New OB Nurses, Grads and Students, Please Feel Free to post your questions here:

[SmilingBluEyes]

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!

[SmilingBluEyes]

I have been a Med/Surg RN for 2 years. When I first grad from nursing school I wanted to jump right into Women's Health, but everywhere I applied wanted exp RNs. Now 2 years later I am applying/interviewing at several different hospitals. How is transitioning from Med/Surg to OB? Can you gie me any additional advice?

I personally have found Med-Surg nurses do SPECTACULAR in OB. Their varied experience in acute care situations is invaluable. The transisition won't be easy; don't be fooled. But if you are motivated, you will make it very smoothly and do quite well! Best of luck.

[ICME_06]

Hello all. Let me provide a little backgroud info. I will be starting my 2nd year of an ADN program in the fall (love nursing school and yes, I am a nerd). My catalyst for entry into the nursing profession was the wonderful nursing staff I had when I gave birth to my first child. I knew that I wanted to work in OB, more specifically L&D/PP, someday. However, this past semester we had an OR observation day and unexpectedly, I REALLY enjoyed it. It also sparked an interest in anesthesia as well. I have just been hired as an extern in a cardiothoracic ICU. (I have not actually worked yet; still waiting on orientation, but that's neither here nor there). The draw, for me, to these particular fields is the ability to give my entire focus to one or two patients (just an aside, GOD in heaven bless ALL med-surg RNs). Well, that and I think birth is the closest thing to touching the divine we have on here on earth.

I am rambling...I apologize.

Anyhoooo, because my interest is so strong in those different areas I would like to try a little of everything to make sure I am not missing out on my niche. Now for the question...do you think it would it be easier to transition from a job in ICU/possibly OR to OB, or from OB to ICU? I just want to make sure I keep all of my doors open. Thank you in advance for any feedback. Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow.

Tara

[khine2mn80]

My advice is you try to get a job in postpartum or Mother-Baby---or well baby nursery---- first. Try for a larger hospital (fewer opportunities exist at smaller community hospitals)--- and see what openings exist in those units. You can always get into L/D later, if that is your dream. And in the USA, you only need an LPN (licensed practical nurse) or RN (registered nurse) credential to work in most PP/MBU's. Most hire only RN's, but there are units hiring LPN's too.

For a comprehensive list of US hospitals and their websites, you may visit:

http://www.hospitalsoup.com

Good luck! :)

thank you ...ur great

[cookie78]

I am a new grad as of yesterday Yeah me! Anyway I have job offer for both labor and delivery and er and I cannot decide what to do. There are some other influencing factors such as the er job is at my current hospital where I work as a secretary and is just down the street from my house and it is pm shift, but it is a small er with no trauma etc. (something I am interested in) while I know that this is a good stepping stone to finding a trauma job in the future. The L and D job is about 15 miles from my apartment, I have to cross a bridge and pay either 3-5 $ toll each day and it is night shift... but I had a senior preceptorship in L and D so I know it is something I like and it will be an amazing wonderful training program unlike the er which is a little loose on their training program. In one way I feel like the er job is convenient, and I know the computer system, and I am young and this is the time to do it, but on the other I feel like this is one of the best L and D training programs out there and I could use a change of scenery and would enjoy meeting new people. I also have no direct experience in er and so do not know if it is really for me. These are the two areas I have always had an interest in and I never expected to get both opportunities at one time. Any ideas on how to help make my decision? I am a very flexible person who does not make very many enemies and am generally able to find something I love about every place I have been throughout my clinicals, so in some ways I feel that I will be happy either place because it is my choice to do so, but I can't help but feeling that I will leave a good opportunity behind either way. Let me know what you think thanks!

[mugwump]

Sounds like you KNOW you want to do L&D and you might want ER. I think that right there answers your question. Do what your heart loves now not what you think you might want sometime. You can go anywhere with Eoher L&D or ER experience, but if it is a higher level OB that will take you farther. Than a lower level ER without a trauma center. My advice only

[cydney7]

Hi all. I've been reading some of your posts and have already discovered some great new information. I have an interview this Thursday on an L & D floor at one of the hospitals here. It is supposed to be a really good floor, very high patient satisfaction, and so on. I've been working in the NICU since February (before that I did med-surg) and am pretty miserable there. Anyway, to get to my question: if I get hired for this job, how long do you think it will take for me to feel confident? I know that's probably a silly question, but I want your opinion. I just don't want to be a "job-hopper" and then end up hating it. I enjoyed the L & D clinicals I had in school........it was all so amazing to me........

I guess I'm just feeling nervous about the interview. I just want to be good at my job..........most of all, I want to be happy in my job, you know? Thanks for any info you can offer..........

