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!
hey guys Im in nursing school and doing a community project about prenatal care. My group's focus is on high risk pregnancies such as young mothers, drug abusers, alcohol abusers and smokers. I need community opinions about this subject. The teacher is not very specific about the info he wants except "what the community perceives as the problem". Could anyone give me some opinions to include? :chair:
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I would ask the teacher for more specifics...this is WAY to broad to cover in ONE project or paper, worded like this. I would LOVE to help, but need a bit more information to guide you in the right direction, if you please.
Hi everybody, I have a question I hope someone can help me with. I am a new nurse, I've been training in L&D for about 7 weeks now. Up to this point I've been strictly orienting with laboring patients; however, next week I will start learning to scrub in on c-sections and I am TERRIFIED! I was wondering if anyone has any hints on how to remember the names of all these instruments that look alike to me!! Any helpful hints on learning how to scrub? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!!
Heather
Heather, I am a new Grad in L&D, we circulate but don't scrub in. We have surgical techs that scrub in. What has helped me TREMENDOUSLY is going back with the surgical techs to count trays. In our facility an RN needs to sign the count sheet before the instrument trays go down to CSS to be sterilized. If your facility does that I highly recommend always volunteering to count trays with the techs.
If your facilty doesn't do that, when you have some down time see if someone can go over the instruments with you. The more you are exposure you have the more proficient you will become.
Of course since this was posted almost two months ago, I bet you are an old pro by now. :chuckle
The world of birth has beckoned me for several years. i have a holistic doula and lay midwifery background which I am currently integrating with a RN degree.
My first clinical rotation worked out beautifully to be ob/peds. i feel inspired and trustworthy that i would like to pursue a CNM degree, despite warnings from teachers to take time in deciding a speciality. RN is a second degree for me, and i am a bit older (later 20's) than most of my junior classmates.
All of these factors infuence my future education and career plans.
I know first semeter of jr. year is early to make any concrete career plans, but school will whiz by and I want to consider summer apprenticeship plans.
I pose my question to the experienced and nubian nurses among you... when is too early to decide to specialize in Midwifery/L&D? Did you as a L&D nurse or CNM always have a deep intuition that BIRTH is where you wanted to practice? What are the best ways for me to pursue this path and gain a realistic view into the CNM/L&D nursing world?
What about calling your local health department, ask for the community care nurse and explain your project and ask THEM what they percieve the challenge to be in the community at this time? Then you would have a professional opinion of a health care provider in the community setting. You could also contact Planned Parenthood, the social work department of your community, and church outreach organizations, in particular Catholic Outreach Charities. As you talk to these professionals, remember to ask them, "Who else, in your opinion, would have first hand knowledge of this topic in our community?" Get that person or departments contact information, or look it up and guess what? You haven't even left the room and your project only needs to be written. Run (what should be by now, your numerous ideas) past your instructor and you should get Brownie Points for initiative! Then ask your instructor for input.Of course, you could ask your instructor immediately for help and clarification. But the I have had instructors before who love to assign unspecific assignments in order to encourage you to problem solve. They don't like to field questions until you have formulated some ideas to explore. Only you will know what kind of instructor you have. Good luck~! You can nail this!!
I am 43 and a new graduate and RN (YEAH-75 questions!!) Anyways, I have been offered a L&D position (which is the job I wanted) in a small hospital. I am VERY excited. I would like some advice. This hospital, because they are small, has about 10 beds on the L&D floor. On that same floor, they have mother/baby, the nursery-though I was told babies who are getting better stay, those getting sicker are "out of here", C-sections are done on the floor, over flow woman's surgery comes to the floor, big sister and big brother classes are done there and there is a porta cabin outside used to do community outreach, ie pregnancy tests, weigh ins etc. The floor nurses rotate between all the areas. I think this will be a great area for me and there is so much going on but.....
My question is, What do I concentrate on first? I guess I'm looking for any advise that any of you more experienced nurses have. Thanks!:uhoh21: :balloons:
Hello. I had a question regarding internal fetal scalp monitors. Is it only legal for physicians and nurse midwives to attach a internal fetal scalp monitor or can nurses perform this task?? If a nurse can, is it only certain hospital that won't allow a nurse to perform this task?
