calling all Labor and Delivery RN's

finallyRN · Jun 3, 2002

The fetal monitoring book by Michelle Murray is one of the best available. She also teaches seminars that are outstanding.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 3, 2002

AWHONN puts out some good ones too. ALSO get thyself to a fetal monitoring workshop.....it is very helpful and interracting with others from different settings is always stimulating to me. I own the book, Core Curriculum for Inpatient Obstetric Nursing published by Sanders for AWHONN...often used to study up for the RN, C in this area. A great outline format and helpful to folks just joining labor and delivery ranks! And I echo Finally RN...anything by Michelle Murray is a good bet.

Dont forget to explore continuing education programs your hospital may participate in. You can ask about PCEP (Perinatal Continuing Education Program), often used by hospitals for perinatal nurses in the clinical setting. I also did a lot of work in Strong-Perifax programs, another educational undertaking paid for by my hospital...I learned a lot w/that even tho I have been doing this more than 5 years. There is so MUCH out there!

I have also read the book Crossroads, A Journey of Commitment, by Marianne E. Olson, RN, MS. This is a thought-provoking book that talks about how patients and their family members perceive their care/treatment in the obstetric/clinical setting and how we as healthcare providers need to work to provide a *SERVICE* to them, not just a *PRODUCT*. A great way to stimulate thought on how we are serving those we care for. Some of the personal accounts of the patients and their families will SHOCK you...others will warm your heart. I found it eye-opening and it made me look a little deeper in myself to see where I could improve myself.

Also, get NRP-certified ASAP if you have not already! It's CRITICAL for all nurses in the perinatal setting! I wish you LUCK!!!! (sorry this got so long...as you can see, I am passionate about what I do!) :lol2:

ADN 2002 · Jun 4, 2002

What's NRP certified?

I'm sorry to have to ask, but I'm a graduate nurse getting ready to start out on a postpartum floor and work my way up to L&D (where I really want to be).

Thanks!

nursechar · Jun 4, 2002

NRP is Neonatal Resuscitation Program. It really is crucial to have this when working L&D, especially if you work in a rural hospital where there are no NNP's (Neonatal Nurse Practitioner). I feel very lucky to have NNP's where I work, but everyone on our L&D

staff are NRP certified.

ADN 2002 · Jun 4, 2002

Thanks for the info! As it happens, I am going to be working in a rural hospital, so it's something I need to look into. We don't have any NNP's, just one neonatologist that we have to share with some other hospital, I believe.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 4, 2002

then get NRP-certified ASAP...cause you never know, when even despite a "good strip", a baby who requires immediate rescusitation comes your WAY!!!!!! They do that sometimes. And there ain't time to think what to do.... You have to prepare for the WORST while hoping for only the BEST! NRP helps you do this! It's a MUST!

ADN 2002 · Jun 4, 2002

How do I go about becoming NRP certified?

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 4, 2002

there SHOULD be an NRP instructor at your hospital. If not, check around. I got my NRP certification at the hospital where I work. Ask your nurse manager...he/she will be impressed that you are looking into it. This person can point you in the right direction. If not at YOUR hospital, it is likely offered at a larger institution. The sooner the better! GOOD LUCK!

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 4, 2002

Here is a web addy that directs you to NRP instructors near you:

http://www.aap.org/profed/nrp/nrcourse.htm

good luck.

rdhdnrs · Jun 5, 2002

Good luck. Take every class and conference that you can; they will stand you in good stead in your practice.