LDRP new grad

[NeoRNtobe]

Hey everyone,

I have been offered a weekend night postition in LDRP as a new grad. I am really excited about the job but I would like some advice. I am nervous because I have no children. I know that its not a huge deal but I would like someone who has been in my shoes to tell me how they felt and what helped them when they were dealing with moms. Also I was hoping someone could tell me the good things about working nights, because currently I have none, only bad things.

Thanks

[fergus51]

I've never had a problem working L&D even though I haven't had kids. Patients have often asked and I just tell them I have a dog:). Rarely, someone has made a negative comment and I just pointed out I had given birth just as many times as their doctor (a man).

Nights are great!!! The coworkers often are nicer, the teamwork is better, there is less management around and you really grow as a professional on nights when you're new because you have a lot of independence since the docs aren't around as much either. Being young, you might also enjoy working with younger nurses who tend to be on nights when they first start too.

[RaeT,RN]

I am also a new grad. I have not had children yet, either, but I work with several women who have been doing this for many years and never given birth themselves, either and are incredible nurses.

Nights are not that bad. Just take some getting used to. I actually like them better than working days. I am a night owl anyways. It is (typically) slower on nights and, like Fergus said, you develop as a professional because you are so independent.

Feel free to PM me anytime. Good luck.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Well along those lines, if you believe cause you have no kids, people may call into question your ability to be an OB nurse, how is it:

Oncologists practice every day, who never had cancer---same with onco nurses?

Men make such wonderful L/D nurses so often?

Excellent pediatricians and neonatologists practiced skilled and compassionate medicine for their patients, these being people, who also, never had had their own kids?

Neurologists do brain surgery on patients, never having had such performed upon themselves????

I think you get my drift...

It's because, like with anything, if you have passion for it, you can do it, and well. Never be intimidated by not having personally had kids. If you have the drive, desire, compassion, integrity and guts, you can and will make an EXCELLENT OB nurse. And it will show.

[jzprple]

I just always laugh and say..."nope. not yet! Have to find a boyfriend first!" Then I tell them that I'm content right now to just deliver babies, play with them and then be able to give them back to their parents. Usually people just laugh at me. I understand where you're coming from though. When I started, I never thought I'd be able to teach breastfeeding and surprising to me..within a few weeks i had that down--and even in 2 languages! I got so cocky about my ability to work with babies that I was convinced I could totally handle raising a baby now. Until one of my bosses pointed out that she once thought that too when she first started and it wasn't until she had her own children that she realized she only knew how to care for babies until they were 4 days old! 'tis true...just enjoy your job and your passion for it will win over any questioning parent.