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| No. 30 | 
Apr 03, 2005, 01:32 PM
 Any tips for managing two active labors simultaneously?
Hi all. Thanks for this thread. I've been in L&D for a yr now and still working on building my skills, of course. I was wondering if any of the more exper nurses have tips on managing two actives at the same time. We try to avoid this on our unit but occasionally you have no choice and it happens. We have computer charting, GE's QS. I'm not sure if this is better than paper or not, since it's all I've used but it's not like I have a choice anyway. Any tips as far as charting, pt care, active management with pit, etc? Thanks.
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Apr 04, 2005, 09:05 AM
It's an extreme challenge we try to avoid on our unit as well. Usually when busy, we manage ONE labor patient and say, a healthy couplet. If you must do two, you have to have a "flow" and keep up on your charting religiously. You will also need to rely on coworkers to help you out when one keeps you especially busy for a while.
Personally, I don't think you can satisfactorily manage and render truly quality care for two patients in labor (really being there for them) unless they have epidurals or LOTS of QUALITY support from loved ones or a doula. Especially in active labor, patients need and depend on us to be there for them! Try next time exchanging assignments w/someone who has a less acute patient or couplet. That is my best advice, if you want to be happy with the care you gave on your shift. JMO.
Welcome to the boards and I hope this helped you some. I am sure there are others w/more advice.....HUGS.
| | No. 32 |
Apr 05, 2005, 09:22 PM
any mods interested in stickying this one yet???
| | No. 33 |
Apr 06, 2005, 07:57 PM
Hello there! I have been working in long term care for 5 years. But what I really have wanted to do for more than 13 yrs is L&D/Neonatal (this is the reason I became a nurse). I have applied for an L&D RN position recently. Currently, the unit does not have a director and I feel worried about that. I'm afraid also that with low staff, I may not be oriented as well as I should be. I really want to work for this particular hospital and definitely want to work in L&D/Nursery. Would it be foolish to put forth my efforts for employment there at this time? Or should I look to other facilities?
I have other questions.........TIA!!!
| | No. 34 |
Apr 06, 2005, 08:41 PM
Originally Posted by KELLYGIRL Hello there! I have been working in long term care for 5 years. But what I really have wanted to do for more than 13 yrs is L&D/Neonatal (this is the reason I became a nurse). I have applied for an L&D RN position recently. Currently, the unit does not have a director and I feel worried about that. I'm afraid also that with low staff, I may not be oriented as well as I should be. I really want to work for this particular hospital and definitely want to work in L&D/Nursery. Would it be foolish to put forth my efforts for employment there at this time? Or should I look to other facilities?
I have other questions.........TIA!!!
First of all L&D and nursery are two distinctly DIFFERENT specialties and depending on where you work, the training will differ.
My advice to you would be to steer clear of this place with no director for now. Your gut feeling about a poor orientation would probably become a reality. L&D is a highly litigious specialty. Don't risk your license.
Go elsewhere and do Mother/baby first. That gives you a great base on which to build L&D skills at a later time.
My best to you!
| | No. 35 |
Apr 06, 2005, 09:19 PM
Teaching Women's Breast Health
Hey all!!!! I am in my Women's Health/Labor & Delivery Rotation and I have an assignment to come up with a 2 page teaching plan on Breast Health/BSE/Mammogram....any suggestions?????
Thanks,
Sherry  | | No. 36 |
Apr 07, 2005, 12:01 PM
Originally Posted by BETSRN First of all L&D and nursery are two distinctly DIFFERENT specialties and depending on where you work, the training will differ.
My advice to you would be to steer clear of this place with no director for now. Your gut feeling about a poor orientation would probably become a reality. L&D is a highly litigious specialty. Don't risk your license.
Go elsewhere and do Mother/baby first. That gives you a great base on which to build L&D skills at a later time.
My best to you!
Thank you, BETSRN!!! This particular facility will float RNs to Nursery when needed, though, will not float you to other units. I really wanted this, but I think I do need to go with my gut feeling.
