New Grad L & D

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hello I recently graduated with my RN BSN and accepted my dream job on a high risk L & D unit. My training will be 14-16 weeks then I will most likely go to nights. I would love advice from all the seasoned OB nurses on tips or general things I should be prepared for.

I feel so blessed for this opportunity!!

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Specializes in women/children, pacu, or.
Hello I recently graduated with my RN BSN and accepted my dream job on a high risk L & D unit. My training will be 14-16 weeks then I will most likely go to nights. I would love advice from all the seasoned OB nurses on tips or general things I should be prepared for.

I feel so blessed for this opportunity!!

Welcome to the fold! Wow! A great opportunity. I've been working in Women's health x30+ years. Not a BSN but started right out of the gate into OB as a new grad. However, I was a LPN on med-surg x 1 year before I went back to school. OB is all I ever wanted to do. Although I wouldn't have said this 30 yrs ago, I now believe a few years of basic nursing prior to a high risk situation is a good idea. It is very important to see "normal" before all that serious, crazy stuff in an intensive area. That being said, read all you can about obstetrics. I suggest "Williams Obstetrics" to start as well as AWHONN's materials. There are so many nuances to OB that it will amaze you. The only hi-risk area I've worked was as a lactation consultant in a NICU. From that experience I felt it was important to attempt to "normalize" as much as allowed while following guidelines to evidenced based practice. A good, thorough medical background will be helpful. Know your meds; those women will have challenging medical histories.

Good luck! If you truly love OB, you will live it! Take time to take care of yourself, it can be stressful.

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Specializes in high risk OB.

Congratulations!!! OB is the best! And we certainly have the best sense of humor out of all nurses too! I've been in high risk OB since I got out of school almost 10 years ago and I'm still learning new things! The physiology of pregnancy on a woman's body is amazing! Go in with the perinatologists when they round on their patients. Ask your preceptor "why" if you don't understand something. Now is the time to soak it up like a sponge! You are going to have a lot of stuff thrown at you, don't be overwhelmed, you are going to do great! Welcome to the pack!

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