Mugwump had a great idea offering services to new grads as a mentor (thank you for that!)
So, I thought having a "sticky" for new grads, OB nurses, students, and others with questions who want to post these can do so here. We also seem to see many of the same questions over and over, so perhaps this would help serve as an ongoing discussion of common issues/questions we all seem to have on our minds. This could serve not just for those asking directly, but others who may be "lurking" and looking for information or considering a career in OB, newborn, GYN nursing, or midwifery, doula services, childbirth education, lactation consulting, or other related work.
So if any mod thinks this is a good idea, mind stickying this?
Let's give this a go and see how it works out. We have many potential "mentors" here among us who, I am sure, would LOVE to help a new nurse/midwife/doula or student on his or her way to a rewarding career. I know I would love to help out!
Hi. I am beginning my fellowship on a post partum unit in just a few weeks. I was wondering if any of you have suggestions for a good stethoscope. I just used a fairly cheap one for nursing school and need a new one. I think the nursery has them there already, but I would definitely be using my own for the mothers. And as long as you are all making recommendations, what about shoes? There are no specific requirements for footwear at the hospital where I will be, so I can get whatever works best for me. I'm really not particular, but I also know that with just a few exceptions, I've not worked full 12 hour shifts yet either, and that makes a huge difference!
Thanks!
Don't buy expensive: no need. They may have them on the unit. We do.
I use an inexpensive Sprague-type stethescope. I use the adult diaphragm on one side and the pediatric or infant bell on the other side. That way, when I'm doing couplets I don't have to go find an infant stethescope.
I'm very heavy and my weight-bearing joints are shot. Berkinstocks are the only shoes I can wear. They're expensive and ugly, but they work for me.
Mugwump had a great idea offering services to new grads as a mentor (thank you for that!)
So, I thought having a "sticky" for new grads, OB nurses, students, and others with questions who want to post these can do so here. We also seem to see many of the same questions over and over, so perhaps this would help serve as an ongoing discussion of common issues/questions we all seem to have on our minds. This could serve not just for those asking directly, but others who may be "lurking" and looking for information or considering a career in OB, newborn, GYN nursing, or midwifery, doula services, childbirth education, lactation consulting, or other related work.
So if any mod thinks this is a good idea, mind stickying this?
Let's give this a go and see how it works out. We have many potential "mentors" here among us who, I am sure, would LOVE to help a new nurse/midwife/doula or student on his or her way to a rewarding career. I know I would love to help out!
Hi all,
I am beginning my first quarter of an ADN program and have been considering becoming a midwife for some time now. What type of schooling is required beyond the ADN? Any other helpful information would be greatly appreciated.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
To be a Certified Nurse Midwife, you will to have your Bachelors' degree (not necessarily nursing---there are advanced placement CNM programs for holders of bachelor degree holders of other disciplines)
And you will need to have your post-bachelor's degree education, namely, MSN in the Certified Nurse Midwife track.
If your goal is to be a CNM, then I would recommend you go for your BSN first. A 4 year university degree will be needed later, anyhow.
okay i am a little bit confussed. i love to watch the health discovery chanel because they give the BIRTH DAY show. i thought the ladies who cleaned the baby and cleaned out their noses and put clothing on them were labor & delivery nurses... im so confussed. i need help on this matter. what are those nurses called?? what does a labor & delivery nurse do and how many years of collage for each is requiered.?
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
OB nurses care for families in labor---and in the postpartum phase. We are a the "eyes and ears" for the doctor or midwife in the hospital setting.
Newborn nurses care for newborns from well to very sick. The very sick or premature babies are in the NICU, cared for by NICU nurses.
GYN nurses care for post-operative gyn patients in the hospital setting, or work in dr. offices as GYN nurses. I do OB/NEWBORN/GYN nursing, all of it, and love it, in the hospital setting.
Doulas specifically support families in labor and delivery. see http://www.dona.org for more information. They may or may not be nurses, but their whole job is to care for the family during the birthing process. Theirs is not a nursing or medical role, but they are very specially-trained and equipped to help families enjoy their birth experiences, both in and out of a hospital setting.
Childbirth educators conduct training and classes regarding the childbirth processes for expectant couples/families. They teach about labor/delivery, pain managment and responses, the roles of supportive partners in the labor/delivery experience and often, beginning breastfeeding/newborn care. They are often certified and again, may or may not be nurses themselves.
Lactation consultants are VERY highly trained and specialized to help families with breastfeeding issues and problems. Their certifications/preparations are intense and include 1000s of hours in training/teaching families in many settings how to effective breastfeed and overcome a number of issues such as prematurity, cleft lip/palate problems, poor feeders/growers, etc. They may or may not be nurses, also.
Certified Nurse Midwives are advance practice nurses who have had post-bachelor's degree training to be midwives at the master-degree level. Again, they have had 1000s of hours of intensive hands-on training and experience in the birth setting with a variety of families in school. They are often "backed up" by obstetricians with csection priveleges and can either practice in the hospital, home or free-standing birth center venue. They are also excellent care providers who have medication prescriptive authority in most states and provide well-woman care in a variety of ways to include, menopause management, prenatal care, labor/delivery, breastfeeding issues, and patient self-care education.
Hope this helps???
AND NO you are NOT bothering me! I am glad to help.
Is there anything you can do for a woman once she's been exposed to Rh pos blood (and developed antibodies) during her pregnancy? From my understanding, Rhogam only prevents sensitization from happening- but once you are sensitized, it can't help you.
Also, are there any pain meds that are safe to give mom during labor if the fetus is having decels?
Once a woman is sensitized, future pregnancies need to be closely monitored. If the baby is negative, there's no problem. (An Rh positive man can father Rh negative babies if he is heterozygous--one positive gene and one negative gene. Positive is dominant, so he will be positive, but he can donate either a positive or a negative gene to a child)
If the baby is positive, frequent ultrasound and amniocentesis will give the perinatologist (this is a situation where the very highest level of care is needed) information about the baby's condition. When necessary, the baby can get a blood transfusion in utero. A long, thin needle is inserted throught the mother's abdominal wall and uterine wall into the baby's cord and the baby is transfused with red blood cells that have been cross matched to the mother. This is repeated as often as necessary until the baby reaches a gestational age where it is safe to deliver it.
RhoGam may be given to slow the mother's production of antibodies, but once her body knows how to make the antibodies it will make them, and any Rh positive baby will be affected.
okay i am a little bit confussed. i love to watch the health discovery chanel because they give the BIRTH DAY show. i thought the ladies who cleaned the baby and cleaned out their noses and put clothing on them were labor & delivery nurses... im so confussed. i need help on this matter. what are those nurses called?? what does a labor & delivery nurse do and how many years of collage for each is requiered.?
BETSRN
1,378 Posts
Don't buy expensive: no need. They may have them on the unit. We do.