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 ob, med surg.

Congratulations!

I graduated recently and started a job in labor and delivery/mom new baby. I have a stethoscope that has a bell that flips between pediatric and adult. I have found the adult bell useful to locate the baby's heartbeat initially, especially if the baby is crying, until I got used to what to listen for. Also, the adult bell is sometimes too big to listen to some of the premies heartbeats. It dosen't fit the curve of their chests! Maybe initially you want to get a stethoscope like that. Only one to carry around then too! Good luck! I really like it this job so far and I hope you do too.

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I think this is a great idea! I will be graduating in late 2005 from an accelerated BSN program and am about 90% sure that I want to go into Women's/Maternity nursing. I have about a million questions! I know this has been asked before, but I will be moving to the Northeast (I am currently in the South) after graduation and am wondering if hospitals hire new grads directly into PP/MI? How do I even begin my job search? If I know that I want to work on a MI floor upon graduation, do I start looking now for available positions? How will hospitals know if they will have openings in December of '05? Can I work in Massachusetts without having taken the NCLEX yet or do I need to graduate, take the NCLEX, THEN apply for jobs? I am not getting much guidance from my school. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks...

I dont believe mass has graduate nurse status. Check the nurse practice act to confirm.

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Specializes in ob, med surg.
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

I got asked what were my strengths, and weaknesses. It can be helpful if you can turn a weakness into a strength. For instance, "I like to be extra thorough in my charting, but I realize that I must learn to balance out the extra time it takes to be especially thourough with my other patient responsiblilties." This is truly something I struggle with, that and spending too much time with each patient trying to help with feeding issues or whatever. I'm not saying to quote me, but think of things that you do well but could be liabilities. Also, how do you see yourself fitting into the organization? Are you a team player or do you like to be independent. (The key to this question is to strike a balance between the two.) Also, and this is important. Research the facility, know what their mission statement is and how did they get started. Ask the interviewer questions, like "What do you see as your biggest challenge in the next 2 years?" and "How long has the average staff been here?" " Do you have any problems with staff turnover?" and so on. Good Luck and let us know!!

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Specializes in Cardiac/telemetry.

I start my final semester of nursing school next week. It is in Community-Based Nursing and Maternal/Child Nursing. I chose this as my last (rather than the usual Advanced Med/Surg) because I wanted to be a L&D Nurse and would be able to get a job there when I finished school.

Things have changed for me, and will now be moving immediately upon graduation. New area, new hospitals I am unfamiliar with and will be unfamiliar with my skills.

My question: What can I do during my rotations to "shine" or standout to get a great letter of reference to give to my prospective employers? What qualities, what skills will give me an edge. I am not exactly sure what I am asking for - but perhaps just "hints" to pass along to a nursing student entering this rotation.

Just as a background - I am in my late 40's, have two grown children, and spent 4 weeks in the OR at the Women's and Baby's Hospital as an extern this past summer.

Any suggestions?? Thanks.

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Im graduating w/ my ADN June 1, and starting as a post-partum nurse on June 5. I saw reference to a certification or training called 'NRP". Can someone tell me what that is and if it is something I should look into? thx

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

Here you go (linked to the AAP site that explains NRP which is Neonatal Resuscitation Program, something ALL nurses working L/D, PP, Nursery, and Mother-baby MUST have):

http://www.aap.org/nrp/nrpmain.html

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thanks so much for the link! I'm headed there now!

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I saw a situation where a mother from India was calling the nurses in to change the baby's diapers. The nurse who had her said that she'd change one, but that we needed to see that she is able to care for her baby before she left the unit. This mother called throughout the day for nurses to change diapers. When asked who will change diapers at home, she said her mother in law would. Is this a common situation with this culture. The other issue I haven't mentioned yet is that there was concern about the gender of the baby. It was a girl, and the couple had asked their *midwife*(!) about abortion at 22 weeks when they learned the gender. So, we were concened. No one took the time to talk to the mom about her feelings toward the baby. If you were that nurse, what would you have done?

In muslim cultures, the tradition is for the mom to stay in bed for 40 days after childbirth, only getting up to go to the bathroom. The mother and baby are cared for by the grandma.

Very sad about the gender thing. It is unfortunately common in some countries to abort female babies, or abandon them after birth.

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I think this idea is great. I am an RN on a L&D floor for about seven months now. I need help finding classes on fetal monitoring in my area. If anyone has any infor on how to locate the classes please let me know. Thanks

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Is it possible to get into L&D or post partum as a new grad, without doing time in med/surg?

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Is it possible to get into L&D or post partum as a new grad, without doing time in med/surg?

I am! I think I got lucky to find a hospital that was actually hiring in postpartum/L&D. The others in my area aren't. Where I am starting has also hired at least one other classmate of mine as well.

Look around locally and see what you can find!

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Specializes in Geriatric.
I am! I think I got lucky to find a hospital that was actually hiring in postpartum/L&D. The others in my area aren't. Where I am starting has also hired at least one other classmate of mine as well.

Look around locally and see what you can find!

Did you get hired before or after taking nclex? I'm graduating this may and hoping to work in L&D. I have a friend who graduated last month and got hired as a new grad in a L&D. I'm hoping to get lucky too. Would you suggest focusing on the nclex before job hunting?

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