First week on the job

Sorry, I have no advice for you on this subject. I had my clinicals for my LPN and I did not like labor and delivery, because I had seen a few mothers give birth and not want anything to do with their babies. It made me sick. I wanted to shake the mothers and tell them how important it was for them to hold their babies and breast feed them and give them unconditional love, I can not handle that. I would be very upset about the mothers that do not care. sorry Rhonda

Hello!

My name is Jen and I just started on a L&D unit this past week. My question to you experienced L&D RN's is this....what would be the best course of study for me as I learn my new job? I have a strong passion for L&D and have been reading everything I can get my hands on but wanted to know from the real experts (you) what my main focus should be on after my first week. Any suggestions?

BTW: I have seen four births...it is exhilarating and stressful (so much to learn) but I love it.

Thank you in advance.

Aside from what you can learn on the unit (lots!), I'd suggest a basic fetal monitoring course (later you can take the advanced) and the S.T.A.B.L.E. course.

There are lots of other interesting seminars out there but these would give you good grounding.

I don't know how to do links, but perhaps some more knowlegeable person will come along and post links to info on these courses.

Your nurse manager didn't give you a course of study or any materials? I'm new as well- I think the book I was given is "Intrapartum modules" by Lippincott. I like it so far- although I haven't made it through the whole book yet.

http://www.amazon.com/Intrapartum-Management-Modules-Perinatal-Education/dp/0781732379

I'm also finding that really understanding how everything works is helpful- how to turn everything on, what is inside drawers, how to open packages (lol, sometimes it's tricky!) really helps boost my confidence too!

Good luck to you!

Your nurse manager didn't give you a course of study or any materials? I'm new as well- I think the book I was given is "Intrapartum modules" by Lippincott. I like it so far- although I haven't made it through the whole book yet.

http://www.amazon.com/Intrapartum-Management-Modules-Perinatal-Education/dp/0781732379

I'm also finding that really understanding how everything works is helpful- how to turn everything on, what is inside drawers, how to open packages (lol, sometimes it's tricky!) really helps boost my confidence too!

Good luck to you!

Very true. When things get hectic, no one cares you know the dfference between short term and long term variability (not sure it's even considered anymore), the key is knowing what to do, and that includes knowing where stuff is and how it works, so you can assist or implement the intervention yourself.

Imagine needing to call a code and not knowing where the call button is.

Hi Jen,

At the top of the OB board, there is a sticky with recommended reading materials. I got some great ideas from there. Two books I really like are:

The Labor Progress Handbook by Penny Simkin & Ruth Ancheta

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?r=1&ISBN=9781405122177&ourl=The%2DLabor%2DProgress%2DHandbook%2FPenny%2DSimkin

Mosby's Pocket Guide Series Fetal Monitoring and Assessment by Susan Martin Tucker. http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Guide-Fetal-Monitoring-Assessment/dp/0323008844

They both helped me a lot.

I have also learned so much on the board! Good luck to you! I hope you love your new career!

How many births does your facility have/month?

I just bought AWHONN's Perinatal Nursing (3rd edition) by Simpson and Creehan. The nurse educator on our unit said it covers everything we should know. The fetal assessment chapter is amazing! (Gosh - I'm really a geek!)

http://www.amazon.com/AWHONNs-Perinatal-Nursing-Co-Published-Simpson/dp/0781767598/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219090272&sr=8-1

Best of luck to you!!

Fellow geek here...LOVE the Perinatal Nursing book, pack it around with me all the time!

Well, I can't seem to edit my post- but I linked the wrong book! :imbar Lol!

Here's the book I actually have... http://www.amazon.com/Intrapartum-Management-Modules-Perinatal-Education/dp/078178168X/ref=pd_sim_b_2/105-1592261-3762856