Jlb2012

I was an ER nurse for 3 years and transitioned to LandD nursing a year-and-a-half ago. It was a fairly seemless transition and I've always said reminds me a lot of the ER. You can have one assignment and a placental abruption walks off the elevator and you go into critical care/OR mode, that feels a lot like a code in the ER. That being said, ER nursing was invaluable, in that it taught me how to think critically (physiologically-what's going on with the momma/baby?), how to prioritize care, and how not to panic when things get crazy (I.e. a "bad baby who needs some sort of resuscitation after a shoulder dystocia, or a postpartum hemorrhage). It is a specialty and has a language that you have to learn, but that's nursing. It doesn't matter what you remember from nursing school. You'll learn it in greater detail. I'm in a small community hospital (500+ births per year) so I've been fortunate enough to work as a labor nurse and postpartum nurse. Both different with different challenges but very rewarding. I always say that in the ER- you often meet patients on the worst day of their lives. In LandD- the worst day of their lives becomes their best. Good luck!