L&D Burnout ?????

fergus51 · Jun 30, 2004

I got a little burned out, mainly due to the work environment. I decided to look at another area of nursing and went into NICU. It worked for me. I just needed a change of scenery.

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 30, 2004

Hmmm, well for me, working LDRP and GYN surgical nursing, (all on one floor)--- I don't get burnt out. At least I am thinking I won't. On any given week, I could do labor/delivery, PP, GYN or take care of a level-2 nursery baby. That does not get boring. IF I had to do only L and D, I would be "crispy critters" FAST!

fergus51 · Jun 30, 2004

I would love that kind of hospital Deb. I have only worked in 2 places that did LDRP and crosstrained nurses to gyn and nursery as well.

bam_bam · Jun 30, 2004

I work in LDRP with GYNs. I being there for 6 years but did just L&D for 2 1/2 years before that. About 3 years ago, when I would go to work, I would think to myself "Please, no labor". I would lpawn off the labor patient to my other nurse if possible. I didn't do anything different, like change departments, and now I don't have that attitude anymore

Beth

SmilingBluEyes · Jun 30, 2004

you need a smaller hospital, really, fergus. Most larger ones (at least near Seattle) have seperate L and D and MBU's....NOT LDRP. And GYN surgical is a totally different thing altogether, of course. As well as nursery. I am lucky. My hospital is fairly small......we do only about 75 deliveries/mo, having 12 LDRP beds and 12 surgical/general beds. It is GREAT working like this.....If I just for whatever reason cannot handle labor and delivery for a shift, I make deals with the coworkers and do just PP or GYN for a day. We all take turns, to keep it fair. Most days, I WANT labor, so I get my share in. That way when I DO need a reprieve, I can get it.....it really is great to work this way.

fergus51 · Jun 30, 2004

I know. I just don't like small town living, and I like the acuity in bigger centers. As it is, I am employed in the NICU and thinking of trying to pick up some agency work in L&D at another hospuit

lynn27 · Jul 1, 2004

Thank you all for responding. I'm glad to know that some of you have felt similar to me. It just came as a shock to feel this way after wanting to do L&D for so long. Also, I am wondering if it has something to do with my age and life--I am leaving my baby-having years (have 2 teens), been married almost 21 years. So maybe this is a natural progression? Do you see many nurses leaving L&D as they get into their forties? I truly hope that I can get over this--I promised myself that I would only go back to L&D if I can be the kind of nurse that I would have wanted with my deliveries--someone enthusiastic and happy to be with their patient on such an important day in their life.

lynn27 · Jul 1, 2004

Thank you all for responding. I'm glad to know that some of you have felt similar to me. It just came as a shock to feel this way after wanting to do L&D for so long. Also, I am wondering if it has something to do with my age and life--I am leaving my baby-having years (have 2 teens), been married almost 21 years. So maybe this is a natural progression? Do you see many nurses leaving L&D as they get into their forties? I truly hope that I can get over this--I promised myself that I would only go back to L&D if I can be the kind of nurse that I would have wanted with my deliveries--someone enthusiastic and happy to be with their patient on such an important day in their life.

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 1, 2004

rofl Seattle-Tacoma is hardly small town living fergus!!!! heheheheheh I just work in a smaller community hospital!

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 1, 2004

rofl Seattle-Tacoma is hardly small town living fergus!!!! heheheheheh I just work in a smaller community hospital!

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 1, 2004

Ok back to the OP (sorry I digressed).

Lynn, you sound as if you have a good grip on what's going on personally. If, right now, you don't have it in you to do L and D nursing, don't. The time may come later when this changes. You are well aware: The very thing about L and D is, if you are emotionally overwrought, if have a lot going on personally, it's so hard to be there for your patients. Labor nursing is SOOOOO intense, so emotional, so demanding, and you have to have your own full cup to be able to give what you should to others.

Personally, having had some pregnancy losses in the past 2 years myself, it's been supremely hard for me at times to do this. I almost quit OB for a residency in Renal nursing. But something, I don't know what, stopped me. Maybe it was that family who lost a baby and needed someone with authentic experience to talk to them when they could not accept it themselves. Maybe it's the affirmation I feel with each birth experience that life should and must go on ,and we must have HOPE for the future seeing new lives come into the world. Maybe it's because I innately know OB is my gift.....my talent I share with the world. I don't know. I do not mean to sound trite.

But I DO know this much: if the time comes I truly cannot give what I do now, when I cannot truly "be there" for birthing families in a meaningful way, I too, will move on. I refuse to be a "crispy-critter" bitter nurse that taints these families' experiences negatively. I pray that day does not come; I came close last winter, as close as I care to be.

Just do what you are doing; follow your instincts, and know you are "OK" to feel this way. You have a lot going on in your life. The time may certainly come again when you feel ready to come back. If and when that happens, you will be welcomed back with open arms by the nursing community and birthing families you care for. That much, I know. Best wishes and (((HUGS))) to you. Believe in yourself and your instincts; they guide you well!