Helpful first year tips

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Hi everyone!

So last week I received a phone call that I was offered the position of full time nights in Mother/Baby :D :redbeathe I could not be happier because I just graduated in May, and since working in OB was always where I saw myself, I couldn't picture having to work in another area first. I'll have 4 weeks of precepting during the day shift, then 2 or 3 weeks of precepting during the night shift to get me adjusted since that is where I'll stay. I don't start for 3 weeks and now that I know I'll be in Mom/baby & newborn nursery I want to brush up on key information so that I don't look like a complete fool starting out. Not in any way trying to look like a know-it-all, just trying to be somewhat prepared. Any tips on things I should review?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health.

Don't work in that setting but wanted to say:ancong!:

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Did your nursing school use any boards-review materials you could go back to? Our school used ATI (www.atitesting.com). They have a concise review book for each different subject area - Maternal Newborn Nursing is one of the books. It's very helpful because it has separate chapters for each of the main topics and boils everything down to the important stuff (not overly detailed like our textbook was). You could probably buy a used copy of the book somewhere online.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I do not work in mother/baby, but congratulations!!! From what I remember about postpartum is that probably 80% of it is teaching - so brush up on those topics (taking care of the newborn, breastfeeding/feeding times, immunization schedule, etc etc etc). Know normal VS ranges for mom & baby and how to assess them. Will you be working in L&D, too? I remember that they drilled those early accelerations/decelerations/late decels in our heads lol

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

A big part of your job will be assessment of the mom and newborn. You'll want to review everything about a throough newborn assessment- fontanels, reflexes, palate, facial features, flexibility, as well as abnormal assessment data. Look up something called the Gestational Age Assessment- you'll be using it a lot. Also brush up on fundal assessment, perineal lacerations and post partum complications.

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The book contemporary and maternal nursing helped me when I was in clinicals also there is a small flip book on ob nursing that is awesome, you can fit it in your pocket. I think it is davis but not sure.

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Specializes in NICU, OB/GYN.

Congratulations! I've been working in OB (high-risk antepartum, postpartum, newborn nursery) for nearly a year... I have a few suggestions:

1. Remember your teaching, and know it well. Know how to teach about breastfeeding/bottle feeding, how to pump, danger signs (when the patient should call for you or the MD), diaper changing, cord care, circumcision care, involution, perineal care, etc. I usually make it a point to try to teach about these things as I go along in my head-to-toe assessments on mom and baby... it helps me not to miss anything.

2. This ties into #1... study up on your postpartum and newborn emergencies. On your first day, ask your preceptor where the unit's emergency supplies are, and ask what the policy is for emergencies on the unit. MDs will see you in uniform now and, if there is an emergency, possibly expect you to jump in immediately and know what to do.

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Specializes in CC, MS, ED, Clinical Research.

Congrats,

I'd brush up on DM as well. The numbers are growing and feeling comfortable with spikes and plunges post partum will come in handy.

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Congratulations to you!

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Still a nursing student so no helpful tips but:

Congrats! :yeah:

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Thank you all so much! I still have my ATI book from the OB section so I'll definitely flip through that and brush up on the other specific things that are listed here. It's hard to think about it all because it will be my first nursing job of any kind, let alone OB. I graduated in May and passed NCLEX in June so I feel like that was light years away and hope I don't appear as though I don't know anything :/

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Wow- congrats- straight in to OB. I have been debating whether to start as a floor nurse and then try OB or just head straight to OB? What do you all think?

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