Postpartum nursing?

Croaker · Jul 22, 2020

Depends on what you most enjoy. I work LDRP at a small community hospital(30-40 births/month) so it makes sense to have cross-trained nurses for this role. I enjoy it for the variety, and being able to follow up on the mommies I helped labor earlier in the week.

nursing9462 · Jul 22, 2020

2 hours ago, Croaker said:
Depends on what you most enjoy. I work LDRP at a small community hospital(30-40 births/month) so it makes sense to have cross-trained nurses for this role. I enjoy it for the variety, and being able to follow up on the mommies I helped labor earlier in the week.

Thanks. Basically an opportunity fell through for LDRP at my current place due to COVID-related reasons. I work in a completely different specialty, though. I have an interview for PP elsewhere now.

Katie82, RN · Jul 23, 2020

Many hospitals like to be able to cross-train their staff so they can float people as needed. Look at it this way, the more things you can do, the more they will need you.

Lynker, LPN · Jul 23, 2020

This is where I want to work/be crosstrained with L&D! I'm so close yet so far!

Sour Lemon · Jul 23, 2020

15 hours ago, nursing9462 said:
Thoughts on postpartum nursing?
One hospital hires nurses to only 1 OB department (L&D or PP). At other hospitals, they have a single LDRP unit with cross-trained nurses. Any pros/cons of being assigned just to postpartum?

One con might be a higher likelihood of getting canceled during slow times. I imagine they'd have to staff up each unit to avoid frequent shortages. On the flip side, there might be less help available to your own unit during busy times.

nursing9462 · Jul 23, 2020

On 7/22/2020 at 10:53 AM, Croaker said:
Depends on what you most enjoy. I work LDRP at a small community hospital(30-40 births/month) so it makes sense to have cross-trained nurses for this role. I enjoy it for the variety, and being able to follow up on the mommies I helped labor earlier in the week.

Any suggestions for a PP nursing interview? What do you like/dislike about PP nursing?

nursing9462 · Aug 12, 2020

On 7/22/2020 at 10:53 AM, Croaker said:
Depends on what you most enjoy. I work LDRP at a small community hospital(30-40 births/month) so it makes sense to have cross-trained nurses for this role. I enjoy it for the variety, and being able to follow up on the mommies I helped labor earlier in the week.

Never worked OB. Now have to decide cross-trained LDRP unit vs PP unit. Any advice?

Croaker · Aug 12, 2020

Great question! I actually never intended to be a post-partum nurse-I thought I hated it! Ever since precepting in a Obstetric Emergency Department during my final semester of nursing school, I wanted to go work OB-ED.

I became a post-partum nurse since I wanted to do L&D straight out of school, as I found that God's design for motherhood and childbirth was beautiful, and I wanted to be a part of it. I was the first male to precept OB at my school, so I applied everywhere The hospital I applied to I had actually forgotten about, and since they were the first to offer my a LD job, I excitedly accepted haha!

Some nurses like to do just one thing, other like variety(like in your ICU vs. ER nursing). OB nursing has a lot to offer. You can work with high-acuity clients who have serious condition PP, or you can work with lower-acuity clients. Each has something to offer.

L&D can be a lot of watching and waiting, monitoring strips, then things can get pretty exciting quickly as you need to respond to decelerations, get pain under control, coach through contractions and help the mother push and get ready for birth. You will likely spend a lot of time in the room, especially if complications arise. In Post-partum, things are slower pace and you get to spend helping your mommies bond with their babies, help them get latched on, and teach them how to care for themselves and their new child. Both are enjoyable, so it's totally up to you!

As far as the interview, act excited to have the opportunity to interview for this wonderful profession, them let know you are teachable and are willing to put your pride aside and be coached by others, and you are willing to work hard to learn the specialty and be the best nurse you can be. Ask good questions about how things operate on the unit, what is a day like working, what to expect how long to get dayshift if you want to work then, anything else you might want to know, etc. Good luck to you!