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, I have been a nurse for almost a year 1/2 now. I started my career out in a SNF for about eight months until my husband and I moved, and I am now on a med/surg floor trying to get some more basic experience. However, I have wanted to go into OB/women's health way before I even got into nursing school. I am SO unhappy with what I am doing right now, and I really want to be in OB already, but for one thing, I just got off 6 weeks of orientation on med/surg, since they are treating me like a new grad here. I am so interested in women's health, and was so passionate about it during my OB rotation in nursing school, but I just feel stuck where I am. Would it be bad of me to switch over to OB in a few months (or maybe a couple), since the floor I'm on now gave me a pretty lengthy orientation and everything? I'm just tired of being unhappy in my job, and want to finally be doing what I love. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Specializes in CVICU, ER.

I will be graduating in May. I have focused pretty much my whole preparation on critical care. My externship was in cardiovascular ICU, and have had big dreams for critical/emergency care. I have an interview tomorrow for a position in L&D. Because of the current economic situation, this is the only position available at the hospital where I really want to work. I am trying to see the upside of L&D and actually did enjoy my rotation through there. I did not like the pp side of it, but I think the L&D will be a great learning experience. My question is.... does anyone have any advice for someone like me who has focused so much in one area, but now due to cut backs is having to go somewhere that I never saw myself going? I don't really even know what to tell my interviewer tomorrow on why she should hire me. I function best when under pressure, esp in emergent situations. I think if I tell her that this is a stepping stone, she will not be too eager to bring me on board. I want to be honest with her, but I also need to get the job. Any advice?

Specializes in OB.
Hi, I have been a nurse for almost a year 1/2 now. I started my career out in a SNF for about eight months until my husband and I moved, and I am now on a med/surg floor trying to get some more basic experience. However, I have wanted to go into OB/women's health way before I even got into nursing school. I am SO unhappy with what I am doing right now, and I really want to be in OB already, but for one thing, I just got off 6 weeks of orientation on med/surg, since they are treating me like a new grad here. I am so interested in women's health, and was so passionate about it during my OB rotation in nursing school, but I just feel stuck where I am. Would it be bad of me to switch over to OB in a few months (or maybe a couple), since the floor I'm on now gave me a pretty lengthy orientation and everything? I'm just tired of being unhappy in my job, and want to finally be doing what I love. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

6 mos in m/s will be an invaluable tool in OB trust me! There are soooo many moms with comorbidities now it is important to know them too. Hang in there baby :)

Specializes in OB.
Hi,

I hope I am posting correctly.... I will be graduating with my BSN soon, and am trying to decide between NICU or L&D, PP, etc (Women's Health). I only was able to observe for a day in NICU (level 3) but found it really interesting. (and I loved the babies..:) I really loved my rotation in the LDRP, which included L&D, AP,PP, and nursery. I have to decide on my last semester preceptorship soon, and am really torn about which to try for. I am middle-aged, and the job market is , well, you know....Would anyone out there be able to give me some advantages/disadvantages of NICU vs. LDRP? I feel like I can be happy either place, but I want to make a practical decision based on my age, and job prospects. I would be so excited to do either one! Any ideas? Thanks !:)

Just a suggestion (this is what I am doing myself) Learn LDRP first to know what is normal for a newborn, THEN go into the NICU. You can really tell when a baby is going "bad" if you know what a "good" baby looks like. Hope this helps :)

Specializes in OB.
I will be graduating in May. I have focused pretty much my whole preparation on critical care. My externship was in cardiovascular ICU, and have had big dreams for critical/emergency care. I have an interview tomorrow for a position in L&D. Because of the current economic situation, this is the only position available at the hospital where I really want to work. I am trying to see the upside of L&D and actually did enjoy my rotation through there. I did not like the pp side of it, but I think the L&D will be a great learning experience. My question is.... does anyone have any advice for someone like me who has focused so much in one area, but now due to cut backs is having to go somewhere that I never saw myself going? I don't really even know what to tell my interviewer tomorrow on why she should hire me. I function best when under pressure, esp in emergent situations. I think if I tell her that this is a stepping stone, she will not be too eager to bring me on board. I want to be honest with her, but I also need to get the job. Any advice?

Don't know where you are but in CA our hospitals are crying for ER/ICU nurses!!!!

I just passed my NCLEX!! My passion is post-partum nursing. I did a 250 hour internship in school. I have been online looking for jobs but can't find any! I am in the Katy/Houston TX area. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Specializes in OB.
I just passed my NCLEX!! My passion is post-partum nursing. I did a 250 hour internship in school. I have been online looking for jobs but can't find any! I am in the Katy/Houston TX area. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Yes! I would suggest getting your AWOHNN FHM certs and your NRP. These put you ahead of the rest. Check in with the children's hospitals or the smaller hospitals in more outlying areas. Thats what I did, had to move 50 miles but I have the job of my dreams!!!! Good luck! Jen

Thanks for the response. How do I go about getting those certifications?

Hello, i'm a new grad starting on L&D ( i work as the clerk on the unit and will be transfering as a RN next month) and i would like to know is there any techniques, reading materials, or tricks i should know to make this transition any easier. I feel ready for this new position and i'm very excited to learn new things, but i want to know how can i make this experience better... any suggestions would be of great help. thanks...

Could anyone please tell me how someone can take courses and where so that i can courses in L & D and FHT's monitoring. I am wanting to specialize in this but cannot find any courses on training for a laboring woman. Any help would be appreciated.

First of all the best resources would be to join a professional organization like AWHONN Also are you working in labor and delivery because your coworkers would be a wealth of knowlege. If you are still in school i wouldn't worry about specializing yet just learn all you can and when you have clinicals in labor and delivery ask lots of questions You might find in clinicals that you love it or you might find out you hate it. Good luck

Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Family medicine.

Can someone please tell me what a sticky thread is??

As far as the certifications prior to getting a job, I am a learning addict, so I took the online Basic FHM class for $70, I believe (through AHWONN).

As far as certifications, you can check with employers in the area to find out if it is a plus. I had my ACLS, NRP and Basic FHM before applying to OB jobs. I spoke with a few hiring managers in OB, and although they don't think the certifications make you appear any more qualified, but it does show motivation and willingness to learn.

Good luck.

BTW, check with local hospital education departments to find out about certifications. If you are an employee of that hospital, the cost is generally reduced.

+ Add a Comment