New OB Nurses, Grads and Students, Please Feel Free to post your questions here:

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

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! Congrats on your interview. I am taking my boards next week and have a job (start in July) in a Maternity unit. That makes an easier transition into L&D but I would say be glad you have an interview for L&D!!! In terms of reviewing I would go over all your NCLEX OB/LD materials and it will remind you of all the stages of labor, complications, medications, interventions that are necessary to know! That is the important stuff... Know the theory behind it and you will be a fast learner!! GO in there confident. They've seen your resume...and are considering YOU for the job :) Good luck!!!

Specializes in L&D.

Hello everyone! I just graduated last month with my ADN and am starting next week as new RN in L&D:yeah:. I have to say that L&D is my passion and the main reason why I decided to become an RN and I am very fortunate and grateful to actually get to start my career in that field. I want to say good luck to all of you who are pursuing careers in this field and hope there are some seasoned nurses around here to help us along the way.

Specializes in OB.

It's nice to see several others in my boat. I graduated in May also, and will be starting in the OB unit in August. My unit you rotate thru all, L & D, postpartum and nursery. So I guess I'll get to see it all! I can't wait!

Specializes in Home Health & Med-Surg.

Hi! I was recently accepted to an ADN program :yeah:(yaaayyy!), and though I ultimately want to be a lactation consultant, I am interested in various aspects of women's reproductive health. Does anyone know if birthing centers hire RNs? I have had 2 "traditional" hospital births, where I had an epidural with both, and my first was an induction- but looking back, I feel it was too "medical." I really hope I don't sound too dumb.. I volunteer with La Leche League (working on Leadership Accreditation) and I have learned a lot about more naturalized birthing processes. Any info is greatly appreciated!

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
Hi! I was recently accepted to an ADN program :yeah:(yaaayyy!), and though I ultimately want to be a lactation consultant, I am interested in various aspects of women's reproductive health. Does anyone know if birthing centers hire RNs? I have had 2 "traditional" hospital births, where I had an epidural with both, and my first was an induction- but looking back, I feel it was too "medical." I really hope I don't sound too dumb.. I volunteer with La Leche League (working on Leadership Accreditation) and I have learned a lot about more naturalized birthing processes. Any info is greatly appreciated!

A lot of birthing centers hire RNs - as a matter of fact I would would go so far as to say most or all do. I'm sure the specific requirements may vary between them but I know the couple birthing centers relatively close to where I am they hire RNs. :) Good luck.

Specializes in Home Health & Med-Surg.
A lot of birthing centers hire RNs - as a matter of fact I would would go so far as to say most or all do. I'm sure the specific requirements may vary between them but I know the couple birthing centers relatively close to where I am they hire RNs. :) Good luck.

Thank you very much for responding to me!:heartbeat Do you have any idea how I could go about researching what they look for in a new hire, so I can try to become that person? I'm working in med/surg as a patient care tech now, so I will have acute care experience, but not exactly in nursing. I just don't know where to start! There doesn't appear to be much info out there...

Specializes in High-risk OB, Labor & Delivery.

hello!

i’m a first-year nursing student who is really interested in pursuing l&d nursing after graduation (next year).

from what i gather, l&d appears to be pretty competitive and highly sought-after. in fact, there are no open positions in l&d (or post-partum) at any of the hospitals i have looked into (hey, i thought there was a nursing shortage here!). i have already looked at three of the largest hospitals in my county.

does anyone have any tips or suggestions that would enhance my ability to obtain an l&d position by the time i graduate?

i was thinking of doing a doula training program and/or volunteering at a local birthing hospital (but they would probably have me doing clerical work). what else should/can i do?

thank you :heartbeat

Hi I am new to this forum. I am a recent ADN grad, May 08. And I just found out that I passed my boards!!

I was hired for postpartum at a local area hospital. I am thrilled to be working in the area of my choice! I will be on postpartum but also cross-trained for well baby nursery and NICU. I can also transfer to L&D after 6 months if I choose. But so far I LOVE postpartum!!

Hi Mommybess,

Many congratulations on your RN..:yeah::up::nurse:

okay quick question,

When is it okay to take a B/P on a newborn? It is not part of the inital assessment? I understand that one needs to check for circulation in limbs by pulses, radial and pedial R/L. (absent, weak, normal, full bounding).

My book does not a specific age in days or hrs. My powerpoint says B/P 80/60/45-40 mmHg. But what time does this need to be done?

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
okay quick question,

When is it okay to take a B/P on a newborn? It is not part of the inital assessment? I understand that one needs to check for circulation in limbs by pulses, radial and pedial R/L. (absent, weak, normal, full bounding).

My book does not a specific age in days or hrs. My powerpoint says B/P 80/60/45-40 mmHg. But what time does this need to be done?

Perhaps other facilities are different, but we do not generally do BPs on newborns. I can count on one hand the number of times we've done BPs, In all cases there was some cardiovascular issue that needed investigating, and in all cases we did BP on all 4 extremities.

In a normal healthy newborn, it's not been my experience that there's a need to do this. Our nursery documentation flowsheet does not even have a space for BP documentation.

thx for the reply. yea at clinicals there is not a spot for it on their assessment forms, and their inital assessment just check circulation/ pulses X 4 extrem. At what age on a child is the approiate age for a bp? understanding if done, bp cuff on leg, right? this is just from curitosity bc i dont have kids, so i dunno. plus we have to know normals for newborn, 1yr, 2yr, 3yr, etc , and being a hands on type of person, i wondered when is it okay to start BP. kinda funny you need to know all the b/ps but dont really take it.

I know curitosity killed the cat, sometimes when you start putting all the information together, something dont click. it kinda difficult to put it all together when your not sure actually when to do it, but you know the numbers. lol

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