LDRP Hospitals

[L&D4Lyfe]

Hello!

I'm a new nurse with almost a year under my belt.

Long story short here's where I'm at: I got my dream job in L&D at a large hospital (6-700 births/month) and WAS NOT READY FOR IT. Moved for the job, knew no one, had bad training experiences and just was way overwhelmed and over my head (New grads, listen to what people say about getting experience before going to L&D!). After two months on that unit, I was lucky enough to transfer to Postpartum and have been there almost 10 months. Love it! Such a great place for new grads interested in pursuing women and children's health! I've learned so much and it's so rewarding.

I really want to return to L&D eventually (within 1-3 years) but I also just want experience in everything women/baby health (L&D, PP, NICU, GYN, even clinic work). I want to be a Nurse-Midwife eventually, it has been the real dream since 8th grade.

Some of the best nurses on my unit worked at a small hospital in an LDRP unit where they didn't even have CNA's to help them out. They had to know how to do everything and their days were always different. I find that partially terrifying but also thrilling.

I would love the kind of experience I could get with a year or two on an LDRP floor. I think that at a smaller hospital, the pace may be slower than what I experienced initially at my first job and it could give me a little more space to learn and grow, but I realize it also could mean I have to assume a higher level of responsibility than what others in larger hospitals with more infrastructure would have to assume. (I would love someones thoughts on that and whether or not that's true!)

I have a lot of questions: How do you find a job like that? How do you figure out which hospitals are LDRP and which are separate?

And also for someone like me who tried out L&D a little too early, when is the right time to try again? What should I be looking for in where I end up? Or is that something I should just answer for myself?

Thank you in advance for anyone who answers!

[LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM]

I have a lot of questions: How do you find a job like that? How do you figure out which hospitals are LDRP and which are separate?

And also for someone like me who tried out L&D a little too early, when is the right time to try again? What should I be looking for in where I end up? Or is that something I should just answer for myself?

Thank you in advance for anyone who answers!

You find a hospital that does LDRP by researching what hospitals are in your area, and then either finding the info on their website or calling nurse recruitment.

I don't know when the right time is for you, but what I always look for in any new position is an environment where you will be well oriented by a supportive staff that works as a team. No matter how big or small the facility, the culture is what matters. If you're just thrown to the wolves, you're never going to flourish. Ask detailed questions about their orientation and education program.