All Experienced Labor and Delivery Nurses

[Q.]

This tends to be a highly discussed topic, so, let's see what people's experience has been.

[Q.]

A-hem.

Seeing as the votes for over a week were 66% in favor of NOT needing Med-Surg, and now it jumped to 50/50, some discussion on why you voted, with examples too, would be nice.

Just a thought....

:)

[fergus51]

I said med-surg didn't help me because I don't think I learned any faster than the new grads we've oriented (I worked med-surg a couple of months while waiting for a spot on L&D). I think the areas are just too different, med-surg should be considered a specialty in its own right. I also haven't noticed a big difference in training new grads or nurses with med-surg time.

That said, some new grads will benefit from med-surg before L&D, IF it builds their confidence and they needed that. Unfortunately our med-surg units are more well known for burning out new grads.

There are pros and cons to each way of getting to L&D. Some people wil need med-surg, others won't. I don't believe in putting EVERY new grad into the same category, because personality has so much to do with it. I wasn't suited to med-surg, so I didn't find it helpful.

[Q.]

I feel as you do Fergus.

[ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN]

I think that Med surg experience is definitely an added bonus!!! Think about it, Pregnant and postpartum patients have medical problems too! Ofcourse, this is coming from a nurse that worked med surg way before I worked OB. I have only been in OB for a year. Also, in my hospital, we have med-surg patients on our floor as well, and have to float quite often to med surg floors. I think it is a good thing, be well rounded!

Shandy:)

[Q.]

Shandy-

I can see how having med-surg would be an added bonus, and could make a well-rounded nurse, but the debate is around whether med-surg is NEEDED in order to succeed in L&D.

:)

[shay]

Nope. Don't think it's necessary. Not one bit. :)