L&D/ NICU prep

How much do you know about the birth process? I know it's not directed specifically to nurses, but I highly recommend the book The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin for an overall understanding of what kind of support a woman needs during childbirth. Not that the nurse can always be that kind of support. I'm sure others can give you suggestions regarding the clinical aspects of the job, but here's where I'd start. Good luck!

You are going to be training for both L&D and NICU? Not that it can't be done, I've just never heard of any hospital doing it because of how specialized both of those areas are. Is your NICU a level III or IV? Just curious... Good luck to you! For NICU I would highly recommend the Merenstein and Gardner's handbook for neonatal intensive care- it is a great resource.

I found this book to be helpful for clinical evidence-based care as a new grad on an OB unit:

[h=2]AWHONN's Perinatal Nursing[/h]http://www.lww.com/product/9781609136222?gclid=Cj0KEQiAtZWkBRC9ibSfhoKEyLYBEiQA5fDxkQJMbf82Hf_PFxOXhK5XY52D3XbPtz9gqXHP4PlnxSsaAuex8P8HAQ

I also wrote cheat sheets on laminated noted cards that attached to my badge with all kinds of references- newborn vitals, NRP, action steps for a post-partum hemorrhage, etc. The note cards changed as I memorized and learned more, but they helped a lot in the beginning.

Good luck!

I'd recommend joining AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nursing). As a member, you will be eligible for some free materials and discounts on things from their bookstore and on classes.

Thank you so much for all of your advice! I will look up those sources.

I'm actually not sure what level the NICU is because it is in a stage of transition. If it gives you an idea; we take currently take 32 weekers but are transitioning down to 28 weekers, they staff two neonatologists every day and NP's at night.

What type of respiratory support does your facility offer? Do you/will you have babies on vents? Sounds like a 2B to me, if you only take to 28-32 weeks+. A level 3 usually takes any gestational age and has neonatal subspecialists.

We will keep patients with vents when the transition is complete. For now all we do is stabilize vent patients and then they are shipped out after a few hours.

Congrats to you and your new job! I have also been accepted a L&D position! I'm so excited. Thank you for posting this question. I too want to prepare myself before I start. I kept my textbook from my OB course. I'm thinking about reviewing it because it was so easy to follow and understand.

I found this book to be helpful for clinical evidence-based care as a new grad on an OB6 unit:

[h=2]AWHONN's Perinatal Nursing[/h]http://www.lww.com/product/9781609136222?gclid=Cj0KEQiAtZWkBRC9ibSfhoKEyLYBEiQA5fDxkQJMbf82Hf_PFxOXhK5XY52D3XbPtz9gqXHP4PlnxSsaAuex8P8HAQ

I also wrote cheat sheets on laminated noted cards that attached to my badge with all kinds of references- newborn vitals, NRP, action steps for a post-partum hemorrhage, etc. The note cards changed as I memorized and learned more, but they helped a lot in the beginning.

Good luck!

I agree i love that book and used it when i started in labor and delivery