Labor and Delivery nursing

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hi everyone,

i really think that it would be fun to work with mother and teach them how to care for their newborn babies..

for any of u that work there. do you love your job? Is it fun? Do you deal more with the mother, the baby, or both?

Whats stressful about your job?

Do you work normal shifts, or do you work less, or more than other nurses?

Is there anything you dont like about the job?

I just think it would be awesome to work in L&D...but some people say its not that great because the mothers can be monsters... :( so thats why im asking so many questions..hahah :)

Thank You

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Specializes in L&D and OB-GYN office.

L&D nurses generally do not teach mothers to care for their newborn babies. L&D nurses are (generally) there during labor and delivery and for about an hour afterwards. The moms (in many hospitals) get transfered to postpartum after that. Sounds like you might enjoy being a postpartum/newborn nursery nurse.

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

L&D nursing can be very intense. If you are in a regional birthing center the place hops and you work your butt off most days. Laboring women can be ok or they can be ogres, they generally have family with them...sometimes many people. When things go by design it is a beautiful and amazing process and job...when things go bad it is fast and furious to get the baby out and the mom safe. Dependent upon your facility it can be a very labor intensive job (pun intended). You may have to move beds occupied by large gravid women. You may have to hold up a flaccid 80lb leg for a 20 min procedure. There is ample opportunity for exposure to body fluids...you MUST use good precautions at all times. It can be joyous or heartbreaking. Things can change in a heartbeat, literally. A young primip may labor for 8 hours to push out a 6 pounder...an elderly multip may moan once, move her leg and deliver an 8 pounder during your BP check...you have to be prepared! L&D is absolutely one of the areas where you feel like you are dangerous for the first 6 months, like you have a good idea of what you are supposed to be doing the second 6 months, and pretty comfortable with most scenarios after a year. I loved L&D but am not sure that I am physically able to do that work now...that was the unit where I first strained my lower back.

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Specializes in all things maternity.

I am lucky to work in a unit where I can do labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum/nursery care. We have a small unit and it is really nice to have a family during their labor and delivery, recover mom and follow them as they are admitted into postpartum/nursery care.

Labor and delivery can be vicious as stated before. Usually, things are nice there but whew.....when things go bad..they go BAD! And hard to deal with couples or families can be pains in the patooties. Good luck with whatever you decide.

:paw::paw:

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yea from what im hearing i think i might like postpartum more :)... thanks for the information everyone!

lets keep it commin :D

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