New Grad working for an OB GYN

[STNA]

I am a brand new LPN and I just got offered a job in an OB GYN office. I'm really excited about it, but I know there's a lot I will need to learn. I will be the only nurse at the office, so I won't have a mentor. I was wondering if any of you could tell me what to expect and things I should know before I start?

[PAERRN20]

Will the previous nurse be there to train you for at least a couple weeks? I would be hesitant to take a position without any type of formal training as a new grad. You WILL need a mentor. I think if the person who previously held the job can at least train you before they leave then it might be doable. A mentor doesn't necessarily have to work the same place you do. I encourage you to seek a seasoned nurse as a mentor to help you make the transition from nursing school to graduate nurse. Best of luck.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I totally agree with PAERRN20. If you have not yet accepted the position, you might mention the ability to have a few days with your predecessor as a part of your acceptance of the offer.

[cinthern]

I have been a labor and delivery nurse for 3 years, and last year took a job at an OB/GYN office that NEVER had an RN and I had NEVER worked in an office, so I can tell you a bit of my experience.

I was straight up with the docs regarding my experience, and they all basically said they realize it was an "evolving" position and we would take it week by week. I asked what my functions would be, and they gave me a skeleton outlline to work from.

There were medical assistants, so I didn't place patients in the office, do vitals and draw blood. Basically I did all the telephone triage, mammogram callbacks/papsmear callbacks and some patient care if the medical asst. was too busy.

It really wasn't for me as I crave patient contact face to face, not phone calls. Did they tell you what you would be doing?

[STNA]

Thanks for all the advice. Well, the office manager called me the other day and said that they gave the job to someone else that morning - After they had officially offered the position to me! Rather than stating my lack of experience, she said that I was overqualified and was hiring a medical assistant. I thought my license was supposed to work for me not against me. Anyway, it I just got an offer from a hospital, so I can't be too upset. I'll probably be better off in a hospital environment: I am a definite people person and I'll have plenty of mentors around.