New Grad with an LD Job--any advice?

babyktchr, BSN, RN · May 24, 2006

Welcome to the world of OB!! Words of wisdom...hmmm.....watch everyone and ask many many questions. Resolve yourself that you won't be comfortable in this arena for quite sometime, and you will need to give yourself time to absorb and learn. It is a lot to take in, but once you really "get" it, it will be a fantastic time for you. Good luck to you.

Oh yeah....make sure you get a good preceptor.

nursie-babie, ASN, RN · May 24, 2006

HI! I was a new grad that started in L&D. It was very scary and intimidating. I also worked at a small rural hospital and think that led to the scariness quite a bit. Anyway, it took a long time for me to be comfortable(about 9 months before I was on my own completely) and it was really hard to gain the trust of the doctors, well one in particular(she just didn't like new people and she had a not so subtle way of letting you know!:trout: ) Anyway, as the above poster said, watch, learn, absorb, ask questions, and get in and help as much as possible. It is a very rewarding field, as well as very stressful! GOOD LUCK and :balloons: CONGRATULATIONS![:balloons: /FONT]

jacq821 · Jun 18, 2006

Hey Bran!! Congrats on the L&D job!! I am also a new grad and will be starting in L&D once I take the state boards!

I did an internship last summer in L&D at the hospital where I'll be working, and I'm so glad I did. I was able to get over my initial fear of working with the nurses who knew so much more than me! It took me about 2-3 weeks to truly feel comfortable, but everyone there was so wonderful to me, and I'm sure you'll be great there!!

Good luck with the new job! I hope your first couple weeks are going well!

ladybugsea · Jun 20, 2006

jacq (or anyone else) -- Is it possible to get an intership in L&D before having that rotation? We won't study maternal/newborn until next fall, but I'd love to get an intership in L&D next summer.

jacq821 · Jun 20, 2006

ladybug - I had already completed my maternal/newborn rotation when I did the internship, but there were 4 or 5 other girls from other schools doing the internship in L&D/Maternity that hadn't had that rotation yet. It never hurts to ask - the worst they could do is say no!!

Good luck with getting the internship! I hope it works out for you! If you eventually want to end up in L&D, an internship is the best way to get your foot in the door, at least it was around here!!!

Bibi-OBRN · Jun 21, 2006

Congratulations Bran! As an RN who also went straight to L&D after college, the most important thing I can say is to give your self time to feel comfortable. There were many times in the beginning I felt soooo overwhelmed I wondered why I ever wanted to go into this field in the first place. It honestly takes about 1 year of working in this area continuously to feel like your getting it. Best of luck and hang in there!