L&D Nurse Residency - Advice Please!!

[SeattleRS24]

Hello everyone! I just started a Versant OB Nurse Residency this August and I've only had about 5 shifts on the unit...so bear with me, because I understand that being super overwhelmed is totally normal this early in my nursing career. However, I tend to be really hard on myself (my preceptor has already noticed that, but she's very encouraging) and I always think that I'm the only one who is struggling this much.

I'm hoping that someone who started out in L&D might be able to help me feel more comfortable with how uncomfortable I'm feeling...if that makes sense. I think my biggest struggle right now is the overload of information combined with my total lack of "workflow." After three months of OB preceptorship in college, I felt like I had just barely skimmed the surface of having a routine. At my new job, the hospital and the unit are absolutely insane! Every day that I've been there so far, nearly every room is full. The other day we had 20 patients on the unit, 3 crash sections, 7 inductions, and triage was packed!

I love how busy it is, but at the same time this doesn't lend itself to much learning time. In our residency classes they keep saying "sit down with your preceptor and go over how to do x, y, & z..." but the reality is that we have had NO time in our 8-hour shifts to do any of that. At least not yet. I need to practice charting, learn the steps for various situations, etc. My preceptor has about 22 years of experience, so she is usually in triage or dealing with a complex patient case. This is great learning, but I need to be exposed to the basics first. I'm so overwhelmed right now...I feel like there is literally no way I can ever learn how to respond to the countless scenarios that seem to present themselves on the unit. The good news is that my residency is 18 weeks long, and I won't be flying solo until that part is over.

TL;DR: New grad on an OB unit experiencing all of the new grad fears/emotions...anything uplifting or tips for learning would be soooo greatly appreciated! Thanks for reading!!

[scaredsilly, BSN, RN]

I am in a new grad position on L&D and I feel your pain! We do 12 hour shifts, and my preceptor is amazing. I felt as overwhelmed as you do (still do a lot of the time) and one day I just asked her if we could meet for coffee on me one day before work so I could get some clarification on a few things that I was struggling with. She agreed and now when it is too busy to get to talk during a week, she will either invite me to coffee before work or take me out for a soda after work one evening and I get to go over things with her. Combined with a support group that I helped form of other new grads in my facility, this has been a huge help.

I have been working only a bit over a month, and it is already getting better. But you are right, we do all feel this way!

[SeattleRS24]

Thank you for your kind words! It's nice to know that I'm not alone in my feelings. I just wish that I felt more capable of being independent at work...OB is a crazy world with lots of exceptions to the "rules" and routines of other specialties. Mad respect for the nurses I work with.

[KellyRN2013]

Just breathe and relax! it will take a lot of time tp get settled in and actually feel comfortable. you are feeling all the "new" nurse feelings. they are perfectly normal. We all feel this way when we start a new job. You probably will not feel like you understand/know everything for about 1-2 years honestly. L&D is so particular and requires a lot of different thinking abilities and skills so it will take a while. The hospital I used to work at used to hire new grad RN's for L&D and now they don't because they feel the new grads need med-surg experience because L&D is so specialized and skill specific for the different emergencies that could arise which sucks lol I had 5 years experience OB as an LPN in an office and can't land a job in L&D because I don't have med surg experience. it's very frustrating but you both will do just fine! just remember it takes time and all nurses feel this way anytime we start a new position. it is completely normal just don't be too hard on yourself :)