new to L&D & feeling a little discouraged...

babe48076 · May 14, 2012

I am feeling the same way. I don't know what I am going to do. I am not a quitter, but I am not really happy as I thought I would be.

NurseLeader12 · May 31, 2012

Bless your heart! It's totally normally to experience stress with a position change, and L&D is so specialized that it can be overwhelming when you're new. My best advice is just to hang in there and give it a fair shot before jumping ship. Once you get more comfortable with the unit-specific clinical skills and your role, hopefully you'll be happier. It's a lot of pressure to care for a mama AND the unborn baby inside of her, but it's such a special field, and your patients will forever remember the care you give them. Best of luck!

LaborLandRN · May 31, 2012

Transferring within the maternal child departments is definitely a rough go! Communication styles are different, responsibilities are different, and your confidence gets shaken when you switch spots!

Just a few tips:

--now your patients are well until they prove ill, so relax, they aren't "ill"--enjoy the wellness!

--You were an "expert" as a NICU RN, you will feel shaken to your core becoming a "novice" again--hang in there-you didn't learn to be comfortable in NICU your first week;) it took many months to figure out your "system" and ooze confidence!

--communicate if you need more time on orientation, but remember by that last week or two you might feel more comfortable!

--it is disconcerting how all "over the place" labor and delivery is--I use a special clip board of my own--it has my own checklists for duties and phone numbers to call, special order codes, etc. It is better than my brain on a piece of paper but lets me carry around my daily brain along with all my patient clipboard info...It's bright pink with a flip open compartment so I can store papers, yet can easily wipe it down between patients, shifts, etc. I love checklists :)--they help me feel in control!

--Find the system that works for you to feel like you have all the answers in one place--

--GO EASY ON YOURSELF! You can't play Mozart the first time you sit down at the piano--you start with scales and work your way up--the same is true in L&D--start with the basics

Best Wishes!!

dreamworx07 · Jun 2, 2012

Hi,
Recently transferred over from NICU and feeling a little overwhelmed. I understand this is normal because change isn't easy, it's just not only is there a lot to learn but in general it is such a different atmosphere than what I'm used to. Going from order & structure in one little space, to 'go with the flow', all over the place and the unknown....which I thought was more my personality anyhow?? My orientation so far has very little structure to it and again, I think maybe it's throwing me off because I came from the complete opposite.
I'm going to keep at it because I don't wanna just take the easy way out and quit..I truly wanna know if I was meant to take this path. Maybe only certain personality types can survive it here??
Perhaps someone else has experienced the same...??

L&D is a beast of its own! It is more like working in an ER environment, Not everything (actually very little) is set in stone. You need to watch (assess) your patient (s) constantly and care changes minute to minute, no two Labors are alike. It is stressful most of the time (and if your not stressed/scared) you are in the wrong department. A mother/baby can go bad in an instant. Alot of treatment is based on gut instinct. This field is not for everyone, I can't stress it enough, I would do nothing else though. When I work mother baby, I am bored out of my mind! ?. No offense to m/b nurses, just my preference only!!