Originally posted by DonnaG:
I was recently offered a job in the new born nursery. I start on the 31st (orientation) and I am kind of apprehensive. I had L&D and nursery in school but I still feel unprepared for the "real world". Can anyone tell me what I will be expected to know right off? I understand the basics and all of the book stuff. But, I know that it is totally different in a real job with out an instructor standing over you. I am nervous and would probably feel this way in even a med surg. job and they stuffed med surg down my throat in nursing school. I just need to know what I am in for in the nursery when I first start out. Thanks, Donna ;}
By now you should be in your 4th month in the nursery. When I graduated from school, i started out on antepartum and mother/baby floor in New York. I now prefer to do nsy. At the hospital that i work at now, I do mother/baby but they shove me off to the nursery all the time. LOL. I guess they figured that i do a good job in there. I love it though. You have to know your body system, vitals, baseline lab values, neonatal resuscitation, how to start IV lines on them if they need fluids or antibiotics, drawing arterial/venous bloodwork....and this is supposed to be a well-baby nursery. HA! One time I found a baby with a preforated anus...and the baby was seen by the Nurse Practitioner after delivery...sometimes i wonder how these nurses got into grad school. And I learned oall of this in the one year that I have been working there. Some people like it and some don't. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to acquire those skills. Just enjoy it and learn some serious time management. Babies come at anytime. You can't stop a mom from delivering! You'll be fine.
[This message has been edited by syranurse (edited February 12, 2001).]
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