Any tips for Pediatrics/OB rotation?

shannahan · Jun 10, 2010

I didn't like the peds rotation at all so for that I'd say grin and bear it, know that it will eventually be over. We had a great OB experience. Got to practice IV insertion because the women coming in were so happy to be having their babies they didn't mind students inserting IVs. It was a good time to practice pt teaching, i.e. different stages of labor and how to cope with them. For me, it was just a very pleasant rotation with the moms and babies, even though I don't have an interest in that area.

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Jun 10, 2010

We only had an OB rotation and I hated every minute of it. Ok, mostly every minute....yeah the babies are cute and it was great teaching a 17 year old how to breastfeed. But overall, didn't like it and counted down the days until it was over. Reason, I'm a natural type parent/person....an American OB setting is anything but. However, most people like their OB rotation so I'm sure you'll do fine. Good luck!

GGT1 · Jun 10, 2010

Reviews and Rationales books. The books especially helped me through OB and Peds. I just used a used older edition and it worked great. Good Luck.

izzycatswimRN · Jun 10, 2010

I'm about two days away from finishing my peds. My advice: don't ignore the child. Make sure you speak directly to the kid too. You'd be amazed by how much a sick kid can blossom when you talk to them. Also be VERY careful of what words you choose to describe/explain things...most especially to young kids and toddlers. For example...when you take their blood pressure you can tell these age groups that the cuff is going to give their arm a big hug. Word choice can be critical...especially since kids can be very concrete. And talk to the older kids...especially teenagers more like you would to your own peers. If you're my age (I'm 22) teenagers are still more your peers than not. Finally, offer to give mom and dad a little break. Offer to stay in the room with the kid while they run to grab something to eat or go talk a walk to help them decompress. In my experience the parents seem to be comforted that someone is with their child.

Justanotherday · Jun 12, 2010

Finally, offer to give mom and dad a little break. Offer to stay in the room with the kid while they run to grab something to eat or go talk a walk to help them decompress. In my experience the parents seem to be comforted that someone is with their child.

Yes, the mother will love you forever if you do this! I was stuck in an ER overnight once with a very sick baby and no one even offered to sit with him so I could use the bathroom or get a drink of water. When the morning shift nurse came on, she was shocked to find I had been sitting on a stool the entire night, and she moved us to a little room with its own bathroom, a crib for the baby, a reclining chair for me, and ordered me breakfast! She was an angel to me after a very long night.

Sendana · Jun 12, 2010

I'm doing my Pediatrics/OB clinical in the Fall and I was wondering if anyone out there had any gems of advice/tips on the subjects. I'm looking forward to this after two semesters of Med-Surg!

After it's over, you'll be looking forward to Med/Surg again.

Maternity/Pediatrics was the most godawful experience I've ever had in school. The instructors were great, but if you don't like kids or preggos, it's a rough ride.

The most helpful advice I can think of giving is to not regard it as "med surg for pregnant women and children." There's a lot of politically correct sociological nonsense that goes into the theories of maternity and pediatric (especially pediatric) nursing; at times I couldn't tell if I was in nursing school or daycare. The outdated and hilarious "theories" of Erikson, Piaget, and others were harped upon daily as if they were gospel.

Sorry, that's overly negative. It's like anything else in nursing school, really. Study hard and do the best job you can at all times. I did that and toward the end I actually started not hating kids so much (preggos, on the other hand...).

Bobbkat · Jun 14, 2010

I'm about two days away from finishing my peds. My advice: don't ignore the child. Make sure you speak directly to the kid too. You'd be amazed by how much a sick kid can blossom when you talk to them. Also be VERY careful of what words you choose to describe/explain things...most especially to young kids and toddlers. For example...when you take their blood pressure you can tell these age groups that the cuff is going to give their arm a big hug. Word choice can be critical...especially since kids can be very concrete. And talk to the older kids...especially teenagers more like you would to your own peers. If you're my age (I'm 22) teenagers are still more your peers than not. Finally, offer to give mom and dad a little break. Offer to stay in the room with the kid while they run to grab something to eat or go talk a walk to help them decompress. In my experience the parents seem to be comforted that someone is with their child.

Izzycatswim, thank you!! My daughter had a week long hospital stay when she was an infant. I stayed with her the entire time, because I really didn't want to leave her alone. One of our nurses was an absolute angel, and offered to spend a few minutes holding her so I could go and have a meal in the cafeteria, which was a nice break from eating in the room all of the time. I still remember that particular nurse because she was so kind and considerate. I was a nursing student at the time my daughter was hospitalized, and a year later when I shadowed in the same hospital I happened to run into her. I recognized her instantly.

Peds is such a unique specialty because so often you are dealing not just with a patient, but with family also. Even as a nursing student, I still really needed some parent TLC. So, OP, don't freak out, just remember to keep everyone involved 'in the loop', and remember that sometimes dealing with children means that things will take a little longer than usual. I recall a particular patient during my peds clinical was terrified of the thermometer. I let him hold it, take his stuffed dogs temp, etc. It took a lot of 'playing' to get a temp on him, but it was better than traumatizing him with a thermometer. Of course, there are times in peds when despite your best efforts, a child is going to scream and scream and you just have to suck it up and get in and get it done. For example, I had to insert a foley on a 15 month old. It wasn't 'fun' for either of us, but it had to be done. I generally liked peds, but it definately has it's own unique challenges.

I :redbeathe OB. (on a side note, I'm a totally 'au naturale' kind of person, and I feel that that is really, really important to have on a hospital LDRP unit. Patients that are trying to have unmedicated, low intervention births need support from other like minded people, IMO. And I'm totally willing to give my best nursing care for those that view birth differently, too.) My advice though, whether you love it or hate it, is to stick like glue to your nurse. Things happen really fast in OB and you can easily miss the action. Also, respect your patient's space. I had 2 nursing students assigned to me when I had my daughter (also as a nursing student.....we saw a lot of the hospital that year ) and they were a little obnoxious to deal with. I was trying to be a good patient so they could learn, but I had just had a totally unexpected c-section, my child had to be resucitated and was in the NICU, we both had some medical issues, and I was a little in shock over it all. They kept asking me questions, explaining that they had a project due and they would like to use my case. It was a bit much to take in, I really, really wish they had let me simmer down for a few hours. Instead they just kind of stared at me.....I had them bring me a lot of ginger ale that day. So I guess the moral of the story is that some patients will appreciate you being in their room a lot, some will not.

Good luck, I'm sure you will make it through just fine.