Army OB/GYN RN

[GretchRB]

Hi everyone! I'm getting ready to submit my packet for 66G (OB/GYN). I've been looking for other Army RN's in the OB field, but have not been able to find any info in either thread. A little background: I've been in OB for 18mo, will be submitting my packet in Oct. I am prior service: 5 yrs AD enlisted (medic). I'm looking for Army L&D RNs so that I can pick your brains about the process, your units, and experiences there vs civilian. I know that I will be going in, but I like to know as much as I possibly can before I relocate/change career paths. Questions: Whats the pt ratio? I do 2:1 right now. Do you work 3 12's, 4 10's, or "needs of the unit"? Do you pull >40 hrs/wk? Are you pretty autonomous? Do you handle the acute pts or send them to a diff facility? (I'm in a high acuity setting) Do you do LDRPs? Well thats all I have for right now. Even if you're not an L&D RN, maybe you might know someone who is?? :) Thanks everyone!

[Iworecords, RN]

Try writing a letter to the Chief Nurse at Womack Army Medical Center down at Fort Bragg. Hopefully she/he will pass it onto the Head Nurse of OB/GYN who will either answer your questions or pass it onto one of the nurses. More babies are born at Womack than at any other Army hospital )

[corigurule]

GretchRB did you ever join? I work in L&D currently, I will start and finish my RN to BSN within the next 14 months and want to go into 66G, I wonder how likely that is and where most 66G are stationed. Does anyone know? I would love any questions or advice about army nursing and 66G

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

While I am not a 66G, I have worked postpartum and floated to L&D while at Walter Reed-Bethesda.

1. Patient ratio: 1:4 couplets max, but usually less than that.

2. Army RNs work 12 hour shifts, usually 7 in two weeks (pay period). This will very likely be increasing to 96 hours per 2 week period with sequestration coming into effect.

3. They appeared fairly autonomous, though the hospital I was at was a teaching hospital and many of the assessments/checks were done by interns who needed experience.

4. WR-B is a high acuity setting with a NICU. They handled their own.

5. They did not have LDRPs. L & D was down the hall. Postpartum was a separate unit.

Fort Hood, TX is a hot spot for 66Gs. LOTS of babies born there.

[Ms, Tianah]

SoldierNurse22

I'm currently active duty and I'm thinking of going to Walter Reed if I decide to seperate. I'm currently working in labor and delivery so I'm trying to get a prn position for postpartum to get my foot in the door. I read patient reviews on yelp and they are not that great. Since you stated that you work there how was your experience? You said that the patient ratios are up to 4 couplets max. How are the nurses treated? Does the staff work as a team? How often do you float to labor and delivery? Is it typically a busy floor? Sorry for all the questions but I would just like to know what I'm getting into. Thanks.

[Brandieelynne]

I'm an active duty 66H, however I'm working on the L&D floor at a small MEDDAC and working as a 66G. We have LDRP's here. Not sure if it's like that everywhere else or not. If we are having a "baby boom" and our LDRP's are filling up, we will send the stable couplet to the Medical-Surgical unit for postpartum care. As for scheduling, it's just like any other inpatient unit - 80hrs/2 weeks. They are trying to do away with having active duty work shorter shifts, so we do 6x 12-hr shifts and one 8hr shift in 2 weeks. Generally they like to send you to the course enroute to your next PCS. Rarely will they allow you to PCS someplace, and then send you to the course because it negatively affects staffing. We lucked out with the sequestration on our floor; our civilians are exempt because L&D is our hospital's biggest "moneymaker." I'm happy to answer any questions based on my experience working on the Maternal Newborn unit.