I am a new grad in L&D. After 10 weeks of orientation, I have been on my own for only one month. I realized that I was almost late every day for either paper work or charting. Our charge nurses always like to assign new admissions to me before the change of shift, which made me very stressful because I was not able to finish admission before the change of shift - So I was always blamed of being too slow. I am wondering how long will it take you guys to finish admitting a new patient, including putting pt on the fetal monitor, interviewing, SVE, calling the doctor, signing all the consents, IV, answering all questions patients and their families have, all paper work and computer charting? It almost spends me two hours finishing all those things. If patients are in active labor and need epidural, I will need more time... I feel very frustrated.... Does that mean I am still not competent? How can I speed up?
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
It takes a bit of experience and time working in OB to be able to accomplish a new admit in short time ...yet that is what is exactly expected of you! So not fair. Do not be afraid to ask for help in new admits. you are a new graduate with very little orientation IMO and still are learning. Don't be afraid to ask more experienced nurses (if they have time) to tag-team a new patient admit, say one of you do the paperwork and the other take on the task of establishing IV access, shaving prep for c/s, etc. Watch how the BEST and most efficient nurses accomplish the process and adopt their techniques. Now for me, when I get a new admit I start asking questions about health history, etc when I am sure she is a keeper, while I am placing IV and the like. I multi-task. But I am able to do that after 13 years at this! I can usually admit a patient in 30-45 minutes, start to finish, including consents, History-taking, IV access/lab draws, and initial monitoring and charting.
But again, this took time and experience. Give yourself time to gain that experience.
When we are super busy, a lot of times, my coworkers and I will "tag-team" new admits, which makes the process much faster. See if that can't work for you until you have been doing this a while and develop your "flow"----and you WILL get a flow when you are doing this time and again.
Until then, don't be hard on yourself. 12 weeks' orientation and experience are nothing---you WILL improve and speed up with time!!!!! All good things to those who work for it and are patient with the process and themselves!
thank you so much smilingblueyes for encouragement and sharing your own experience. i really appreciate that. i had a busy night shift last night but i could finish all my assignments on time - including one delivery and one new admission (that new admission had lots of orders to be carried out). my coworker helped me a lot though.... i really appreciate your understanding because at least i know it is still normal to be slow as a new grad. thanks. i will work hard on it. [color=#d29d00]
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
ENTIRELY normal. You are obviously conscientious. The rest will come with experience. If you worked with me, I would bend over backward to help you with this transition. Never be afraid to call for help when you need it.
That is definitely the sort of thing that gets quicker and easier with time! I'm not a nurse yet, but it sure seems like some of the other replies had some good ideas. What I would love to know (if you don't mind) is how and where you got a job in L&D as a new grad!!? I am in a grad-entry program to be a midwife, and I would LOVE to work L&D when I pass the NCLEX, but everyone tells me it is utterly impossible to do as a new grad.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
NOT impossible. I started in OB. Try to find a unit that has new grad residency programs; that is your best bet. And let EVERYONE know you are interested in OB. I was applying to a float pool pos in my hospital when the OB manager contacted me, saying there was an opening for a new grad, and was I interested? She had heard I was from my instructors and others who worked there. Tell EVERYone you are interested and make networking a priority. Good luck.
That is definitely the sort of thing that gets quicker and easier with time! I'm not a nurse yet, but it sure seems like some of the other replies had some good ideas. What I would love to know (if you don't mind) is how and where you got a job in L&D as a new grad!!? I am in a grad-entry program to be a midwife, and I would LOVE to work L&D when I pass the NCLEX, but everyone tells me it is utterly impossible to do as a new grad.
Hi areawoman,
Before I applied for L&D New grads program half a year ago, everybody said it was impossible, especially at this tight job marketing- even med-surg new grads couldn't find the job. My suggestion is NEVER giving up. Know what you want and apply for it. I applied and visited many hospitals, sent my resume and personal profile directly to the nursing recruiters' hands and attended every job fair I knew. I finally got an interview with our L&D director in a job fair. I was lucky enough to be chosen by her. I remembered she was impressed by strong recommendation letters from my nursing instructors and my hornor student status. Like what SmilingBluEyes said, it is "Not Impossible". As long as you work hard on it, you will get what you want eventually.
SmilingBluEyes
20,964 Posts
It takes a bit of experience and time working in OB to be able to accomplish a new admit in short time ...yet that is what is exactly expected of you! So not fair. Do not be afraid to ask for help in new admits. you are a new graduate with very little orientation IMO and still are learning. Don't be afraid to ask more experienced nurses (if they have time) to tag-team a new patient admit, say one of you do the paperwork and the other take on the task of establishing IV access, shaving prep for c/s, etc. Watch how the BEST and most efficient nurses accomplish the process and adopt their techniques. Now for me, when I get a new admit I start asking questions about health history, etc when I am sure she is a keeper, while I am placing IV and the like. I multi-task. But I am able to do that after 13 years at this! I can usually admit a patient in 30-45 minutes, start to finish, including consents, History-taking, IV access/lab draws, and initial monitoring and charting.
But again, this took time and experience. Give yourself time to gain that experience.
When we are super busy, a lot of times, my coworkers and I will "tag-team" new admits, which makes the process much faster. See if that can't work for you until you have been doing this a while and develop your "flow"----and you WILL get a flow when you are doing this time and again.
Until then, don't be hard on yourself. 12 weeks' orientation and experience are nothing---you WILL improve and speed up with time!!!!! All good things to those who work for it and are patient with the process and themselves!
DEB