FINALLY LEAVING ER 😃😃 OB here I come

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  1. How long did it take for you to get into Mother/Baby Unit

    • 3
      New grad
    • 0
      Less than a yr
    • 2
      1-3 yrs
    • 0
      5-7 yrs
    • 1
      10+ yrs

6 members have participated

Hello all

I've been a ER nurse for 2 1/2 years but my heart wasn't in it all. I was sooo miserable but anyway I recently got offered a job on the mother/baby unit ������������ this has been my dream !! Any tips ?? I know it's going to be a drastic change

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Specializes in mom/baby, EFM, student CNM, cardiac/tele.

Congrats! I moved from a cardiac step down unit to mom/baby several months ago. I still have a difficult time adjusting to the pace difference. In all the downtime I've acquired at work, I started reading maternal newborn and perinatal nursing books to increase my knowledge base on rationales. You might find that helpful. Good luck!

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Thanks for the tips

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Specializes in L&D.

Be prepared to feel lost and stupid for a while. You're used to knowing what to do and feeling competent and moving to something so new is a real shock. You'll learn. No one expects you to know it all, that's why there are orientation periods. Ask questions. Get out your old textbooks and read up. Join AWHONN, there will be discounts on books and programs that are really helpful. And you get journals.

you have good skills from ER that will transfer to L&D. You're used to not knowing what's coming thru the door next, and the feast or famine workload. You understand triage although there are some differences specific to OB. One problem many new people have is taking care of two patients in one package, only one of which can be seen, but you'll learn. Good luck and remember to have fun.

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Congrats!! You will have to post how things go! I am a new grad nurse, with almost 2 years as a tech in the ED. I want to get into L&D nursing so bad but my ED has offered me the job there and no L&Ds here are offering positions to new grads. I'm hoping that I can at least gain valuable skills and experience before applying for a mother/ baby or L&D job. Good luck in your new job!

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Thank you I will keep you updated!:)

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Good luck! That is one area I have always loved.

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Welcome to Mother/Baby. It's great and I hope you love it.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Your ED experience will be invaluable in L&D! I am returning to L&D after a 7 year detour in a OB/GYN office...start tomorrow and I am so nervous. Hopefully, most it will come back to me like riding a bike! Good luck!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I went from an ICU stepdown to M/B and love it! Yes, it was a drastic change. When I first started, the biggest change I quickly noticed was after assessing my patients and passing morning meds, my preceptor and I had breakfast. :yes: Breakfast never existed when I worked day shift on my previous unit. The second biggest change was having the time to go into one of my patient's room and pulling up a chair to have a conversation with her and her husband. I think I spent a half hour in there just talking.

The first day I was nervous but by day 2, I had taken the entire team and barely relied on my preceptor. My preceptor was great and she as well came from a different unit (Trauma) and we always enjoyed reminiscing about never returning to our old stressful units.

Take a small notebook or binder to save unit protocols, infant assessments, etc.

All the best.

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Thanks any books you used specifically to help with mother baby ? Breakfast :) wow lol I barely had time to pee lol ..

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I came from a very stressful ICU then mother baby. I love it. I agree that I actually have time to sit and eat breakfast after my assessments are done. It is way less stress than the ER for sure ( I worked the er for a month and quit).

I love the controlled chaos in PP. I hate not knowing what can come through the door when I worked er and icu.

So far as tips.... Just ask lots of questions. You will do fine

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