New Grad L&D Nurse! Any others out there?

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Hello out there! I'm a new grad RN excited to start in L&D this week. Any other new grads in L&D out there? Love to talk with you!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Where I am, new grads are not on their own for 6 months to a year, depending on circumstances and FTE status.

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Hi,

I'm thinking about going to school to become a nurse but I only want to work with new born babies. Can you tell me the education or training I will need and how long would I have to go to nursing school? This is very foreign to me because I never saw myself as a nurse. I am in the creative field (author writer and I have my own business), but I want something that will keep food on the table and becoming a nurse seems to be the only logical thing to do. If you have any advice at all please feel free to share. Thanks

You would first have to go to nursing school, which would be anywhere from 18 months( LPN) to 2-4 years, depending on the type of RN progran you go to. There aren't too many places where you can JUST work with newborns as more and more facilities utilize nurses that at least do mother/baby. I supposed if you are set on babies only, you might fiond a nursery like that or you might have to specialize more and go into a neonatal ICU.

Many hospitals do NOT utilize LPN's as they once did so I would be careful of that route.

All through nursing school you will work with all different age groups and all differnet illnesses. Nursing school is a huge amount of work and lots of stress. It's well worth it if it is what you want.

You don't sound as if you are too familiar with nursing at all. It might be wise to ask to shadow a few nurses before you commit.

(As an aside) and it is my opinion, well nursery is extremely boring!! I have been in L&D/PP/NSY for almost 20 years. It's all in what you want. Just remember, nursery does not mean you sit around and rock babies.

Nursing is rewarding work, but VERY demanding and stressful. It is not for the faint of heart or someone who wants an "easy job." Nursing school is really only an introduction to what nursing is all about.

Do some research and make sure this is something you might wish to pursue. Best of luck!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

If you want to work with babies, you may want to go into NICU (neonatal intensive care nursing). The education base is the same. Nursing school first, then pass boards, then secure a job in the area of choice.

I recommend after graduating, seeking a hospital that offers nurse residency programs in specialty areas. These combine classroom and on-the-job training to prepare you to work in the specialty of your choice (in your case, likely, NICU).

Here, below, is a site that lists nursing schools in the USA by location and type. Look at some near you. Get an idea of their educational tracks and what their pre-nursing coursework requires. Start out by finding out what courses you must take and get them done before you apply to school. Good luck!!!!

http://www.allnursingschools.com

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i had no idea as a new grad it is possible to work in LD . :) i'm glad to know it is!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

It is indeed possible. I did it.

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Our orientation is a minimum of 8 weeks long. I have heard that I can ask for an extension but I think even that is only 1-2 weeks tops. After that it sounds like I will be on my own, having the other nurses there if I need them. But, they will be taking on their own assignment so I am sure it is going to be challenging if they are busy with their patients. I will be starting my fourth week coming up and I feel like I have just started to get a clue about the unit. Several of those days I wasn't even on the floor because I had class. I will definitely be tacking those days on to the end of my orientation.

You should not be on your own at all for at LEAST 4 months. As I said before, even at that, you will only be scratching the surface, but that's okay. t's going to take you at least a year to even begin to feel comfortable and that's to be expected.

Always rememeber that you have just entered a critical care area of nursing. Take it one day at a time. Best of luck to you.

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Unfortunately, I have 8-10 weeks of orientation then I am on my own. We don't have a charge nurse so I would have to go to the nursing supervisor. I will be on 3-11 so that means that I would actually be dealing with the general supervisor so he/she wouldn't be the best resource. I know I will have to rely heavily on my co-workers which I have no problem doing. However, if they have a crazy assignment that leaves me to figure things out on my own. I am ok with that too but when things get hairy, I am going to be struggling. I will definitely be talking to my manager and my educator about extending my time. In the meantime, I just have to 'suck it up' and deal with it.

Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement! I hope things go well with your orientation. That would be nice to stay in touch and see how things are going. I am not really sure how to go about that though.

LILYBUG!!!!!!

It sounds like we started about the same time. It does seem somewhat overwhelming at times. This thought comforted me the other day, though: I still have 10 weeks of orientation left yet. That is a lot of time to get the hang of things. At least you have had some emergency situations - all I have had so far is inductions (very safe, very predictable) and laboring pts (one non-emergent c/s today for failure to progress.) I have a feeling that a black cloud may descend on me when I am on my own. Remember, though: they don't expect you to know everything. Nor will they just throw you onto the floor after you get out of orientation. Remember you have (probably) many experienced nurses to consult with, and also your charge nurse as a resource when you're on your own.

I read a quote the other day: "When I have not become emotionally involved with my pts, it's time for me to switch professions." We work in an area with a lot of highs, and unfortunately, we have to hit some lows as well. Not to say that it won't effect you after a while, but you will gain the tools and experiences to better handle those high stress, high emotion situations.

I would love to have another new grad to share experiences/draw encouragement from. Feel free to email/PM me! Remember, you can do it! Take it one day, one pt at a time, and be patient with yourself!

