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!
I would definatly give it time. Lets put it this way I was an APU ***** for 5 years before I was a L&D *****. Magnesaium, preterm labor EFM all things i was used to. I just recently got over being scarred everytime I went into work. (I swear if i was a new grad I would have been petrified) The whole baby thing scares me.
Hi everyone! I am new here too! I am currently living my dream of working as a Labor & Delivery nurse:1luvu: . I just graduated a year and a half ago and have been doing L & D for almost a year (six months on my own!)....Here's my dilemma....after almost a year, I am still scared to death when I go to work! We have lot's of high risk patients, (Insulin dependent GDM, plus PIH on multiple drips etc.!!) and I am still just so nervous about something going wrong. I think I'm doing ok, but recently I have been thinking of switching to another area of nursing because I get so scared and I think it's starting to take a toll on me personally. I have talked to several seasoned L & D nurses who say this is normal and it takes about 2 years to feel really comfortable. What's your opinion? Do you think it takes two years? I don't know if I can handle another year like this!!
So glad to have found this website! Lot's of great info.
OMG!!! I thought I was the only one experiencing this! I'm a new nurse (only one year now) and I've been in L&D for seven months, one month on my own. I was just telling some of my coworkers yesterday that even when I am at home on my days off I can't stop thinking about work. There are some days that I will just sit and read my maternity text book to try and reinforce everything I'm learning on a daily basis. Even getting a good nights sleep can be difficult because after a tough day I spend the entire night dreaming about the hospital so it feels like I never really leave there. Don't get me wrong...I love what I do. There are just some days that the impact of having lives in my hands is extremely overwhelming. I also work with many high risk patients and also high numbers of patients, there are some days when we can have three or four laboring patients.
MamaMadge, thanks so much for voicing what I am feeling :blushkiss :yelclap: :thankya: It's always nice to know you're not alone. :balloons: :balloons: :balloons:
Thanks for your replies everyone! It makes me feel better too NYCRN05 to know that I am not alone! There is strength in numbers! In a few years, we will be the ones comforting new L & D nurses! Well, I'm off to work tonight for the long night (Fall Back) so working 13 hours tonight instead of 12! Wish me luck! and THANKS again!
i'm a relatively new ob nurse, and i've spent a fair amount of time in search of reading material or even seminars to attend regarding ob, documentation practices, and litigation issues. so far, i haven't been able to find anything. i've just heard enough horror stories regarding ob nurses having to go to court, and i just want to learn about ways to perfect my charting and protect myself as an ob nurse. any recommendations would be appreciated!
Hi all! Well I am new to this site, and very excited to find such an awesome resource! I am a Junior I student in Michigan, and I was just wondering how any of you felt in your other nursing clinicals? I am FASCINATED by anything pregnancy-related, but I quite honestly really dislike everything I have learned so far in nursing. My OB clinicals are next semester, so hopefully things will change, but I really wonder if nursing is for me. I have wanted to drop so many times, but everytime I see a pregnant woman, I am in awe of the wonder of pregnancy and know I want my life work somehow dealing with mothers. So, can anyone tell me, am I doing the right thing? Is nursing the best option to work in pregnancy, even if I sincerely hate my other clinicals??
Hello all, I am a current nursing student and am doing a group presentation on OB nursing and all it encompasses. I am wondering if there is anything that I need to know about this field that I might not be able to get from a book or the internet. Plus does anyone know of any websites that deal with OB nursing excusively.
Hi, I am Tae. I graduated in May 2006 with my BSN and I went right to work on an OB floor in a level 3 perinatal center. I did my OB clinical in a very small rural hospital where it seemed as if all pts. were happy, healthy, and problem free. There were not the health issues that I am dealing with now. We have a lot of sick, high risk women having babies. I had no idea what I was getting my self into. In fact, the hospital I did my clincals at send all their pts. who are not happy, healthy and problem free to the hospital I now work at :chuckle What a wake up call. Anyway, I had a wonderful orientation but there was so much information to learn. Is there a book or some kind of reference any of you can recommend. My maternal-health textbook from school only briefly covers some of the bigger issues. I learn and remember better when I read it for myself. The nurses are great, but when I hear a test that needs to be ordered, or a result, or diagnosis that I am not familiar with, I want to read about it. Then I will remember for next time. It keeps my head spinning but I have to admit I LOVE this job! Thanks for any suggestions.
Specializes in primary care, pediatrics, OB/GYN, NICU.
