Partum at my current hospital (7p-7a which is what I like). I am nervous!!

I have 1 year PICU experience (some NICU as well) and currently work in psych 1.5 years. So this is a whole new area of nursing for me. I haven't seen anything L&D since nursing school 2.5 years ago. I feel ok in my assessment and care of the babies with my PICU/limited NICU experience, its the L&D and moms I know nothing about lol

I plan to ask about: orientation/education for myself as a new nurse to that unit, pt/staff ratios (what should those even be???), RN turnover (there are hardly ever any jobs posted for this unit which I hope is a good thing as far as turnover goes). What else should I ask about?

[geekgolightly, BSN, RN]

marilynmom! I know you from mothering, yeah? I remember us talking about how stressful critical care is.

I just interviewed for an ap/pp/nursery job. I complied a list of questions and I'll copy them here for you.

What is the staffing ratio for mother baby?

Do you cross train into nursery or labor delivery?

How long is the internship/orientation? Is there classroom instruction as well as clinical?

What resources are available to me to help me transition into this role?

Is continuing education offered? Encourged?

How is the scheduling done? Self-scheduling? How far in advance?

Are there mandatory on-call requirements? How much? How often?

What is the charting like? Computer? Paper?

What is your management style?

What is the rapport of the staff with physicians?

Why do you like working here?

Also, I prepared for the interview by going over these questions tht would be (and most were) directed at me:

Why OB? What about this area is appealing to you?

What specific nursing skills do you feel you possess that would benefit you in OB?

How do you manage your patient load/prioritize/manage your time?

What is your weakness in nursing?

Are you willing to cross-train to other areas? (PP, Nursery, L&D, etc...)

Willing to work nights/weekends/holidays?

Give me an example of a conflict you've had (either with a patient, physician or a manager) and how you dealt with it?

How do you deal with loss?

How do you manage your stress?

I am excited for you and wish you the best. I hope we both get the jobs we want.

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

Oh wow thanks geekgolightly--great set of questions! Some I hadn't even thought much about.

Now that Ive been an RN for a couple of years and know how the hospital runs more of less and what Im willing and not willing to do, I hope I can get a good feel for the unit during my interview and whether I want to work there or not.

I do NOT want to end up somewhere and be stuck in a nightmare of poor staffing ratios and an unsafe unit. This unit doesn't seem to have large turnover so Im hoping that is a good sign. I like the job I have now overall, its pretty much stress free but very boringgggg.

Are most OB RN's running around stressed out all shift disliking their jobs is what I want to know

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

marilynmom! I know you from mothering, yeah? I remember us talking about how stressful critical care is.

:

Good luck to you as well! And yes, I know you from mothering as well :)

Ill post tomorrow about my interview. Ill probably want some feedback.

[Doc Lori, R.N.]

Geek..I love your questions. excellent...awesome! :)

[Calixan]

I just wanted to say Good Luck on your interview. I have an interview tomorrow as well but in the ER. I hope everything goes well!

[Doc Lori, R.N.]

good luck..keep us posted :)

[RetRN77]

Oh wow thanks geekgolightly--great set of questions! Some I hadn't even thought much about.

Now that Ive been an RN for a couple of years and know how the hospital runs more of less and what Im willing and not willing to do, I hope I can get a good feel for the unit during my interview and whether I want to work there or not.

I do NOT want to end up somewhere and be stuck in a nightmare of poor staffing ratios and an unsafe unit. This unit doesn't seem to have large turnover so Im hoping that is a good sign. I like the job I have now overall, its pretty much stress free but very boringgggg.

Are most OB RN's running around stressed out all shift disliking their jobs is what I want to know

In the units I worked, the reason the turnover was so low is that everyone who worked there loved it. You couldn't get a day shift to save your life unless you'd been there over 10 years, because those ladies weren't leaving for anything. When I started, the average age for the day shift nurses was 44 - and they'd all been there since graduation!

There are of course stressful times, and heartache, but there is always that in nursing, and some people are naturally inclined toward adrenaline rush jobs like L&D. Although my only experience with ICU was in school, I feel that ICU is a lot more stressful than L&D, especially when you are mixing it with PP, which is comparatively a cakewalk. L&D has its tough moments, but they are well sprinkled with times of joy - the excitement of early labor and the triumph and joy of a healthy newborn - those moments cannot be beat!

[marilynmom, LPN, NP]

I had a great interview. But I dont think L&D is for me, Ill be staying in psych.

I did seem like a great unit though. 1:1 active labor, no more than 3/4 mom baby couplets I think--she mentioned they followed the national guidlelines for staffing, very low staffing turnover, no floating to other units, they do have low census a lot so staff has to sometimes stay home (I had to leave my last job because of that issue). Mostly young, healthy women deliveries with good outcomes. But after the interview it just didn't appeal to me at all, I have no desire to go back for the 2nd interview I was offered.

Good luck to everyone else!! I hope you get the jobs you want!

[LoveANurse09]

Well, at least you know now...too bad I would've taken it though!