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Discussion

I GOT THE JOB

i am a new grad (may 09) and i got my dream l&d job. i am so excited. ive had so much support from god, my friends and family...i was told that new grads couldn't get into l&d but i tried anyway and i got it. the unit i will be working on has a good sense of team work and i am thrilled to learn from them. i know it will be hard work (harder than i can imagine, im sure) but tonight i am just excited that i will get the chance to do what ive always wanted...make the difference in the life of a mom and/or baby (pending my passing of nclex, of course)

l&d nurses...what is the most difficult thing for new-comers to l&d ????

what is the biggest mistake new nurses make???

what is the best thing about l&d (besides the obvious)???

thanks for listening to my happy, gushy babble.....:lol2:

Featured Replies

Congrats!:yeah:

You must have wowwed them, especially in this job market for new grads!

Congratulations!!! I can't answer your questions...but just wanted to say that I am very happy for you. I hope to be able to work in the area of my choice as a new grad as well :yeah:

Congrats! Good for you for going after what you really wanted! Good luck with your new job.

:clphnds:

:nmbrn::grad::anpom:*wine:urck:

Congrats on getting the job!!!

:rolleyes::jester::w00t::clpty:

Know where things are! You will most likely go on a scavenger hunt, but that's not enough. I would go through each drawer (especially delivery cart and OR room) with a fine tooth comb and start inventoring(sp) everything mentally so that you're prepared..

Definitely follow your preceptor, but also volunteer to assist in as many deliveries as possible.

Know your NRP inside and out.

Most importantly, TRUST YOUR GUT!

  • Expert

I am no L&D expert ... but I have worked with new grads in transition (and with student preparing for that transition) for many years. Here are my my first thought:

1. Congratulations! You sound very excited. That's great. Be sure to let your new co-workers know how happy you are to get this opportunity and grateful for the help. While you don't have to bow down to them ridiculously, turn those happy feelings into a positive disposition in the workplace. Say "thank-you" and make other similar comments when your co-workers. They do not exist to meet your needs, so be nice when they try to help you -- even if you don't like or agree with everything they tell you. Most people (preceptors, managers, senior staff, etc.) find it easier to help someone who receives their help graciously. Don't turn into one of those new grads who thinks everyone else exists to satisfy their needs and wants. Don't convey an attitude that you are entitled to everyone's time and attention or to get everything you want all the time. That type of self-centered behavior will turn off your coworkers REALLY quickly and you will lose their support. Fortunately, most new grads don't have that attitude, but those who do are likely to fail.

2. Talk with people, read, etc. to identify those things that will be difficult. It will help to prepare yourself for the challenging aspects of the job. A lot of new grads say that they expect it to be "hard work," -- but they don't have a realistic sense of what the "hard work" will be. For example, they imagine "hard work" as being very busy with physical tasks but exhilerating. They are young and physically strong, so they are confident. They may not realize that a lot of the "hardest work" may need to happen inside their heads -- and require changes in their attitudes, behavior patterns, communication styles, etc. It may require homework that involves lots of reading on your days off. "Hard work" might mean having to sit in class for a full day and pay complete attention and participate in group discussion session. "Hard work" might mean learning to work with some people who are not of the same generation, culture, etc. than you are -- and may well find some people that are not very nice. etc.

3. Plan your personal life to get plenty of rest, good nutrition, exercise, etc. during your transition period. Some new grads make the mistake of trying to too many things at once and end up doing a bad job of most of them. For example, they will move into a new home, get married, take NCLEX, party with friends, taking a class to continue their education, and start their new job all within a couple of weeks of each other. They can easily end up over-extending themselves and doing a bad job of all of it -- failing NCLEX, performing poorly at work, etc. Be prepared to spend the first couple months of your job physically fit and rested -- and mentally focused on your new job. Be prepared to "give it your all" and not just a tiny piece of yourself.

Good luck!

  • Author

WOW-THANK YOU...that is great info. I am so ready to give it my all but concerned about balancing the demands of being a new grad, studying for NCLEX and becoming a part of my family & friends lives again. I wil certainly take all of this into consideration

THANKS

There is not one right way to do things. Start by learning how your preceptor does things and with time, you'll adjust it to your own way. If you follow someone else, you'll see that she does things differently and the more people you follow, the more ways you'll see. Just remember that as long as the basic principals are followed, the exact way they are done is very individual.

Some new grads have an attitude that they already know as much as they need to know. Listen to all the advice you are given and say thank you. You don't have to use it all. Run it by your preceptor if it differs too much from what she says, but listen and learn.

Learning to multitask seems to be one of the hardest things to learn to do. You have to be able to coach a woman in labor, watching for physical and auditory cues about what is going on with the mother, while listening to the fetal monitor (if that's how you're monitoring the baby electronically) for changes the baby is experiencing. You may be charting and listening to the MD at the same time. This is especially challenging just before delivery: help her push, watch the family so that no one contaminates the delivery table (you'd be surprized at how many people will pick something off the table to look at it) or looks like they're ready to pass out, hand hold the monitor to keep the heart under the transducer when Mom pushes the baby down a couple inches, listen to the instructions the doc is giving and make sure your instructions match his/hers. When the baby is born, watch the time the head is out so you know if you're getting into shoulder dystocia teritory, watch the delivery time, calculate an Apgar, dry and stimulate the baby, give the ordered oxytocic medication at the right time and dose.

Establishing priorities is another trouble spot with new grads. It will come with time and experience, but getting that experience will be frustrating for you because you'll make mistakes along the way. That's OK, no one expects you to know it all now. That's why you have an orientation period. So your mistakes will occur under the watchful eye of your preceptor and not get far enough to cause harm. You are expected to make some mistakes. If you aren't making some, you aren't trying enough new stuff.

Taking criticism can be difficult as it sometimes comes across in a curt way, especially if you're in the middle of a "situation". Listen, and later, when things have calmed down, talk with your preceptor about it. About how it happened and about your response to how it was given. You can't be too sensitive, but you should be able to expect to be treated with respect.

Sometimes you and your preceptor just don't have a good fit. Talk with her, ask questions, tell her what areas you feel are your strongest and your weakest. Ask for her feed back. If things are not working out between you, see if you can get another preceptor. Don't wait until the end of your orientation to suddenly discover that she thinks you're not making it or to tell her that you learn best in ways other than her preferred teaching style.

You'll do well. That love for the area is something that can't be taught, you have to have it in you and you sound like you have plenty

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