OMG!!! I thought I was the only one experiencing this! I'm a new nurse (only one year now) and I've been in L&D for seven months, one month on my own. I was just telling some of my coworkers yesterday that even when I am at home on my days off I can't stop thinking about work. There are some days that I will just sit and read my maternity text book to try and reinforce everything I'm learning on a daily basis. Even getting a good nights sleep can be difficult because after a tough day I spend the entire night dreaming about the hospital so it feels like I never really leave there. Don't get me wrong...I love what I do. There are just some days that the impact of having lives in my hands is extremely overwhelming. I also work with many high risk patients and also high numbers of patients, there are some days when we can have three or four laboring patients.
MamaMadge, thanks so much for voicing what I am feeling :blushkiss :yelclap: :thankya: It's always nice to know you're not alone. :balloons: :balloons: :balloons:
I am not a new nurse, but I sure feel like one. I finally transferred to a new hospital and LDRP unit, something I have always wanted to do. I feel just like you all who are posting about feeling scared every day you go to work. ME TOO! I hate feeling like this. It's like being a student or new grad all over again! I started in September, had a few days of PP and then started doing L & D. Scary. We are a high risk center and never know what's going to walk in the door. I didn't realize what a high percentage of challenging/critical cases were brought here! I feel fairly comfortable with PP, but L & D I feel as if I know NOTHING at all. I don't have the same preceptor every day and that makes it even harder. Most of them are lovely, but a few make me want to tear my hair out. They either hover over my every move and are talking nonstop so I can barely think about what I'm doing....or they say "let me know if you have any questions." and plop down in a chair with a newspaper....assuming I know more than I do! There's one I work with who is just right in how she works with me, and thankfully I work with her every other weekend. Those days I learn and do SO much. Thanks for listening to me rant. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like this.
Welcome to OB! It is scary at first and at times it's still scary later on. One of the things I had to work thru in my mind was that it's not up to me who lives and who dies. It's God's responsibility. That sounds harsh, but it's what I had to do to keep coming back to work. It's my responsibility to be alert to any signs given by Mom or Babe that a problem is developing and respond appropriatly. The rest is up to God.
I've seen everyone do everything right and still have the mom and/or baby die. I've seen times when the doctors and nurses all made lots of mistakes and still everyone came thru it healthy and happy. Just do the best you can.
Join your professional organization, AWHONN. Read your professional journals and attend conferences. If you're in a teaching hospital, pick the brains of the residents and attendings. Why did they do this thing rather than that thing. How does this medication or procedure work.
Be proactive in your orientation. If a preceptor is too hands off, tell her you want closer supervision. Tell the one who talks too much that you'd like to do it on your own and ask her to discuss it with you afterwards and only interrupt you while you're doing it if you are doing something wrong. It's your responsibility to get the orientation you need. You can tell preceptors how you learn best without it coming out as criticism of their teaching style.
Just wondering what departments in OB/GYN have the most vacancies usually I want to work in that department when I graduate and I also wondered do most people want to work in that department or is the demand in other departments
I can't really figure out how to work the "posting",(what does this reveal about my computer skills??), but I am really interested in a direct entry certified nurse midwife program at OHSU in Portland, Oregon. Is any one in this program now? I've been a photographer for 20 years and have photographed 6 births and I was truly amazed to be part of this process, and I am wanting to do work that feels more emtionally grounded and necessary, to be a stronger part of the community. I'd like to work especially to make sure that young, poorer, moms have the chance to have a good birth experience. Because I have a fine arts background, I"m just starting the pre-reqs and will apply for 2008 entry. Are there any folks in this program who would be willing to talk with me--via email, or over a cup of tea? any other people--like me --just beginning the transition from another career? If you live in Portland I'd love a "buddy". Is being a CNM too physically demanding for someone who will be in their early 50's when done? Do you love your work? (most important question!) and, can this career work with raising kids?
thanks for all your time in reading this--and happy holidays to everyone!
I would urge you to reconsider direct entry. I, as well as several CNM programs, believe that to be a successful nurse midwife you should have a background as a nurse. There are essential skills in your practice as a "nurse" midwife that you have to learn practicing as a nurse. Not to mention earning the right to market yourself as a competent, experienced professional with the respect of your colleagues. I urge you to consider the fastest route to an RN, either an associate degree program or Accelerated BSN program (if you already have a bachelors in something else), get your RN and work in Labor and Delivery while completing your CNM program. I guarantee you'll be the best provider you can be with this course. I don't mean to rain on your parade but I have seen some disasterous results and some extremely wonderful CNMs as a result of the proper preparation, education and work experience. Good Luck!
:yelclap: :thankya: It's always nice to know you're not alone. :balloons: :balloons: :balloons:
mugwump
245 Posts
I would definatly give it time. Lets put it this way I was an APU ***** for 5 years before I was a L&D *****. Magnesaium, preterm labor EFM all things i was used to. I just recently got over being scarred everytime I went into work. (I swear if i was a new grad I would have been petrified) The whole baby thing scares me.