cinthern

I would definitely shadow before jumping into it. Going to have to really think about this one!

I graduated nursing school in 2006 and went right into my passion, labor and delivery. I have been an L&D nurse for 5 years and love it. I recently was asked if i would be interested in a ER position. I have thought long and hard, and was wondering if anyone here ever made a transition from L&D to the ER and what advice, information they can offer. It would be part-time days, which is what I work now, and I would be able to still pick up hours in the DR. I would have to give up my staff position in the DR, and that will not be easy to get back. Please ER/DR nurses, all advice warranted and needed.

I have been a labor and delivery nurse for 3 years, and last year took a job at an OB/GYN office that NEVER had an RN and I had NEVER worked in an office, so I can tell you a bit of my experience. I was straight up with the docs regarding my experience, and they all basically said they realize it was an "evolving" position and we would take it week by week. I asked what my functions would be, and they gave me a skeleton outlline to work from. There were medical assistants, so I didn't place patients in the office, do vitals and draw blood. Basically I did all the telephone triage, mammogram callbacks/papsmear callbacks and some patient care if the medical asst. was too busy. It really wasn't for me as I crave patient contact face to face, not phone calls. Did they tell you what you would be doing?

I feel like I am reading my own personal story. I have been working at a hospital for 3 years in the delivery room. Started full time nights, hated nights, no day spots to be had, so I accepted a position at another hospital 2 days a week, day shift and still continue at my other hospital 1 night a week per diem. Anyway, I have been on orientation at the new hospital for 4 weeks now, was supposed to come off today, and was told by the nurse educator "it's going a lot slower than we have anticipated". I feel like a new nurse all over again, and usually drive home each shift crying because I just feel like I am not doing what is expected. The hospital actually has a LOWER census than my other hospital but the paperwork and nitpicking is ridiculous. I am honestly considering leaving except I can't go back to nights full/part time and really don't want to begin another orientation somewhere else. The politics are absolutely out of control, and my confidence feels completely shaken. Maybe we can commisserate together!

Supervisor for L&D is MaryLiz Simmons. Good Luck.

My orientation was wonderful. They kept me on days for 8 months. Then another 4 weeks on nights, although by then I pretty much had it under control. I don't know any place that would do that. I went back to school to ONLY be a labor and delivery nurse, so for me I was NOT doing med/surg, but that's my situtation/opinion, others would say the opposite. I think skills such as critical thinking, prioritizing, etc. are inate, you need to cultivate them whatever floor you are on, but either you have it or you don't. I am so happy with the path I have chosen, and I wouldn't trade it in for anything. Good luck and let me know if I can do anything to help.

Hi all ... I am an L&D nurse, graduated school in June 2006, went right into L&D and have been doing L&D for 2 years now. It took a LONG time to feel comfortable, but I am finally not looking for a closet to run into to cry anymore. OK, here's where it all goes crazy . . . I started working for a group of OB/GYN Dr's not affiliated with my hospital. This is the complete opposite spectrum from what I am used to doing, and I am feeling EXTREMELY stressed out at the responsibility that I now have at the OB/GYN. I am responsible for calling patients with lab results ranging anywhere from "your pap is normal" to "your mammogram shows something that needs to be followed up by . . . ". I am giving patients injections, signing my name to RX's as per the Dr., etc., etc., etc. I AM SO NERVOUS! I have only been a nurse for 2 years, and I find the work in the office fascinating, and I am loving that I am learning so much, but I AM NERVOUS that I am going to say the wrong thing, say too much, not say enough. PLEASE, somebody calm my fears! Is it TOO soon for me to take on this responsbility? I am only working 2 days in L&D and 2.5 days at the OB office. Is there some book that would be a good resource to have for OB/GYN? ALL COMMENTS MUCH APPRECIATED! Reenie

Where will you be going to school? Are you starting from scratch, or returning to get another degree? This is my 2nd career, I ONLY wanted to do L&D, and I LOVE it. I am so happy doing what I do. What doctor's do you go to now?

I LOVED Dr. Ascensio. She moved to Pennsylvania. Last time I saw her she had just had her second baby and was doing a delivery at the hospital 4 days after. She was crazy like that. Are you a nurse?

Ponchie ... I am a labor and delivery nurse there. Who was your doctor? And to the first poster regarding how the hospital is, give me your email address and I will email you privately. Reenie

Thanks for all who responded. I am siding on staying put because I know there really is no IDEAL job, and what I have now is not that bad, it's tolerable, so why jeopardize that "safety net" for a few more dollars and a day shift position. I have another job interview on Thursday for a hospital similar to the one I am at now, so maybe this will be the deciding factor! I'll let you all know. Cindy

lORICATUS ... I read your PM, for some reason I can not reply to it, so again I thank you for your view. I actually have a job interview on Thursday at NYH Queens in L&D, is there anything you can tell me about that hospital? Cindy

Loricatus ... I emptied my PM folder. Sorry about that. Please PM me and let me know your thoughts on the hospital, I GREATLY appreciate it as I need to have a decision by the end of the week. Thanks! Cindy

Hi guys, what can you tell me about LIJ hospital in New Hyde Park? All experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi everyone . . . I am a labor and delivery nurse, and have been doing this for close to 2 years now. I was hired by only 1 hospital when I graduated because I only wanted to do L&D, and nobody else was hiring new grads except for the community hospital I presently work for. I was hired for nights, and have ALWAYS expressed an interest to go to days if and when something became available, but have been passed over twice now for various reasons. I have been through hell and back there, mostly because of the new career decision later on in life, and learning something COMPLETELY foreign to me, and I finally feel SOMEWHAT comfortable in my skin. Anyway, enough of the history, let me get to the point. I have been offered a DAY position at another hospital that does 2.5X more the amount of deliveries that where I am working now, and the accuity level is off the charts. Mag sulfate is routine, twin, triplets very common, cardiac patients, you name it, that's where these patients are sent. My question is this: What would you do? YES, the money IS more at the busier hospital, but IS IT WORTH IT? I would like opinions from both sides, those from the smaller hospitals, those from the busier hospitals. I am 40 years old, so I am not as young as a lot of the girls there, should I stay or should I go? THANKS SO MUCH GUYS!