New OB nurse 2 be. Would love advice.

[ImaEMT]

I'm soon to start nursing school and hope to work OB when I'm done. I work for a very small hospital that gives exceptional 1 on 1 nursing care to laboring moms. I just delivered there ( my second baby),and it was a world of difference in care from my first delivery at another hospital! I really aspire to be able to be there for my moms as much as my nurses were for me.

I'm also a childbirth educator and I teach with a very open attitude about childbirth. If a mom wants meds during delivery, I will tell her all she wants to know about it. If she wants an unmedicated birth, we'll talk about that as well. I try not to be "radical" in teaching "natural" delivery, but like to think of the birth as the mother's experience, not mine, and she should be well informed of all decisions. I try and emphasize safe practices, well managed use of medical interventions ( not overuse), and making informed decisions.

Do any of you have any advice on how to continue learning about OB while I'm in school? I feel I have a very good grasp on birth, positioning, (the childbirth educator stuff), but I know a lot less about the nursing aspect of it. How did you learn what was best to do for your patients? I see the reading list on another post and will definetly check out some of those books. But, I'd love any advice on what specifically to read, watch, observe, etc..

How did you learn to comfort your laboring moms and deal with their pain?

How did you become efficient in emergency procedures, care of the newborn, ets?

Is there a special certification for OB nurses like there is for oncology, ER, etc?

TIA!

Lisa

[SmilingBluEyes]

A couple of things come to mind right off the bat:

Join AWHONN--- see: http://www.awhonn.org By joining, you will be able to be associated with the professional organization by whose standards we OB nurses/doctors practice. You will also receive the professional journal, discussing current subject/studies/literature in OB/Newborn/GYN nursing. Definately worth it.

Another idea: You can become a certified doula if you have the time before school starts:

http://www.dona.org Great way to enhance your knowledge and ability to support families in labor.

Also if you do not already have it, NRP certification is handy if you plan to work on an OB floor. Most places require we obtain this within 3-6 months of employment....I am not sure if you, as an EMT, already have this. IF not , keep this in mind.

Also, yes we can become certified in our specialities in OB/newborn nursing. We can earn certification in Neonatal ICU nursing, Inpatient Obstetric Nursing, Fetal Heart Monitoring, High Risk Obstetrics, just to name a couple. The title is RN, C once achieved and it requires continuing education to maintain certification. See:

http://www.nccnet.org/public/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

for more information regarding this. Of course, you must be an RN in OB/newborn nursing with a certain number of hours of experience before pursuing this certification, but the site will give you some info that may be useful to you.

Hope this helps.

Also, see the recommended reading sticky at the top of the OB threads....lots of books out there to further educate and stimulate your mind regarding OB/midwifery subjects. I wish you the best!