Need Postpartum nurse advise

[Ollytrolly]

Hi, I'm a 44 year old nurse getting ready to start my first nursing job. I just passed my boards in December. It is in postpartum and I feel so blessed for this opportunity. I was hoping some of you more experienced nurses could give me a few tips or advice on what I can do to be a considerate, compassionate nurse to my patients and the other nurses. I'm a little nervous about starting and just want to do a great job. Thank you for any advice you can offer!!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Congratulations! I'm not a mother-baby nurse, but have been on the mother-baby unit as a pt 5x. :dummy1:

Do you have children yourself? If not, one thing to know is postpartum contractions can be very painful for a woman who's had several children. Pain needs to be properly assessed and treated, even after an uncomplicated lady partsl delivery.

I really appreciated nurses who clustered cares at night!! Between the MD/CNM, RN/LPN, CNA, pediatrician, dietary staff, audiologist, lab tech, housekeeping, baby photographer wanting to hock their services, maybe a nursing student.... oh and of course the newborn who needs to be held and needs to nurse every couple of hours... you get the idea, she needs to sleep.

It's a joyous event, and everyone is rightfully excited about the baby. Now, is the mother feeling cared for? Whether the birth was perfect, traumatic, or in between, moms may need to debrief.

If you don't know something, ask your more seasoned colleagues. You will not be an expert right out of the gate. If another nurse is drowning and you're not, offer to help. In a sense they are all "our" pts, not "your pt" and "my pt." When we collaborate, everyone benefits. Be open to constructive criticism as an opportunity for growth.

[generalRN2008]

Pain control and teaching. Plus as my hubby put it when I had a baby "the breast feeding knotzis that won't help teach breast feeding". Help parents feel at ease