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 am a new OB nurse (High Risk Antepartum/Postpartum) and I am about to start week 5 of 12 of orientation. I recently cared for a patient with preeclampsia who had been treated with magnesium. She is a healthcare professional but not in the OB field. She was questioning why she was not being given a diuretic to treat her BLE edema. I know that diuretics are ineffective antepartum and have not seen them prescribed postpartum. I explained that they were not commonly prescribed and that her body would naturally diurese but I felt bad that I could not give her an explanation that satisfied her. My preceptor told me (not the pt) a diuretic would most likely not be prescribed unless the pt developed other complications, such as pulmonary edema.
Does anyone have a suggestion of how I could have approached this? I do not want to insult a pt's intelligence but I also do not want to overstep my boundaries in giving an explanation....
Any thoughts would be much appreciated, especially as I am sure I will be in this situation again at some point!
Maybe someone else will have a better explanation.
When I assess my mom's I always tell them about the increase in matenal blood volume during pgy and to not be alarmed should they develop new or increased BLE. I tell them that this is normal and that body will diurese and that it will resolve within a couple days.
For your patient I think a simple explanation of the increase in blood volume during pgy and that the body simply shifts the fluid around (in some cases) causing BLE until the woman can diurese the excess fluid should be sufficient. I'd explain that a diuretic (esp. thiazides) would also interfere with lactation and are that diuretics are excreted into breastmilk. I'd also explain that unless the woman was still hypertensive due to fluid volume overload the use of diuretics could cause the woman to diurese too much since the body is already in diurese mode.
FYI: The use of diuretics in antepartum period also causes placental insufficency, thus the reason they are also not used for PIH.
I'm new here so I figured I'd put a post in! I'm a brand-new nursing student (think taking pre-reqs)! I actually start the program in Fall of 09. I have a small amount of medical background as an EMT, but that's it. I know that I really want to be a L&D nurse. I've already spoke to the hospital that I'm interested (actually the hosp I had my son at) and kind of know the procedure. But I'm nervous about getting in. They do hire new grads at the hosp's birth center, so I know I'm ok there...it's just a long road! Not really a question, sorry, but thanks for listening!
I have a quick question regarding the progestin in oral contraceptives. It is my understanding that progesterone enables and sustains pregnancy, in part, because it makes the endometrium more hospitable by increasing the mucsosa's supply of glycogen, blood, etc. However, progestin is used in the pill to make the endometrium less hospitable (creates an "atrophic endometrium") and is also used with estrogen therapy to decrease endometrial hypertrophy. These two facts seem to contradict one another. How does progestin (the synthetic of progesterone) have the opposite effect on the endometrium?
Progestin, the synthethic form of progesterone, works by suppressing ovulation and by increasing/thickening the cervical mucous so that sperm can not enter the uterus. Just incase an egg does get released...
Progesterone levels, the body's natural hormone, increases throughout pregnancy and does just what you mentioned, to help support the pregnancy. It also increase/thickens the cervical mucous (aka mucous plug) during pregnancy and suppresses ovulation...
I am a public health nurse turned CNM student interested in going into L & D nursing while in school. I am interested to know what are some good questions to ask the Nurse Manager of the L & D unit during a job interview? Thanks!
Hello all. I have a quick question regarding an upcoming L&D interview for a residency program this week. I am a new grad passed NCLEX and have an opportunity to interview for a position in the hospitals L&D unit. This would be my first interview so i am very nervous and not sure how to prepare, i have no experience as a tech and the only period i "worked" L&D is during clinicals in nursing school. For those that started out in this specialty area straight from nursing school, what was the interview like and how should i prepare without sounding reheorificed? Thanks
I am a 3rd semester nursing student taking OB right now. I have a question that I cannot find an answer to and hope someone here might can help me out.
A multipara who receved 50 mg of Demerol 1 hour ago suddnly begins to hemorrhage and requires an immediate cesarean secton. What meds to you use, what nursing considerations do you use, and what non-pharmacologic suggestions do you have??
Please help, I have been trying to find this information for hours and I know that each facility has its own protocols so I thought someone here might could share their experiences.
Specializes in Mother-Baby & Community/Public Health.
Hi! i have a question, i am goin gto the university of central florida this fall with a pre-nursing major to get my BSN in nursing. I want to work in labor/delivery, but dont mistake me, i dont want to be a midwife, but how long does it takeonce you get your BSN to get into that program and working in the hospitals working in L&D? is there a program i have to go thru after the i get my BSN?? thanks so much, i just want to know what my path is for me and what i should plan for, im so excited!
Hey flipflop,
I just graduated from the Accelerated BSN class this past August from UCF. I was at first interested in L&D, but now have found that I prefer Mother-Baby (postpartum) instead. I am hoping to get a job at Winnie Palmer Hospital, but I know both hospitals are willing to take new grads into L&D if they have positions available. I have been persistent about getting into Mother-Baby and had an interview this past friday and I am hoping to get a call from HR within the next few days. My advice is if that's where you want to be, be persistent in trying to find out the names of the nurse manager and asst. nurse manager to get an interview. I would also try to contact the specific HR recruiter as well. This is what I did and hopefully it will pay off in the next few days. You can also try to start working as a tech on this floor so you can get your foot in the door.
Hey Im Actually Starting To Look Into Going To Nursing School I Ahveand One Of My Main Interest Is Working With The Ob Department? Is It A Good Career Choice And What Requiremnets Do I Need To Have For The Future? I Have No Clue And Confused!!! Some One Plz Respond
Maybe someone else will have a better explanation.
cubbynurse
39 Posts
I am a new OB nurse (High Risk Antepartum/Postpartum) and I am about to start week 5 of 12 of orientation. I recently cared for a patient with preeclampsia who had been treated with magnesium. She is a healthcare professional but not in the OB field. She was questioning why she was not being given a diuretic to treat her BLE edema. I know that diuretics are ineffective antepartum and have not seen them prescribed postpartum. I explained that they were not commonly prescribed and that her body would naturally diurese but I felt bad that I could not give her an explanation that satisfied her. My preceptor told me (not the pt) a diuretic would most likely not be prescribed unless the pt developed other complications, such as pulmonary edema.
Does anyone have a suggestion of how I could have approached this? I do not want to insult a pt's intelligence but I also do not want to overstep my boundaries in giving an explanation....
Any thoughts would be much appreciated, especially as I am sure I will be in this situation again at some point!