Rachel

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Unfortunately, I have 8-10 weeks of orientation then I am on my own. We don't have a charge nurse so I would have to go to the nursing supervisor. I will be on 3-11 so that means that I would actually be dealing with the general supervisor so he/she wouldn't be the best resource. I know I will have to rely heavily on my co-workers which I have no problem doing. However, if they have a crazy assignment that leaves me to figure things out on my own. I am ok with that too but when things get hairy, I am going to be struggling. I will definitely be talking to my manager and my educator about extending my time. In the meantime, I just have to 'suck it up' and deal with it.

Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement! I hope things go well with your orientation. That would be nice to stay in touch and see how things are going. I am not really sure how to go about that though.

8 weeks is not nearly long enough, as I said previously. Are you strictly in L&D or is this post-partum as well? Have you had a course in introductory fetal monitoring? Most course instructors do not want new people to even take the intorductory course until you have had a minimum of 6 months working in L&D (with a preceptor, of course).

Are you certified in neonatal resuscitation? That is a pre-requisite to being able to do labor (or be a seocnd in a deliver. This is a American Heart Associatio standrad of care. if you are not following standard of care, you could again be jeopardzing your license.

If you ahev not had any of this training, you should NOT be on your own in any way, shape or form. You are jeopardzing your license. Experience comes with time, of course, but you are really putting yourself in a position to be hung out to dry.

I don't mean to sound harsh at all and I am sure you will gain the experience, but at what cost?

If you are being put in a risk situation (and it sounds as if you are) I would get out fast. L&D may ultimately be your "dream job" but this does not sound like a good start at all. It's difficult enough taking care of patients you can see. In this case you are always taking care of one (the unborn) that you cannot see. You're doing two lives at a time.

I am sorry, but this does not sound like a safe situation for you or your patients. No judge or lawyer is going to want to hear that you do not have a striong background. L&D (and OB in general) is a very litigious field of nursing and medicine!

I would get out fast and keep looking. There are great internship programs for new grads in many specialties (including L&D).

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I am concerned too, 8 weeks' is not NEARLY enough. You are in a risky situation, frankly.

I wish you the best.

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I'm a new grad in L&D and we have 16 weeks of training. While sometimes I feel frustrated that I am not allowed to do more (after 8-9 weeks, my preceptor still stands in the room watching me start IV's and get histories) there are more times than not that I am thankful that someone else (with much more experience and knowledge) is there to help me when I need it. L&D is not as easy as some people like to think. I am confronted with different FHR tracings every day (usually variables that I'm trying to determine what exactly they are - lates or earlies or just healthy variables), cervixes that are hard to evaluate, BPs that drop or rise out of nowhere and somewhere in the middle of this, I must chart long notes showing what I have done to rectify each situation.

If you feel nervous each morning before you go in, this is a good thing. I've learned from experience that it is those that are not worried about being by themselves are the ones that get in the most trouble. If you MUST be by yourself after 8 weeks, buddy up with another nurse each day and make sure that she knows about your patients and bounce every question and concern that you have off of her. Don't be afraid to ask "stupid" questions. You'll never learn if you don't.

Best of luck to you and all of the new L&D grads .... we're all in this together!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Heck, after 8 years' experience, I still say prayers on the elevator going up, that all in my care are safe and that I be on my toes at all times.

NEVER become complacent; that is when something will happen.

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The 8 week orientation is strictly L&D. I already finished my postpartum & nursery rotation which consisted of maybe 12 weeks?? I did recently receive my certification in neonatal resuscitation and I am taking the fetal monitoring class and newborn course the first week in September. So those bases are covered as for getting what I need course wise. I am really amazed that there is such a discrepancy regarding length of time in orientation :uhoh21: I work at a highly regarded hospital in a very well known system. I know they follow the AHHWON standards regarding many of our policies and procedures. I plan on having a discussion with my educator and manager to get their input. They seem to be well liked and straight forward with employees so we'll see what they say. Thank you for your input. I do not take offense at all for your suggestions. I greatly appreciate the information. :)

8 weeks is not nearly long enough, as I said previously. Are you strictly in L&D or is this post-partum as well? Have you had a course in introductory fetal monitoring? Most course instructors do not want new people to even take the intorductory course until you have had a minimum of 6 months working in L&D (with a preceptor, of course).

Are you certified in neonatal resuscitation? That is a pre-requisite to being able to do labor (or be a seocnd in a deliver. This is a American Heart Associatio standrad of care. if you are not following standard of care, you could again be jeopardzing your license.

If you ahev not had any of this training, you should NOT be on your own in any way, shape or form. You are jeopardzing your license. Experience comes with time, of course, but you are really putting yourself in a position to be hung out to dry.

I don't mean to sound harsh at all and I am sure you will gain the experience, but at what cost?

If you are being put in a risk situation (and it sounds as if you are) I would get out fast. L&D may ultimately be your "dream job" but this does not sound like a good start at all. It's difficult enough taking care of patients you can see. In this case you are always taking care of one (the unborn) that you cannot see. You're doing two lives at a time.

I am sorry, but this does not sound like a safe situation for you or your patients. No judge or lawyer is going to want to hear that you do not have a striong background. L&D (and OB in general) is a very litigious field of nursing and medicine!

I would get out fast and keep looking. There are great internship programs for new grads in many specialties (including L&D).

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