Also, this facility may only have about 30 births/month. Would it still be an option in the future if it is my first experience in L&D, or should I try to work in a larger facility to observe more births during orientation?
I can't believe I have worked LTC all this time and not in L&D like I have always wanted.
Is a large hospital where I should try to be? Like 30-45 min. drive from home?
| | No. 37 |
Apr 07, 2005, 01:32 PM
Originally Posted by KELLYGIRL Thank you, BETSRN!!! This particular facility will float RNs to Nursery when needed, though, will not float you to other units. I really wanted this, but I think I do need to go with my gut feeling.
Also, this facility may only have about 30 births/month. Would it still be an option in the future if it is my first experience in L&D, or should I try to work in a larger facility to observe more births during orientation?
I can't believe I have worked LTC all this time and not in L&D like I have always wanted.
Is a large hospital where I should try to be? Like 30-45 min. drive from home?
If your ultimate goal is to do L&D, I would suggest that you go to a large hospital where they will have the time and energy to train you properly. That way, after your orientation (which should be months long depending on how many areas you do) you will have the patient volume to give you the experience. 30-45 minutes to drive is NOTHING.
No one new to a field should work in a very small place. You will not get the experience, or the volume of patients (and types of labors) to support your skills.
A MINIMUM full-time orientation to just L&D should be between 12-16 weeks. if you are talking LDRP, you will need several months in each of the areas (nsy and PP) before you even go on to L&D. It takes a good year to even begin to feel comfortable (or have the critical thinking and monitoring skills) in L&D.
| | No. 38 |
Apr 07, 2005, 05:15 PM
Originally Posted by Nurse032006 Hey all!!!! I am in my Women's Health/Labor & Delivery Rotation and I have an assignment to come up with a 2 page teaching plan on Breast Health/BSE/Mammogram....any suggestions?????
Thanks,
Sherry
HI there Sherry, and welcome to the OB/GYN forum. Here is a link that you may find helpful. Just an aside, currently it is considered controversial as to whetherbreast self-exam is truly helpful in reducing risk of dying of breast cancer, as tumors are not found early enough often. Combining BSE with solid preventive health care, regular visits to one's doctor and REGULAR and THOROUGH mammography TOGETHER--- is currently the "gold standard" for reducing one's risk of discovering she has cancer "too late" for effective treatment. Personally, I do all of it. My risks are "up there".
I have a cancer-surviving cousin who had invasive and very fast-progressing breast cancer in her 20s that was discovered 8 weeks post partum by her primary doctor on a routine exam. I think it's so important to get those check ups!
here is the site, anyhow. Sorry I digressed. http://www.breastcancer.org/dia_detec_exam_idx.html | | No. 39 |
Apr 07, 2005, 05:48 PM
Breast Cancer Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes HI there Sherry, and welcome to the OB/GYN forum. Here is a link that you may find helpful. Just an aside, currently it is considered controversial as to whetherbreast self-exam is truly helpful in reducing risk of dying of breast cancer, as tumors are not found early enough often. Combining BSE with solid preventive health care, regular visits to one's doctor and REGULAR and THOROUGH mammography TOGETHER--- is currently the "gold standard" for reducing one's risk of discovering she has cancer "too late" for effective treatment. Personally, I do all of it. My risks are "up there".
I have a cancer-surviving cousin who had invasive and very fast-progressing breast cancer in her 20s that was discovered 8 weeks post partum by her primary doctor on a routine exam. I think it's so important to get those check ups!
here is the site, anyhow. Sorry I digressed. http://www.breastcancer.org/dia_detec_exam_idx.html
Thanks for the reply...I know what you mean about the BSE and high risk of Cancer, I have a very high risk myself....I think it is sad to see that breast cancer is still so prevalent with all of the imformation and breast cancer awareness out there...it is scary!!!
I picked this topic because this is the only one that related to my patient...thanks again for the info!!!!!!
Sherry
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