I have been working with them (health dept. planned parenthood ect.) I have found however that people are not as generous as I had hoped to help when it comes to nursing school projects. They seem to "run the other way" I just thought that this chat room was adding to the information I could gather.
Alright new to L&D feel like I need to be more "anal" in my writing down. I hate to feel like I'm "going to mommy" when I go to my preceptor to see if what I've written is OK (I know thats her job and mine to learn just having a hard time with not knowing and forgetting what to write) so to combat this I am going to make a "cheat sheat" of things that i want to make sure I document for delivery/recovery for instance pt in sturups pt out of stirups, foley dc'd pt peri care done etc.... What things do you make sure you chart on. That way I can make a "reminder list" instead of trying to remember what i've done (Charting as I do it is not really an option right now)
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I am 43 and a new graduate and RN (YEAH-75 questions!!) Anyways, I have been offered a L&D position (which is the job I wanted) in a small hospital. I am VERY excited. I would like some advice. This hospital, because they are small, has about 10 beds on the L&D floor. On that same floor, they have mother/baby, the nursery-though I was told babies who are getting better stay, those getting sicker are "out of here", C-sections are done on the floor, over flow woman's surgery comes to the floor, big sister and big brother classes are done there and there is a porta cabin outside used to do community outreach, ie pregnancy tests, weigh ins etc. The floor nurses rotate between all the areas. I think this will be a great area for me and there is so much going on but.....
My question is, What do I concentrate on first? I guess I'm looking for any advise that any of you more experienced nurses have. Thanks!:uhoh21: :balloons:
I think it is great......LDRP is what I trained and what I do today. I would, if you have a choice, start in PP or Mother-baby care first. Learn your trade, caring for healthy couplets for a while---then move on to Labor/Delivery and eventually , special care of nursery babies. I also learned how to care for post-op GYN patients along the way.
I hope the place you will work has a really good and long orientation for new people-----and buddy system. If so, you will do fine.
Again, LDRP is the way to go, for me. I wish you the best of luck and plesae keep us updated on how it goes!!! Congrats on graduating and welcome to OB/GYN nursing.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Hello. I had a question regarding internal fetal scalp monitors. Is it only legal for physicians and nurse midwives to attach a internal fetal scalp monitor or can nurses perform this task?? If a nurse can, is it only certain hospital that won't allow a nurse to perform this task?
Thank you in advance.
Really depends on where you work. Check w/the policies/procedures of your hospital----and your state nurse practice acts. Where I am, not only is it legal, but we are expected to place our own internal monitors, to include FSE and IUPC--once trained and certified competent by our preceptor. In the end, it's up to the hospital and its policies, as to WHO places internal monitors.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
My first posting, hope this works!
The world of birth has beckoned me for several years. i have a holistic doula and lay midwifery background which I am currently integrating with a RN degree.
My first clinical rotation worked out beautifully to be ob/peds. i feel inspired and trustworthy that i would like to pursue a CNM degree, despite warnings from teachers to take time in deciding a speciality. RN is a second degree for me, and i am a bit older (later 20's) than most of my junior classmates.
All of these factors infuence my future education and career plans.
I know first semeter of jr. year is early to make any concrete career plans, but school will whiz by and I want to consider summer apprenticeship plans.
I pose my question to the experienced and nubian nurses among you... when is too early to decide to specialize in Midwifery/L&D? Did you as a L&D nurse or CNM always have a deep intuition that BIRTH is where you wanted to practice? What are the best ways for me to pursue this path and gain a realistic view into the CNM/L&D nursing world?
Thanks for your advice!
It is not too early at all. Some of us KNEW before even entering nursing school what our calling was. It sounds like you do, too. If you want to specialize, then go for it. NEVER TOO EARLY. Try to get experience as an L/D nurse before you go onto CNM/nurse midwifery. The experience you gain will be so useful on that path. GO FOR IT!
mkc7573
5 Posts
hey guys Im in nursing school and doing a community project about prenatal care. My group's focus is on high risk pregnancies such as young mothers, drug abusers, alcohol abusers and smokers. I need community opinions about this subject. The teacher is not very specific about the info he wants except "what the community perceives as the problem". Could anyone give me some opinions to include? :chair: