I've come back to L&D

[MidniteLaborRN]

I have come back to L & D....again. This isn't my first return. However, prior to and even now, I have been thinking about why I've been wanting to come back to something that I found very stressful and somewhat intimidating.

With my first go round, I was a new grad hired straight into a very busy unit... 8 bed triage, more than 20 LDRP's.. a teaching hospital. I wasn't listening to those people who said that a little med-surg experience was needed to work in a specialty. But after orientation, I found that I took refuge and even started to seek and desire assignments away from the stress and business of a labor assignment. Ante- and postpartum. My managers told me I was a good nurse but that I lacked confidence.

The second return was a short one. A 3 month contract where I was expected to come in and hit the ground running. I did... and surprised even myself. At the end of the contract, I was asked to stay on. However, I felt burnt out and decided not to.

Got every IV start in that time period except for two. Drew blood like a champion phlebotomist. Most of my SVE's were accurate-- the ones I found difficult, I grabbed a co-worker for a second opinion.... I have to point those two things out because I had a lot of trouble with those skills my first go round in L & D. Where did all of that come from?!!

I think that missing it in those key areas caused me to feel inept and thus shy away from and feel as if I wasnt cut out for the job.

But here I go again, starting orientation. In labor and delivery. A setting much like the one I started out in... But this time things seem different.

I cannot say that I am not nervous. But I am so much more calm. I cannot say that I am not scared sometimes but I realize that what I am most afraid of is not trying. And then not knowing. And then wondering and regretting.

I do know that I am a more mature and a more experienced nurse now. I've obtained a few skills that I am looking to master. My mindset is different, not one of avoidance but one looking to take on new challenges.

I wonder if this is where I would have been had I stayed in the same hospital, same unit these last five years?

Or did it take all those detours through womens services for me to get here?

Lets see how i do this time!....

[guiltysins]

Good Luck!

You keep coming back so it seems like something you really want to do, even if the high intensity and patient/nurse ratio seem to scare you. I was thinking about possibly doing L&D (still in school) but I don't think I'd ever have the courage to start their first lol but I have no problem starting in postpartum, I actually really like the mother/baby setting.

Maybe it was the hospital or possibly even the orientation as a new grad that scared you off. A lot of the hospitals in my area are huge and delivering over 2,000 babies a year, one even delivers about 7,000! I can't even imagine lol.

[LoveANurse09]

Sounds like your ready this time! I'm sure you will do great, you definatley have the right attitude! Good Luck!

[zahryia, LPN]

Wow, your story sounds much like mine. I started out in a fast paced teaching hospital and it was a little overwhelming, but I could've stayed the course had it not been for my crazy nightshift schedule.

I was only there a little under a year and stayed away for another 6 months. I went back to a community hospital, which I thought would be easier. WRONG!

I feel like I have even more responsibility since I don't have my residents to rely on. Not to mention I never got an orientation to this place since I'm agency.

So I'm starting a PT job at yet another hospital where I can get a proper orientation and learn SVEs and get better at my IV sticks and finally do some triage.

I too have a love/hate relationship with the unit. At times it's great and other times I wonder why I gave up a great career for this job.

Anywho, I wish you luck.

[BirthBabes&Boobs]

Wow! I was so happy to read this thread! I began working L&D right out of school (last January). Nursing is a second career for me. In the past I would get bored with my job and want to quit. The challenge of nursing, (especally L&D), was very appealing to me. Now, one year after beginning my nursing career, I'm asking myself what I was thinking. I'm feeling lost and disappointed. I've always been someone who can accomplish anything I work at, but this is sooo much harder!! I'm even starting to question my critical thinking skills which I have always been praised on in the past!! I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one. I mean, don't get me wrong, for the most part I love my job, but I'm terrified most of the time! Thanks for sharing your story. It's nice to know that it IS possible to be drawn to L&D and still feel afraid and stressed.