:uhoh21:

[SmilingBluEyes]

NO silly questions ever!! Please feel free to ask whatever comes to your mind. Welcome to the boards, Cyd.

It took me about 2 years' fulltime work in OB to feel at all close to "competent". It varies. You may be there sooner, but allow at least a full year to feel really any sort of confidence.

I wish you the best in your new career! Please feel free to ask anything that comes up. Always glad to mentor a New OB/GYN nurse!

[new_mom2005]

NO silly questions ever!! Please feel free to ask whatever comes to your mind. Welcome to the boards, Cyd.

It took me about 2 years' fulltime work in OB to feel at all close to "competent". It varies. You may be there sooner, but allow at least a full year to feel really any sort of confidence.

I wish you the best in your new career! Please feel free to ask anything that comes up. Always glad to mentor a New OB/GYN nurse!

Thank you

SmilingBluEyes :)

[new_mom2005]

Hi all. I've been reading some of your posts and have already discovered some great new information. I have an interview this Thursday on an L & D floor at one of the hospitals here. It is supposed to be a really good floor, very high patient satisfaction, and so on. I've been working in the NICU since February (before that I did med-surg) and am pretty miserable there. Anyway, to get to my question: if I get hired for this job, how long do you think it will take for me to feel confident? I know that's probably a silly question, but I want your opinion. I just don't want to be a "job-hopper" and then end up hating it. I enjoyed the L & D clinicals I had in school........it was all so amazing to me........

I guess I'm just feeling nervous about the interview. I just want to be good at my job..........most of all, I want to be happy in my job, you know? Thanks for any info you can offer..........

:uhoh21:

I cant help you with your question cause i am not employed yet, but GOOD LUCK with your interview!!!!!!!!!!!! tell us how it turns out :)

[BETSRN]

Hi all. I've been reading some of your posts and have already discovered some great new information. I have an interview this Thursday on an L & D floor at one of the hospitals here. It is supposed to be a really good floor, very high patient satisfaction, and so on. I've been working in the NICU since February (before that I did med-surg) and am pretty miserable there. Anyway, to get to my question: if I get hired for this job, how long do you think it will take for me to feel confident? I know that's probably a silly question, but I want your opinion. I just don't want to be a "job-hopper" and then end up hating it. I enjoyed the L & D clinicals I had in school........it was all so amazing to me........

I guess I'm just feeling nervous about the interview. I just want to be good at my job..........most of all, I want to be happy in my job, you know? Thanks for any info you can offer..........

:uhoh21:[/QUOT

It's going to take a year at least to even begin to feel confident. Of course, I guess it might depend on the level of acuity of the patinets and/or the nurse's autonomy.

Good luck!

[SmilingBluEyes]

You know what, It's ok to know when a job is not for you and to move on. NICU takes a special type of nurse, if you ask me. Not "better", but definately a certain personality does best in the NICU environment. They say L and D does, too. They all say we are "different" in my hospital, whatever that means.

I interpret that as being a matter of each nurse finding his or her own niche. I know ED nurses seem a "certain type"----so do ICU and OR, etc.

So, you have determined NICU is not your thing. That is ok to admit that and try something else. It's not "job hopping" to try and find what you enjoy and is best for you.

Personally, I KNOW I would never work out well in a NICU. Too many psychosocial issues I don't care to deal with. (OB has them too, but they differ). I am not a good long term care person, either. NICU babies can be there for months, and the family situations are never, ever easy. You are nursing an entire family, NOT just a baby, when you are working in the NICU.

Also, the day to day watching and worrying over your tiny and delicate patient teetering between death and life is not easy, either. That is why I say it takes a "special" nurse to cope in NICU. Because it does! My hat is off to them.

I say, try L/D. It may very much be more to like your liking. Don't remain in NICU if it's not for you. You owe yourself more than a fast road to burn-out. And I know of no faster way to burn out than working in a place you can't stand to. You may like OB better, esp if you prefer more short-term care of people like I do!

Good luck, Cyd, and let us know if there is more we can do to help you out.

[jvcrn]

:balloons: You do realize it's cold in Massachusetts. right? Stay in the south we need you here! Ask me about a great little maternity center on the southeast coast.

:Melody:

I think this is a great idea! I will be graduating in late 2005 from an accelerated BSN program and am about 90% sure that I want to go into Women's/Maternity nursing. I have about a million questions! I know this has been asked before, but I will be moving to the Northeast (I am currently in the South) after graduation and am wondering if hospitals hire new grads directly into PP/MI? How do I even begin my job search? If I know that I want to work on a MI floor upon graduation, do I start looking now for available positions? How will hospitals know if they will have openings in December of '05? Can I work in Massachusetts without having taken the NCLEX yet or do I need to graduate, take the NCLEX, THEN apply for jobs? I am not getting much guidance from my school. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks...