New OB Nurse

Published

Specializes in Transitional Care.

I am a brand new nurse that was just recently hired into a birth center. We are trained to do L&D, mother/baby, and gyns. I am about one month into my orientation. I feel like I am struggling a lot with learning everything I need to do. I have been in L&D for most of my orientation. I feel more comfortable with recovering mom and baby and with the labor process. BUT when it comes time for a delivery I feel as though I do not really know what my role is supposed to be. Any advice or suggestions from labor nurses about what I can do to feel more comfortable in my role? What are important things for me to remember during the delivery?

One more thing. I am very hard on myself and when I do not do something right or I forget something I tend to agonize over it. I find myself having anxiety the night before my next day of work, fearing that I will do something wrong again. Any advice for overcoming my anxiety and/ or perfectionism?

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The thing with OB is the more time and experience you get, the more comfortable you get!!! I was strictly a MED SURG, ER, Step-down nurse, before I attempted OB!! It's been 1 1/2 yrs and I still get nervous when it comes to a birth. You just have to remember, that the doctor is always there and believe it or not......if something does go wrong....they do step in to help!!! Nurses aren't perfect!!! You gain knowledge from mistakes!!! You have to learn to gain what you can out of them and move on or it will eat you alive. I believe the most rewarding part of OB is being part of God's creation. It is the most natural thing and is a miracle everytime!! See the good, not the bad!!! Good luck!!

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Specializes in ICU.

I want to work in OB. :)) sigh...

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Me too....:redpinkhe:redpinkhe

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I'm a seasoned LDRP nurse with 16years having worked with both low & high risk patients and units that range from 50 - 250 deliveries a month.

It is a lot of information to learn, comprehend in the beginning but it does get easier. When I first graduated from nursing school 17years, it was rare to have a new graduate in labor & delivery but I guess times have changed.

I believe one of the reason you are having difficult is because, you are being trained on 3 separate area(L&D, GYN, mother & baby). My first womens health job was in a L&D unit where pregnant patients labored, delivered, recovered in a private suite, and transfered to the postpartum unit after an hour of recovery.

Ceserean sections were performed in the operating room, recovered in the recovery area and transfered to postpartum. Magnesium sulfate patients stayed on the unit for 24hours post delivery and transfered to pp.

Personally, I prefer the LD setup but I have seen a shift from strictly L&D unit to labor, delivery, postpartum units but I have not worked in a unit as the one you described.

A lot of my OB colleagues and friends prefer the scenario I described above. For the past 3years, I've been working in a LDRP unit where we labor, recover and the patients remain on the unit with us until discharge. But the nursery nurses are responsbile for newborn after the initial assessment and transition following delivery.

One piece of advice I can offer is to learn from everyone including the patient care assistant if your unit have them. In my opinion, it takes 2-3years to feel comfortable but remember you are not going to learn everything while on orientation.

I wish you much success

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I have worked in OB for 25 years. I totally agree with the above post. I think it takes a couple of years to feel "comfortable" in your different roles. I have to also say that you must always feel a little "anxious" at all deliveries regardless of your role and you must always be prepared for the worst..and THAT will make you a good nurse. Even the most perfect of situations and end up with the worst complications and disasters so read, study, take in everything that you can and you will be a terrific OB nurse

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me three!

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I'm a new grad also, so I don't have years of experience to give you. But I know how you feel about agonizing over messing up, I do the same thing. I think the advice I would give you is to see such instances as learning opportunities instead of "mistakes". There is no way you can go in and know everything, that's a fact. You will do much better if you go easier on yourself and open your mind to learning. Learn from your past, but focus on your future. You will be a great nurse!!

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I don't have any advice just wanted to add to the support that you're definitely not alone :) Also being new I can imagine the anxiety that comes with it but I suppose we also need to give ourselves credit realizing we are learning and one of the many ways to learn something is through a mistake.

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I want to work in OB. :)) sigh...

I would love to as well !! I envy all of you that get first jobs after graduating in the NICU, L&D, MBU, etc...

I second the *sigh* ;)

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