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!

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

There are tons of good ones, Michelle. I was going to suggest, also, if you see the midwife again, ask her these questions. It's hard for me to speculate what all happened from where I sit. Midwives generally LOVE to mentor and teach, and I bet this one is no different. They are amazing care givers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I will say, based on what you tell me, it was lucky the baby came out at all! face-up births are difficult at best, esp with big babies and small women. But I am not terribly big and I myself DID give birth to a "sunny side up" boy who had synostosis (no soft spots, so no molding to fit my pelvis). It was an against-the-odds delivery for me, to say the least.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

I am having trouble finding lab values for the postpartum woman. I am having a test & my instructor said to know the norms for postpartum. I know what they are for the pregnant woman but I am not sure about the postpartum. Any help or website would be appreciated.CRB :uhoh21:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I am sorry, but specifically what are you looking for? most lab values we analyze are based on pregnant normal values. After delivery the only lab we USUALLY look at is the CBC or H/H. Unless there is another condition to keep track of (PIH comes to mind), this is all we really consider in the PP recovery phase.

You should find these values in your OB text or a LAB test manual ( I would go there first, we all had to have t hese for our clinical to analyze lab values). Go to the specific test, and be sure to note normal pregnant woman values. There are some things that change a bit for pregnancy.

I am sorry not to be of more help. If you can give me a bit more specific info you are looking for, I will do my best to help point you in the right direction.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

Thank you. The only ones I could find were the cbc & h&h too. I suppose this is what she means. I was taking notes for the test & jotted this down & she was going so fast, I just neglected to ask exactly what she wanted in order to keep up with the notes. She did not mention any problems just the "norms". So I guess these would be what she will be looking for. Thanks again for always being there to help!! :) CRB

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I hope that helps. In "normal" PP care, that is all we really look at in the form of labs. Some are moving away from those, even, if the course was a normal spontaneous lady partsl delivery with minimal bleeding.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.

Now that I think about it I am sure that is what she meant. I think I am a little stressed right now...7 tests in the next 2 weeks, my clinical eval & our HESI on top of that!!! I am just scared I am gonna miss something & it seems like my head is already so full......... no vacant room. I just keep telling myself 1 hour at a time & once again thanks for your help.CRB

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

How did it go, CRB???? Hope you did well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hey Everyone,

I'm a brand new pre-nursing student. I am taking my very first class this summer. I've got a bachelor's degree already in Speech Pathology, all I need to take are the nursing prerequisites (A&P 1&2, Nutrition, Microbiology, and Pathophysiology).

I can take anatomy or nutrition over a 10 week period. My advisor advised me not to take anatomy over the 10 week period because it is a very foundational course and I should not rush through it.

I really would like to take it this summer because I have 2 wonderful, trustworthy babysitters lined up (I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old) and I will be starting a job as a childbirth educator in the fall. (I don't want to take A & P 1 while I'm starting a new job).

Do you all feel it would be harmful to take A & P in a condensed amount of time?

What is the most difficult part of A & P and how much do you use the information taught in this course in your jobs?

I really want to make an "A" and I want to make a wise decision here.

Thanks for your input and opinions!

Monica

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I do not think it would be "harmful" to do so. But it will be very intense. It's a lot of info to take over an abbreviated period of time. BUT YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! I say, go for it, and be prepared to work very hard to get that "A".

One piece of advice: Do NOT sell back your A/P book. You will want it as reference later in school. And YES YOU WILL use that information, ALL THE TIME. Learn it NOW as they won't likely re-teach or repeat it in nursing school. It will be assumed you have mastered that knowledge and be ready to build on it. You will need that book from time to time for reference, esp. when patho-physiology is covered in nursing school.

Good luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
How did it go, CRB???? Hope you did well.

Got an A!! Thanks for your help. I just saw this post sorry for not getting back sooner. One more question & I know it's hard to predict but.... I am getting ready for my ob final & HESI. I have been using Saunders & Lippincott & I can answer the questions anywhere from 90-100% right... Do you think this is a good indicator of how one might expect to do on finals & the HESI? Thanks again, CRB

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Its a VERY good indicator you are going to do VERY well! Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment