New OB Nurses, Grads and Students, Please Feel Free to post your questions here:

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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Mugwump had a great idea offering services to new grads as a mentor (thank you for that!)

So, I thought having a "sticky" for new grads, OB nurses, students, and others with questions who want to post these can do so here. We also seem to see many of the same questions over and over, so perhaps this would help serve as an ongoing discussion of common issues/questions we all seem to have on our minds. This could serve not just for those asking directly, but others who may be "lurking" and looking for information or considering a career in OB, newborn, GYN nursing, or midwifery, doula services, childbirth education, lactation consulting, or other related work.

So if any mod thinks this is a good idea, mind stickying this?

Let's give this a go and see how it works out. We have many potential "mentors" here among us who, I am sure, would LOVE to help a new nurse/midwife/doula or student on his or her way to a rewarding career. I know I would love to help out!

Specializes in SICU,L and D.

I am interested in nurse midwifery education. I have looked at schools here in the USA as well as UK. There are many schools in the UK specific for midwifery and nursing. It seems nurse midwives are the norm over there where as here a physician plays the primary role in well woman and birthing. Out of curioisity...where is the best place to go to obtain midwifery education? Is the education for this specialty better in the USA or the UK?

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Specializes in learning disabilities/midwifery.

Hi Dulcedragon

I cant answer your question about which is the better place to train but, if it'll help you make a decision Im happy to answer any specific questions you migth have about UK training as Im in my 1st year of training in Scotland.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Homecare.

Hello,

I am a student ready to graduate in May '06 and I have discovered that L&D is for me :) I loved my clinical rotation, plus i've been an aide for 4 yrs in the unit.

My question...what should i do to prepare for an OB job because its just a different aspect of nursing.

Any suggestions?

~Janine

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Specializes in Home Health and Hospice.
I would refer her to her doctor to ask these questions. MS varies by degree of severity and how people are afflicted. I hope she comes through it all well....

Well, she did deliver. I only asked because she did not want general anesthesia because of previous complications after surgery before. She had done some looking into epidural and said it had less side effects (that is not what my research said) To my surprise they had NOT been told she would not be able to get an epidural during labor or for a C/S AT ALL by their Dr. I did not know this. I guess it is a standing practice with the anisethiologists for MS. She labored fine and dilated quickly(thank goodness), but then it came to pushing 3hrs with minimal progress. So a C/S was done. 10lb1oz! They were upset because this was exactly what they thought would happen. They would have rather had the C/S instead of both because of the stress on her body. I feel bad because I could have prepared her for not getting the anesthesia she wanted. So dad was kept out of the C/S but I was allowed to take pictures for him.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Hello,

I am a student ready to graduate in May '06 and I have discovered that L&D is for me :) I loved my clinical rotation, plus i've been an aide for 4 yrs in the unit.

My question...what should i do to prepare for an OB job because its just a different aspect of nursing.

Any suggestions?

~Janine

If you wish you be in OB, you may want to take NRP and make sure your BCLS is up to date. Also, keep your eyes and ears out for openings, and network, network, NETWORK!!!! Let anyone and everyone you know, know you are interested in a job in OB. Your prior experience as an aide there, is a plus.

GOOD LUCK!!!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Well, she did deliver. I only asked because she did not want general anesthesia because of previous complications after surgery before. She had done some looking into epidural and said it had less side effects (that is not what my research said) To my surprise they had NOT been told she would not be able to get an epidural during labor or for a C/S AT ALL by their Dr. I did not know this. I guess it is a standing practice with the anisethiologists for MS. She labored fine and dilated quickly(thank goodness), but then it came to pushing 3hrs with minimal progress. So a C/S was done. 10lb1oz! They were upset because this was exactly what they thought would happen. They would have rather had the C/S instead of both because of the stress on her body. I feel bad because I could have prepared her for not getting the anesthesia she wanted. So dad was kept out of the C/S but I was allowed to take pictures for him.

Bless her heart, what a BIIIG baby. I am sorry they did not have the experience they expected. Their doctor/staff were remiss, not telling her the situation regarding epidural anesthesia not being an option in her case. HOW UNFAIR>

I am so glad she had a healthy baby. I hope she feels well now, and does well in her postpartum course. Please congratulate her for us????

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Specializes in Home Health and Hospice.
Bless her heart, what a BIIIG baby. I am sorry they did not have the experience they expected. Their doctor/staff were remiss, not telling her the situation regarding epidural anesthesia not being an option in her case. HOW UNFAIR>

I am so glad she had a healthy baby. I hope she feels well now, and does well in her postpartum course. Please congratulate her for us????

I follow up with her in a week. I will pass along your congratulations.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Thank you.

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Mugwump had a great idea offering services to new grads as a mentor (thank you for that!)

So, I thought having a "sticky" for new grads, OB nurses, students, and others with questions who want to post these can do so here. We also seem to see many of the same questions over and over, so perhaps this would help serve as an ongoing discussion of common issues/questions we all seem to have on our minds. This could serve not just for those asking directly, but others who may be "lurking" and looking for information or considering a career in OB, newborn, GYN nursing, or midwifery, doula services, childbirth education, lactation consulting, or other related work.

So if any mod thinks this is a good idea, mind stickying this?

Let's give this a go and see how it works out. We have many potential "mentors" here among us who, I am sure, would LOVE to help a new nurse/midwife/doula or student on his or her way to a rewarding career. I know I would love to help out!

Hi.. I am RN - BSN from Brazil and I am going to take the Nclex, after that I would like to work in the obstetric field.I was thinking to do a specialization in Obstetric. What is the best position for me as RN staff or Nurse Midwife? I did a research and I saw that RN staff normally just need to have Associate's degree and to be a Nurse Midwife i think I may have a special license for it. Can someone clarify it for me?

Thanks..

Carol

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

In the USA, to be a Certified Nurse Midwife, you need a post-baccalaureate degree (usually MSN or higher) AND to have passed the exam to be certified as a nurse midwife.

To be a staff RN in labor and delivery, you will need to have graduated a school of nursing, and successfully passed the NCLEX in order to practice as an RN in the USA. RNs can enter registered nursing in the USA primarily 3 ways:

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (generic BSN or accelerated BSN for those who hold prior bachelor's degrees or higher)

Associate's Degree in Nursing

Diploma Degree in Nursing.

CNM is entirely separate from staff RN---it's training/education above and beyond the degree a staff RN has acheived alone.

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Hi, I'm a new graduate and I have an interview tomorrow for an internship in L&D. I'm excited, but I am not sure what questions to ask and I am not sure what questions they will ask me? Can somebody give me some tips on interviewing for this position so I can be more prepared?

Allison

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ok, so i just finished nursing school this week which is great. even better, i have a l&d job lined up, which will begin in january. any thoughts on things that i need to purchase before i begin this job? i plan to purchase a new stethoscope, and i think i want to stick with littman, but do you use a regular adult size one or do you also have a neonate or pediatric one on hand also? any input on anything that i may need would be greatly appreciated.

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