No Maternity (or peds) rotations in my school

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Hi all, I just found out that we won't be doing a maternity/ob rotation at all during our 4 semesters of clinicals. I'm pretty disappointed about this, as I ultimately feel L&D is where I would like to end up.

But more practically, I am worried that missing this exposure during school will hinder my being hired in L&D after graduation. Its already competitive enough as it is.

Do you think that this is a real possibility? I'm planning on trying to get a position (cna/tech/extern) in OB or related unit at some point during school, but still I worry that this will hurt my chances in the long run...

---on a side note, we were told that we would see some ob patients during our med/surg rotations, but I don't see how this is possible...is it?

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I had a friend who worked L&D and she said that one of the new doc's who came there would not let his C-Section patients stay on her unit. He wanted them on the Med-Surge because the nurses on those units knew how to care for his surgery patients better.:uhoh3: Maybe there is a doc at your clinical site like that.

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I guess all I can say is...WHAT!?! How does a nursing school get accredited without doing these rotations? At the very least, OB was always a good place to give students experience starting IV's...I mean, how do you miss on a pregnant woman? It's a good confidence builder. No OB or peds? How? Again, WHAT!?!

I hate to ask, but what school is this?

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At the very least, OB was always a good place to give students experience starting IV's...

What?!?! You were allowed to start IVs as a nursing student?!

No, seriously, we weren't allowed to start IVs as students and I've heard others from different schools say the same things.

To the OP, we need more info about your school and it's program. Do you have still have specific coursework in those topics?

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That is weird not to do OB. At my school we definately did the OB/ peds rotation and yes we are allowed to start Iv's. I was actually and was able to be sucessful on my first try.

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Specializes in NICU. L&D, PP, Nursery.

Why would a school not have an OB or PEDS rotation? Is it because there are no hospitals nearby that have these units? Or is it because of perceived liability in case a student makes a mistake? I feel blessed to have had an excellent OB rotation when I was in school (15 years ago in Ohio). I was even offered an opportunity for my last clinical quarter my senior year to "specialize" in one area and I chose PP. After graduation I was offered a position on the same PP unit that I already had 10 weeks of practice on (since they already knew me and I knew the unit).

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

Wow. Not only do we have to separate classes for OB and PEDS, but we are certainly allowed to start IV's! We even practiced on one another.

How are you gonna pass the NCLEX questions on PEDS and OB content if you don't take those classes?

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What?!?! You were allowed to start IVs as a nursing student?!

No, seriously, we weren't allowed to start IVs as students and I've heard others from different schools say the same things.

I have never heard of an RN program whoch does not include an OB rotation. I have not heard of one which does not teach IV starts.

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Specializes in NICU.
Wow. Not only do we have to separate classes for OB and PEDS, but we are certainly allowed to start IV's! We even practiced on one another.

How are you gonna pass the NCLEX questions on PEDS and OB content if you don't take those classes?

I agree.

About seeing OB patients on M/S, it is definitely possible. Where I worked before (M/S floor) we saw hyperemisis, pyelonephritis, cerclages, DM, DVT, PE--the floor treats most pregnant patients as long as they are less than 24 weeks along. If L&D is an area you are interested in, talk to your school and see if they'll set up a preceptorship in that area near the end of your schooling. It will be extra time away from studying, but will give you invaluable experience and you will learn more working with a preceptor than you will with a clinical instructor who also has 7-8 other students.

The reason I say to wait until near the end, is the more experience you have, the better you will be and the more you can learn.

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Specializes in Psych, Assertive Community Resource Team.

Wow, this should raise some serious red flags about your school. Is it accredited?

How do they expect you to know the OB\Peds questions on the NCLEX? From my understanding there is quite a few usually. Do you have a lecture for OB\Peds, just no clinical or is there no lecture or clinical? I would be bringing my concerns to the program head pronto!

And no IV starts?!!! How are you supposed to learn anything with no experience. :trout:We started IV's first semester. I've already done 20 or 30.

Seriously, talk to someone in charge. No one is going to look after your education but you. Good luck:monkeydance:

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

It's definitely possible to see pregnant clients in a med/surg environment.... as a matter of fact, during my last shift I went to a med/surg floor q4hours to do FHT's for a 14 weeker (can't remember what she was admitted for).

I agree that it seems a little strange that your school doesn't offer an OB clinical. I wonder why?

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Specializes in L & D.

My school had a wonderful OB & peds class (and we started IVs!), but I was told they are cutting way back on the class and clinicals and will be combining it with other areas for the semester. Seems it is considered a "specialty"......

I just took NCLEX yesterday. Out of 75 questions, 2 were peds and there were no OB at all. Figures....OB is my thing!!

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