Labor and Delivery?!

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I am a sophomore in high school. I have always been interested in helping people, but one day it just hit me, I wanted to be a nurse. But I wasn't sure what kind. So I have been researching and I think I would be completely bored with something such as taking care of the elderly or ICU. But the thought of doing Labor and Delivery or becoming a CNM really has me excited!!!!!

What is a day in the life of a Labor and Delivery nurse like? What do you do on a daily basis? Don't sugar coat it!! I would love to know exactly how it is! Thank You so much for your time and help!!

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Specializes in L&D.

I would highly suggest seeing if you can shadow someone at the hospital. It's grueling work but I find it very rewarding. I work nightshift which although yes technically is 7p-7a, clock in is at 638p and clockout at 708am. We get report(group report), assignments are made, and we go find our nurse in charge of the patient we are assigned to. After report, we are full on patient care, which involves anything really. You may be getting them ready for an induction/cervical ripening(of which there are many types such as Pitocin, Foley Bulb, cytotec, cervidil, etc. You may be getting a patient who is 10cm and pushing to deliver....or one who is going to the OR for a emergency or even planned C-section, which may involve shaving the abdomen/cleansing the abdomen, and preparing for the OR....or you may be helping with a mom who is delivering a stillborn or severely premature baby. It's not all sunshine and butterflies, it's hard grueling work. For the most part you have healthy, stable patients, but there are also high risk patients and very sick patients. More than often your average patient is over 200lbs(with many averaging at about 250lbs) which can make it difficult moving them around especially if they have an epidural.

That's just some of the very basic things, but it requires you to be a quick thinker who can analyze a strip and realize something bad is going on, and to be a team player not only if something is going on with your patient, but to help others with theirs.

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