In-Service

[MelissaCT]

If you had a student doing an inservice on the L&D unit, what would you be interested in learning?

I have to do one. I'm going to ask my nurse preceptor but I wanted more ideas from you guys.

I'm going to find out from her what they have done lately, so I don't repeat it. But I can't go asking all the nurses there what they find interesting.

Thanks so much

[wsiab]

The best inservice will be one that fits in and is appropriate to the unit you are on. How long have you been on the unit with your preceptor, and how soon do you have to select a topic? What kinds of issues have you seen? Is there currently anything new being integrated? Equipment that is not used often that people could use a refresher on? Another good resource person to ask would be the nurse manager. If it is not practical to ask everyone what they would like to see, how about a few of the other nurses on the unit. You'd be surprised, nurses are usually supportive of students that ask questions.

Good Luck on the assignment.

[Angel Baby]

This may sound strange, but CPR in the OB setting is a topic that is rarely discussed and misunderstood.

Since most Mom's are healthy and/or we can treat them with good outcomes (most of the time) we never discuss the "what if".

I presented an inservice on this topic 4 years ago and was surprised to learn that only the manager knew that CPR had to be carried out with someone displacing the uterus to the right or left. Tilting Mom isn't an option, but without uterine displacement, cardiac compressions are ineffective. The weight of the uterus (even if she has delivered) increases the afterload--considering the fact that great compressions only yield about 30% of the normal cardiac output, if you factor in this resistance then you are wasting your time and efforts. If undelivered, the fetus will have no chance and the Mom a very slim chance of survival. When Mom is undelivered there is about a 5 minute window for the physician to act on the decision to deliver before fetal morbidity begins to factor itself in.

OK, enough babbling--I guess my passion was derived when I realized that nurses with years and years of experience did not understand this concept. Good luck with whatever you choose.