L&D books

[mer_RN]

I just accepted a job in L&D, I start in 3 weeks, and only get 8 weeks of orientation. Any suggestions for books specifically about labor and delivery (I already know the PP stuff)? I would like to brush up on those things since it has been 4 years since learning about it in school. Also, apparently the L&D nurses also function as the C/S PACU there, any books I should read about that?

[Selke]

Oh man, ONLY 8 weeks orientation? That's NOT enough if you've never worked L&D before. Oh dear. What kind of clinical nurse specialist or training person/program does the hospital have? (Do they even HAVE one?) Will they provide you with training materials and books? They SHOULD. Anyway, a few off the top of my head: there's an AWHONN text the name of which I don't know -- someone else here probably knows it. "Birthing from Within" by Horowitz provides a great perspective on birth support. You will need a good reference for fetal heart monitoring; your CNS should be providing you with this stuff. You should attend basic EFM workshops, at their expense. There's the Neonatal Resuscitation Textbook; your hospital should be providing you with this and the course. Margaret Mile's textbook for midwifery is excellent and beats Varney's hands down. I think there's a thread or sticky on this forum about books recommended by other members -- take a look. There was also a thread about another new nurse being given only an 8 week orientation. It's commendable you want to read books and educate yourself, but your hospital is obligated to give you a comprehensive orientation so that you know what you are doing!

[beckinben, CNM]

AWHONN's Perinatal Nursing by Kathleen Rice Simpson and Patricia Creehan- new edition just came out.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0781767598/ref=wl_it_dp/105-9054661-1587647?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2TSRTA60P57PA&colid=3RXIATWQJWRAE

I also suggest the Labor Progress Handbook by Penny Simkin and Ruth Ancheta

http://www.amazon.com/Labor-Progress-Handbook-Penny-Simkin/dp/140512217X/ref=sr_1_3/105-9054661-1587647?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184686491&sr=1-3

[SmilingBluEyes]

8 weeks' orientation is not really enough for a nurse with experience in other areas of nursing (Med surg, or ICU, for example) let alone a new nurse. I would think hard and long before working in a place offering so little orientation.

That said, the above are good reading. Check out the sticky above, much more to be found there. Just know, no book can take the place of hands-on work and experience. Again, 8 weeks is not enough really to get this and then be on your own.

I wish you good luck.