Hi and a question!

Welcome back!

YOU CAN DO IT!!!! really you can. Just keep telling yourself this. You got the job out of 14 applicants. They know already your capabilities and talents. Now just believe in yourself.

Let us know how you do------I am eager to hear how the first day goes.

Oh and welcome back.

Hi everyone! A few of you may remember me from 2-3 yrs ago back when I had access to a computer all the time. I was a new grad OB nurse when I last posted here. I haven't had a computer at home for over 2 years though, hence the lack of responses on my part, but I wanted to say hi and let ya'll know what's going on with me. (I'm at a friend's house on his computer, but I'll hopefully have internet again in the next few months.)

I worked as a L&D RN for ~2.5 years in a busy metro hospital. Then I had a rash of medical problems and have subsequently been out of the workforce completely for almost a year and a half. I JUST secured a job yesterday as a perinatal nurse at the one magnet hospital in Northern California (they interviewed 14 people for the job and I got it-yeah me!) and will begin orientation on June 20.

I"m scared to death again but this time for a different reason. I do have experience, but it's been awhile since I've worked so I feel out of it, and I'm wondering what the expectations are going to be for me as a Clinical Nurse II rather than when I was hired as a new grad before.

I'm going to get an 8 week preceptorship even though I am experienced and I plan to take advantage of every day of it.

The other thing that has me both excited and nervous is that I will be fully cross-trained in this job, whereas before I was 95% L&D nurse, and 5% Postpartum when needed.

They are going to have me trained for L&D, PP, Newborn Nursery, Triage, all of it! Also- and this is a big change for me- I'll be trained to SCRUB for sections, not just circulate which I did before.

Someone reassure me please that I can do this. I am admittedly not the biggest fan of c-sections, although once they're done they're easy to recover and you have a moment to breathe, and the idea of scrubbing scares the bejeesus out of me.

I've busted out all my perinatal books again, including my Labor Pocket Guide which I'll keep in my pocket at all times. I'm going to brush up on my meds and on strips, etc. I am terribly rusty though.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. It's nice to see some familiar names on here, and great to see new ones, too.

Take care and thanks in advance!

I have been a nurse for almost 3 years--all in L&D with cross-training to PP. I have only a little over 2 years of actual work experience because of being on disability twice. Once for 4 months--after only 4 months in new grad program!--and then after 6 months. You can do it. It will take you a while to get your psycho-motor skills back, but you will be surprised by how much will just feel natural.

I don't know what has sidelined you, but just be careful. I rushed back in after my first leave and paid for it with a second one. I have now been back for a year and a half and am doing well. In fact, I am just leaving my level 1 job for a Level 3 Magnet hospital and looking forward to the challenges and learning ahead! I'm already impressed with the amount of orientation/training they will be providing me as an experienced per diem hire! Maybe there is something to be said for this Magnet stuff. Keep us posted!

shannonB25, you already have the right idea by starting to study in this new area. all the things that you are learning may sound overwhelming, but i'm sure you can do it. to work in the e.r. where i am, we train in 6 different areas over a 3 month period, take a critical care course, and then train in triage after we've been on the job 6 months. i am sure that if for some reason you feel that you need more time in an area before you are off orientation, they will give you the support you need. just be sure to ask lots of questions, if something has been explained and you still don't understand, keep asking questions. good luck!

Thanks, guys!! I'm really glad to be back, too :) I appreciate the words of support. I'm feeling pretty good about the situation today, and am actually embracing the challenge of it all. Unlike when I was totally green, I do feel comfortable with saying "Hey, I feel like I need more time learning to scrub, or in triage, etc".

I'm working on the Intrapartum study module book that I received while on my last job. It's about 600 pages, but I'm going to try to knock out a chapter a night along with the questions at the end of each module and just work my way through that way. I should be completely done with it while on orientation and I think just completing that will be a good confidence booster as well.

Love ya'll and thanks again!

Shannon