LVN in Labor and Delivery

[lilthorina]

I just got a job in labor and delivery at a county hospital where they have 300 births a month. I was grateful to landed a job at the county but I never expected to get hired in the L&D dept. I thought I will be hired in the med/surg which I didnt mind at all. Ive been working for a month now. I work at night, another LVN who is a newgrad works in the am shift (we got hired together). The dept manager told us that she never have LVNs in the L&D before and that this will be the first time. So i guess we were very appreciative about it, which I am and fortunate enough since I've waited 8 months to get my feet in the county hospital.

I started my LVN in the nursing home and still working there once a week. I work full time at the hospital for their good benefits.

My role in the L&D are pretty much assisting the RNs. I put the patients in the external monitor. Do UA dips, take vital signs. Start an IV and draw blood, which i still need more practice in. Take patients in a w/c from ER to the L&D floor if they cant walk and take lab specimens to the laboratory. Help transfer patient from labor room to delivery room. Assist in the delivery room. Give newborns a bath, administer erythromycin and vit k to newborns, take vital signs on newborn, transfer mom/baby to postpartum.

I have floated twice in the PostPartum, which i shouldnt be floated but they were short of nurses at that time. I liked the post partum than the labor and delivery. I know not many LVNs get a position in the L&D. There is one LVN working in the PostPartum, the rest are RNs. I really like the postpartum because I feel that I am a nurse, an LVN at least. In the postpartum u get to have your own groups of patients, just like in the nursing home; do patient teachings, administer meds, take vitals on babies., give and receive reports, etc; of course no IVPB for LVNs. RNs does delegates stuff for me to do, and I don't mind that at all....

So right now, Im contemplating about getting transferred to post-partum from L&D. I already talked to my dept manager and she said she cant accomodate me and i was hired specifically for L&D, but if i really want to I have to turn in a transfer letter, which I did. I don't think she'll transfer me right away, coz im still in probation for 6 months! But i'm really hoping she will consider it.

I know i jst let this L&D opporunity slip in my hands if I get transferred. But I feel like a Nurse Tech/CNA in the L&D rather than an LVN. They do have a Nurse Tech/CNA which pretty much do the same thing I do except starting an IV and administer atb ointment and vit k to newborns. I really thought working in L&D would be the same as the RNs that works there except IVPBs, but I was wrong.

Should I stay or get transferred??? I know i already gave a transfer letter to my manager. But I really didnt wanna sound like I'm complaining. It was just a huge transition for me from nursing home to L&D and my role suddenly changed..... I dont know how the morning LVN feels about it, but im sure she likes it there since she havent worked somewhere else... I definitely feels the opposite....

[Halinja, BSN, RN]

Go with what feels right to you. If you aren't all that happy in the L&D position, then you aren't letting an 'opportunity' slip away. You tried something, turned out it wasn't what you thought it would be, and you are looking for something more compatible. Seems reasonable to me. Do what makes you feel fulfilled.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Agree w/ Halinja. If you're not happy where you are, then it's time to seek greener pastures. Good luck. :)