Need advice from L&D RN's please

Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP · Mar 12, 2006

I guess I should have titled this post "Need advice from OBGYN RN's." Oops.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 12, 2006

Hi everybody,
I'm pretty new to nursing and everything. I just got accepted for this Fall's nursing school. Yay! Anyway, I'm having the hardest time deciding what area of nursing I would like to concentrate on. I know I have 2 years of clinicals ahead of me wherein I'll be able to experience certain areas for myself, but I just would like to get a head's up. You know, so that in class when they start talking about my area, I'll pay attention even harder. So, I'm really considering areas under OBGYN, specifically L&D or Mother/Baby Unit. I was just wondering if maybe some of you could tell me what the basic duties of an RN (ADN) are. Like, and I know this sounds pretty lewd but I don't know how else to say it, are you the nurse that comes in when the woman is having contractions and sticks her hand up you-know-where to determine dilation? Are you there before, during, and after the birth? Do you give physicals (complete ones including BP, blood test, breast exam, and lady partsl exam)? Do you enjoy this area of nursing, or would you prefer another? Any other areas under OBGYN you can tell me about? Those two areas I listed are the extent of my knowledge of what falls under OBGYN, so if there are other areas under it, I would like to know please.
Sorry I'm so unedumicated about this, but I would really like to know. If you answer, please treat me as a person with no prior nursing knowledge so that I'll be able to better understand you. Thank you so much!

well if you elect to practice as an OB and GYN nurse in the hospital setting, yes you do have to examine them physically. And yes, you are the one who does determine dilation in each laboring patient...but there is so much more. And it goes beyond "skills sets"---you have to have the right personality, be able to deal with all kinds of people in your patients, family members, and doctors/midwives. It takes patience for sure. I have a thread somewhere back that discusses the skills sets required in my job----will try to dig it up, so you can get an idea of what our skills are. But remember, it's about a lot more than starting IVs or "sticking your hand up there" in women. You are part socialworker, part psychologist , nutritionist and almost like a sister to some of these ladies. Your people skills will mean EVERYthing in this field, just like in most areas of nursing.

Anyhow will go look up that thread and copy/paste the info here when I do find it.

Good luck. Hopefully others with valuable feedback will post here, as well.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 12, 2006

ah found it! now keep in mind, this is just ob side of things. gyn surgical has its own skills set---i do both.

obstetrical assessment skills

inbound facility tranfer unit

outbound transfer to other facility

identify fetal position (leopold maneuvers)

fetal heart tones

severity of contractions

lady partsl exam, dilitation & effacement

lady partsl exam, station & presentation

lady partsl exam, culture collection

clinical skills

set up tocotransducer

intrauterine pressure catheter

auscultate fetal heart tones

intact/nonintact membranes

nitrazine test

internal fetal monitor

interpreting normal/abnormal fetal heart patterns

baseline interpretation

early decelerations

beat to beat variability

late decelerations

prolonged decelerations

set up ob pack

set up baby pack

cord blood collection

artificial rupture of membranes

complications/further duties

pregnancy induced hypertension

antihypertensives

clonus

diabetes

abruptio placenta

placenta previa

prolapsed cord

preeclampsia

eclampsia

malpresentation

premature rupture of the membranes

premature labor

magnesium sulfate

drug dependent

rh incompatibility

herpes

hiv

hbv

hemorrhage

blood transfusion

forceps delivery

vacuum extraction

precipitous delivery

gestational diabetes/diabetes and its sequalae

starting iv's

cesarean section-circulate

cesarean section-scrub

central line placement, set up & assist

epidural, set up & assist

spinal, set up & assist

local, set up & assist

foley catheter placement

pain control, narcotic

intrathecal medication delivery

episiotomy, set up & assist

uterine massage

lochia assessment

dvt

induction of labor

cytotec

prostaglandin supp

oxytocin infusion

patient teaching

relaxation/breathing techniques

premature labor prevention

phone triage

i add:

labor coaching/support for birthing mother/family

neonatal assessment/resuscitation as needed

breastfeeding initiation/support/ongoing teaching

self-care and baby care once you go home

care of any surgical wounds/therapies

after-care telephone triage (answering questions once a new family has gone home)

Bumashes, MSN, APRN, NP · Mar 12, 2006

Wow! That's awesome! It's sounds a heck of a lot more interesting than I was thinking. Thanks a lot!

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 12, 2006

very welcome.