Pretend you are my Preceptor in L&D

[neeniebean]

What knowledge do you want me to come in with? what skills are most important to have downpat?

I just received the information for my preceptorship and i'm on an L&D unit (overnights). I'm so excited!!! But, my L&D class was over a year ago, so its not really fresh in my mind. I'm reviewing all of my notes and writing down key things to remember- like newborn VS (yes, basic reminders) and i was hoping to find out what key things i should focus on to really make the most out of the experience (and, not seem like a complete dunce in front of my preceptor).

I really want to go in there as prepared as possible. Please tell me, if you were my preceptor, how could i best prepare?

Thank you!!

[ERNurse752, RN]

You don't need to be an expert. Attitude is everything! (Well, almost everything, anyway.)

Review your notes from class. Read through the obgyn forum on here.

Be honest. Be interested. Ask questions. Ask for help.

Have fun!

[babyktchr, BSN, RN]

I wouldn't expect you to be anything but willing to learn. I precept a lot of newbies, and I just really like them to ask questions and be a sponge. It is going to take a while for you to really get the land of OB. Give yourself the time and really watch everyone....from nurses to docs and midwives. Watch how they deal with patients, what they say, how they say it, what they do. Work on your critical thinking. You will all too soon have to prove what you have learned.

Good luck to you.

[cherokeesummer]

What knowledge do you want me to come in with? what skills are most important to have downpat?

I just received the information for my preceptorship and i'm on an L&D unit (overnights). I'm so excited!!! But, my L&D class was over a year ago, so its not really fresh in my mind. I'm reviewing all of my notes and writing down key things to remember- like newborn VS (yes, basic reminders) and i was hoping to find out what key things i should focus on to really make the most out of the experience (and, not seem like a complete dunce in front of my preceptor).

I really want to go in there as prepared as possible. Please tell me, if you were my preceptor, how could i best prepare?

Thank you!!

I'm not an L and D nurse but I'm a Post partum mom and baby nurse. I would say though to be open and willing to learn, having those basic reminders (moms and baby's vs and such) are GREAT, I still have to remind myself and I've been working for three or four months now LOL! Also be prepared to know that each person learns and teaches differently so if for some reason it doesn't mesh with your preceptor feel ok to ask for input or for a new one if need be but try to work it out first with the one you have b/c it could be just a matter of mismatched learning/teaching methods. But honestly I really did enjoy my preceptorship, my preceptor was great to me - she taught me things and yes I had to work but that was the point, to learn how to manage. We graduated my amount of patient load each shift so that by the time we were done I had a full load.

Best of luck to you! Congrats on joining the ranks of Perinatal Nursing! :heartbeat:heartbeat:yeah:

Amy

[Baby Catcher, CNM]

I can tell you'll be great because of the things you're already doing. Asking questions and reviewing your OB books and notes are great things to do. No one expects you to come in knowing everything. The staff will want to see that you are eager to learn and have a positive attitude. One thing that drove me crazy when I precepted was a new nurse who turned down opportunities because, "I've done a bunch of those." You'll find that nurses are happy to teach if they feel like you are eager to learn. Good luck and welcome to OB.

[NurseNora, BSN, RN]

You're starting out with the right attitude: you want to learn. It's good that you're reviewing your notes. You need to know the basic anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, labor and birth. What is the difference between position and presentation? vertex and cephalic? frank, complete, and footling breech? ROA, ROP, RSA, RMA? No one is going to expect you to do an accurate cervical check the first time, but you'd better know what and where the cervix is, what effacement means, and what the heck is a posterior fornix anyway? You won't be expected to read a fetal monitor strip immediatly, but you need to know what the normal range is for the fetal heart beat. How does fetal circulation change at delivery? Review the commonly used drugs in OB: Pitocin, Cytotec, Hemabate, Methergine, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Gluconate, Ibuprofen, Tylenol w/ Codeine, Nubain, Stadol, Fentanyl, Vistaril, Ephedrine, Terbutaline, Nifedipine,

This sounds like a lot, but you really do know most of this information already. Just review it. Tell your preceptor what you're feeling good about, what you feel you need to focus on more (at first it's everything, don't worry, you'll learn). Be patient with yourself. Remember that there is not one only best way to do anything. Everyone does things a little differently and the more people you ask, the more differing answers you'll get. In time, you'll put things together into the way that works best for you. Give yourself time.

Good luck and have fun. Why would any of us put up with what we have to put up with if we didn't enjoy the heck out of helping babies get born?

[neeniebean]

Thank you so much for all of the replies and advice!

[L&DRN03]

First congrats on your preceptorship!:yeah:Second I wouldn't expect you to know a lot of L&D afterall that's the whole point of having a preceptorship. Just like the others said just skim through your old notes and textbook and try to get familiar with the terminology. Even if you don't know what it means at least it will sound familiar when you hear it again. Good luck and enjoy I can tell you from personal experience night staffs rock so I'm sure you'll fit right in.