New RN L&D advice

[clb6885]

I will graduate as a RN in december. I was just hired for an L&D position. I am very excited! Am I also VERY scared....I feel like I don't know ANYTHING! I was also told (by the manager) that the staff nurses on the floor have very "strong personalities" and will try to intimidate the new grads. I would appreciate any advice regarding how to best prepare myself for my first day on the job as well as advice on how to handle the unfriendly nurses. Thanks!

[JLKNurse]

I don't think you should be so worried (you know a lot more than you think you do). The manager hired you because they know you will be a great L&D nurse. You should be really thankful that you have a job when you graduate because I have been searching for a job since March. Lots of luck to you! You can do it : )

[+one]

good luck!

[NurseNora, BSN, RN]

Don't worry about what you don't know yet, that's why they have orientation--to teach you what you need to know. Be patient with yourself and remember you're not expected to know everything right off the bat.

Communicate with your preceptor. Tell her what your learning style is. As you work together, tell her what she does that is helpful to you and what is not helpful. Tell her what you're having trouble with. Ask questions of everyone. Watch everyone. There is no one, single right way of doing things. Learn it your preceptor's way first, then fine tune it to suit your way of doing things as you begin to develop your own way of doing things.

Again, be patient with yourself. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder if you'll ever get it right. You will, just give yourself time to learn. Be prepared to study outside of work as much as you study now, for a while at least.

Labor nurses do tend to be "assertive". You will be too. There are times when things need to be done NOW and you may be pushed out of the way or spoken to very sharply. When things have calmed down, talk to the person privately about what was going on and how you could have responded in a more appropriate manner. If you show you are not a fragile flower and want to learn, you'll win them over.

It'll be hard work, but you're in for some great times too.

[clb6885]

NurseNora, Thank you SO much! That is really encouraging!

[adpiRN]

You will learn fast! I've been in L&D for just over 2 months and it's also my first RN job.

In the beginning I felt like I didn't know anything, since it's so specialized. But the learning curve is really steep. Now after 2 months, I can have my own pt, titrate pitocin, manage FHR decels, coach during pushing, do a whole delivery with just me and the OB in the room, do after delivery baby care, help with breastfeeding, chart, give report to postpartum etc.

Of course there are still times I fumble, forget to do things, so they happen a little later than they should, or need to ask questions or help from more experienced nurses. Don't be afraid to make little mistakes - they help you learn.

The other day I accidently threw a pt's placenta in the garbage! I placed it nicely in its little bucket and then rolled it up with the rest of the delivery table trash (instead of setting it aside like we're supposed to) I probably never would have known if cord blood hadn't come looking for it.

Luckily I found it in the trash and gave it to them. So no harm done and I bet I'll never make that mistake again!

Some nurses can be intimidating. I had one preceptor one day who was a little rough around the edges and I might have gone to the bathroom to cry after she rolled her eyes at me when I asked for help with something.

But by the end of the day we were getting along (and luckily she wasn't my preceptor again, so I didn't have to worry about it) Find the people you admire and get along with and go to them with questions. And if you don't feel like you're a good match with your preceptor, talk to your managers, most of them seem willing to switch.

As for your first day, just come prepared to watch and learn. Can't hurt to review your maternity text book so you know a little about what's going on. But no one expects you to know everything on your first day! Take a little note book and write down everything important that your preceptor says (policies of your unit etc) That helped me remember stuff and I didn't have to ask my preceptors to remind me of the same things every day. I also made a little index card with important notes, like what needs to be done and charted after a delivery and what needs to be included in report to postpartum. I would carry that in my pocket and refer to it after each delivery.

Good luck!!!