Which clinical to chose?? L&D or Peds

sissyboo · Apr 16, 2007

I don't know of anyone ever having to choose..don't you have to have it all anyways in order to graduate? Then it's just a which one first question..

discobunni · Apr 17, 2007

I did Peds before L&D and it would've been helpful to me had I had more knowledge about newborns and fetal circulation when working with babies in Peds...I think I would've gotten a bit more out of clinical just based on the pts I had in Pedi if I would've done L&D first.

Jules A, MSN · Apr 17, 2007

I loved L&D especially because they did their own C-sections there which might appeal to you if you want to do OR. Peds at least in our area was hit and miss also depending on how many sick kids were admitted. Both of them were my favorites.

november17, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2007

We had to do both. I found L&D was a very intense and rewarding experience. Pediatrics was just...fun.

AirforceRN, RN · Apr 17, 2007

Man, I am in the wrong school...no peds or L&D rotation. The closest we get is a simulation dummy, but that was only purchased last year and we don't get the chance to play.

Scrubz · Apr 17, 2007

Hi all, I have to pick between L&D or Peds for my next clinical rotation. I really cannot decide. My nursing interest is OR for sure. But I'm curious about L&D and Peds too. Does anyone else have to chose between two clinicals? Not sure what to do.
Thanks

I'd go with peds mainly because peds covers such a wider age range that you'll probably have to work with more if you're in the OR. More than likely you'll see more peds patients in the OR than neonates, unless you sign on in a specific OR or something. I'd go with peds if I had to pick one. Or you could see which clinical rotation would allow you to do more hands-on learning, then go with that one. Our OB clinical is a joke, it's 99% observation, and I plan on adult ICU, so this most of this stuff means very little to me and is very boring.

Beverage · Apr 17, 2007

We split our semester between peds and L/D. I took peds first and am thankful because the material was more intense and I was fresh at the start of the semester. We have one more lecture, one clinical day and a final left. L/D theory has been easier for me and I'm thankful because I'm toast (tired and lacking motivation) and ready for a summer break.

shock-me-sane · Apr 17, 2007

I hated peds slightly less than OB. So if you have to pick, I choose peds. But if you do have to do both, I suggest OB first.

queenjean · Apr 17, 2007

I'd go with peds mainly because peds covers such a wider age range that you'll probably have to work with more if you're in the OR. More than likely you'll see more peds patients in the OR than neonates, unless you sign on in a specific OR or something. I'd go with peds if I had to pick one.

If you are thinking you are going into OR after school, definitely do the peds rotation. Our pediatric floor gets all peds--including all the post-ops. So you will learn more about the post-op course of care (which, of course, will help you in your OR work).

neeniebean · Apr 18, 2007

While i thought that my L&D experience was one of the most amazing things ever (i'm not easily excited, but i'm stil-almost 2months later- in awe of the birth process lol), i thought that Peds was great Nursing experience. l&d was really just observation (we also rotated to post partum and the nursery which were more hands on- but really, with very few, slight variations, everyone is pretty much the same on the floor). But, in peds, we saw EVERYTHING... from aids and cancer to syphilis in a newborn, trauma, e. coli infection, appendectomy, ruptured bowel.... everyday was something different, every room was something completely different.... it was truly a greatlearning/nursing experience, and i think would be much more beneficial based onwhat you say your future plans are (unless in L&D you get a whole bunchof c-sections... then it will at least prepare you for that lol).

future L&Dnurse · Apr 18, 2007

I would choose L&D (surprise, look at my username) but I would also choose pretty much anything else over peds because I do NOT want to work in pediatrics. Personal preference. I love kids, but do not want to work in peds at all. It just depends on what you are interested, where you want to go, what your plans are. Either one could be great, or awful, or in between, depending on your own personal preferences and goals.