How long til you felt comfortable attending high risk deliveries?

[tinybbynurse]

For those of you who work in a NICU where a nurse is a part of responding to high risk deliveries, c/s, babies under 35 wks etc.... how long til you felt comfortable attending without another nurse present with you? I didn't receive NRP until I was almost off of orientation even though orientation was a long one. So for the several months I've been there I've only been truly allowed to participate in deliveries since I received NRP which was 3 or 4 month so ago, even though I attended deliveries with another nurse to watch several times prior to NRP. But being the one at the bedside is still different than observing.

since I've been off NRP and had another nurse attend with me they've never had to do anything for me, except for once double checking a HR and breath sounds. But I get so nervous even though 9 times out of ten I'm just turning on the start button timer, stimming and checking a HR/lung sounds. As another nurse told me, if anything else is required the doc/nnp will instruct you on what to do.

So how long was it for you to attend on your own without the support of another nurse? Is it abnormal for me to not feel comfortable already after a few times at the warmer bedside? I hate how nervous I get! I think it's also more the anticipation beforehand. Thanks!

[babyNP., APRN]

I'm in a different boat as I'm a NNP, but I had no delivery room experience as a RN and got my first exposure as a student NNP. I was super nervous. It took a couple of semesters to be more comfortable. My first job as a NNP ended up having minimal DR experience (it was a children's hospital with a delivery center across a bridge and only residents were there on day shift- and I only worked days).

I knew that DR is bread and butter to being a NNP in most jobs so I made it my mission to become really comfortable with NRP. I actually became a NRP instructor within the first few months working as a NNP and then taught it half a dozen times a year. By teaching others how to do it, I learned how to be much sharper with it.

And after awhile...it's fairly routine. NRP is NRP. Most kids need nothing at all and only 1% actually need extensive resuscitation measures. If you do it over and over again, you will feel more comfortable. I would participate in any mock codes your unit offers, offer to go to deliveries more often. RNs can become NRP instructors too.

[rnkaytee]

It was 8-12 months for me, now that I'm the NNP and am at the "head of the bed" it's another learning curve. I was lucky that I did have extensive nursing/delivery experience before I became an NNP so I feel fairly comfortable already. It definitely takes a lot of practice and being in deliveries that need expertise. Just keep going to them and ask for help when you need it - you'll get there!

[vintage_RN, BSN, RN]

We have an admit team and there's usually 1-2 RNs on per shift that are on admits. Usually you have to be working there for at least 5 or so years before you can be trained for admits, and you have to apply for the admits team. I would love to do it one day though!