maternity/pediatric rotation advice please

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Apr 6, 2012

you'll get a meal break and at least one other break. bring something to eat, or some money to go to the cafeteria.

a big part of this rotation is to begin to get you socialized into the working realities of nursing. you don't have to start on your first day knowing how to manage yourself on a 12-hour shift, but by then end of the rotation, you will have learned that, too.

latebloomrn · Apr 7, 2012

How exciting! I would suggest you take plenty of water, some nuts or other little snacks for a quick boost, and any study material that you can copy and keep on your clipboard to review when things slow down (as they will as a student during a long clinical). The last thing you ever want is to look bored or not-busy, so having plenty of material (pertinent to the rotation) is a great way to stay busy and impress your instructors as well as learn something new. It will be different doing 12 hours at first, especially as a student, but remember it goes a lot faster the more you do! As far as assessing the mommies and babies, just take a breath before you go in, get your bearings and exude confidence. They may be feeling overwhelmed and nervous and the last thing they want is a student that doesn't seem competitent! Know what you are going in to do before you go in, make sure you have all supplies and ask your preceptor any questions you may have prior to going in. This will make you feel more confident and put the mom at ease!

Clovery · Apr 7, 2012

For maternity, know the important questions to ask when assessing like when did you last change your pad, are you soaking a pad in an hour or less, have you passed gas, etc. Don't be afraid to keep poking around until you feel the fundus - it's really important. I expected the new moms to be grouchy with me, but they weren't at all. Try to do as much as you can while they're holding the baby (they're oblivious and happy then). Know the emergency situations, like a pp hemorrhage, what the signs are, and what to do. Most women are used to being "out in the open" after giving birth, but always provide them with as much privacy as possible and try to avoid embarassing procedures when they have visitors. But that's just common sense. I'm sure you'll do fine :)

I did my peds rotation in a "lower level" hospital and there were barely any patients. All the serious cases got sent to specialized pediatric hospitals. So if you're just on a general peds floor like I was, memorize your tylenol doses (10-15 mg/kg), know all about sepsis, athsma, cellulitis, and post-op considerations. Don't forget to also consider the "Caregiver" so if mom has been there 24/7 for a couple of days, try to encourage her to go home and take a shower, or at least go down to the cafe and get some food. One of the diagnoses I used all the time in peds was "caregiver role strain".

Good luck and try to enjoy it!