being new in ob

A lot of this will depend on your unit's specific guidelines/protocols.

my generic advice:

have everything you might need in the room with you. it stinks to run out at the last minute.

until you can get the routine down in your head, watch your preceptor and make a list of the generics that need to be done and study it.

dont' worry. the more deliveries you do, the better you get and more organized you get. learn something from every one.

Hi Guys I Am New To Ob Even New To Nursing So I Want To Learn Some Tips For Labor And Delivery And How Can I Organize Myself During Delivery Thanks A Lot

Hey! Congratulations! At the top of the board there is a sticky with really good tips for new OB nurses. Keep in touch with how you are doing!

One big yet simple piece of advice: KEEP UP ON YOUR CHARTING during LABOR , cause when pushing, you have no time. Keep your labor charts up to date as you go. This will save you time later. Chart everything on the ob fetal strip, so if you need to, you can transcribe what happened when onto your charts after delivery. Keep your coworkers and the OB tech up on what's going w/the patient. If you are close to delivery, let everyone know, so if help is needed, they will be aware. When it's time to push, let the other nurses/charge nurse know, also, so they know where you are and will keep an eye on the strip in case they are needed. Keep the doctor abreast of changes and when pushing will begin, as well.

Please: Keep the room clean, free of clutter and keep your tubes and lines free of tangles and organized. This will help in the case you have to go for an emergent or fast c/section; you will regret having a mess to untangle and slog through at that time. Keep everything in order and uncluttered. And PLEASE empty the trash if it overflows. NOTHING is more unpleasant for everyone than stinky trash, particularly red-bag stuff and stinky overflowing laundry bags. Keep the room clean for your sake as well as your patient's ---you wont' regret it.

Anticipate what the OB or MDA (anesthesia) need ahead of time, if possible. For example, if a patient wants an epidural from the get-go, please, assemble the things the MDA will need to get the job done, as much as possible, ahead of time. Things like the epidural pump and drip, as well as the kit and gloves, right size for the MDA on call, will help get the job done MUCH quicker. Also if you know a given OB is going to rupture membranes in a labor patient, have plenty of towels, sterile gloves, lubricant, the amni-hook and other things ready ahead of time. That way, you won't be caught unaware and un-ready for this. If a given OB uses IUPC a lot, have that ready to go, too.

Good luck. You will learn with time what works for you. I am one of the most anal nurses on my unit, you could ask anyone. I like organization, in charting and my patient rooms. It's saved my butt time and again.

Every place is different. In one hospital, where I have worked, the MDA rolled in his/her cart w/the goodies inside. In others, we have to get it all. These things are all locked up in a room and we have to go get them before an epi gets done.

Also some docs don't use hooks, I realize, but ours all do except one and ...

HE uses IUPC's to rupture membranes, not a hook at all. (weird huh).

SO I guess the lesson is: you have to know your individual dr and midwife preferences and anticipate them. That is my point I guess. Each dr and place does things differently. By learning the flow where you are, and the preferences of your individual practioners, you will be better able to keep up and things go much more smoothly.

Thanks Guys For The Wonderful Advice I Will Keep You Up How I Am Doing

I find our lady docs are very clean and tidy. I love that. Our men need a D- on this area. they are the ones who tend to leave a bloody mess in their wakes, and the woman all up in stirrups, a complete mess as well. I just have noticed this in every place I have worked thus far.

GOOD LUCK and let us know how you are doing.