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!

It is SO hard to get a position in L&D, so I say take it, because at least you are in, and see what happens from there. You NEVER know what can happen, but if you don't take the position now whatever is available now may not be available soon. Take it, get all the experience you can, and go with it for now. Jennie

OK, sorry I started the thread as such. I was just venting, but it was great to see both sides of the coin. Of course not ALL nurses are this way, it's a general phrase. I have heard it by new grads as well as seasoned nurses, it's a cliche, go with it. As for being me being sensitive, yes, I am more than others, but that's what also makes me compassionate and patient because I get affected by so much more. I absolutely LOVE what I do with a passion, but unfortunately MOST (NOT ALL) of the nurses I work with on the night shift are burnt to a crisp and take advantage of this newbie. YES, I allow it to happen, but I also enjoy having patients to keep me awake in the middle of the night. My hospital is not unionized, so things go under the radar, and the rumor mill never passes my way so often times I find out things after they are already done. By the way, the new nurse they hired for a full time day position without posting is already gone, she couldn't believe she was going to have to work weekends. The seasoned nurses got a kick out of that one. Of course, I would work EVERY weekend for that spot, but once again, because of political reasons I CAN NOT understand, I am forced (unless I leave) to stay on nights.

OK, I took the part of jealousy out of there, poor words on my behalf. My bad, don't shoot me. I do need to acquire a hard shell if I am going to survive in this profession, and that is something I think takes years to acquire. I am sorry if anyone got insulted in any way from this post, that is not my intention, I am just curious as to why newer nurses are treated a certain way by the more seasoned nurses. No harm, no foul, just an observation AT MY HOSPITAL, doesn't mean it happens at every hospital. At any rate, any other newbies out there who feel the same way, please let me know what your experiences have been. Thanks again! Jennie

Thanks again, I appreciate both sides of the coin. I can totally tell who has been a nurse for a long time and who are newbies just by the responses. No need for any hostility, it's just an observation I have made from being where I have been for the last year, and the nurses who have been around for a long time are definitely more impatient, nasty and downright mean to me, but that's there problem. Nobody "handed" me this job, I worked my ass off for it. I went back to school later on in life (I am in my 40's) to only do L&D nursing, even after everyone I ever met told me I would never be able to get a position as a new grad in L&D, I was determined, and I did it. I will be damned if someone tries to take that away from me. I LOVE what I do, I am sorry that I didn't have to do 1-2 years of med-surg, but I thank God for where I am today. Again, thanks for the responses, and keep them coming! Jennie

Thanks for responses, please keep them coming. I guess it also has to do with working with all women, and we all know how we can get at times. I LOVE what I do, I can't imagine doing anything else right now, I just wish I could do it at different hours, but I am BLESSED to be given the chance, but on the other hand, please don't make me feel like I should kiss the floor you walk on. I am the first to ALWAYS take a patient, even if their are 6 nurses on, and only 1 patient, at change of shift I jump at the chance for more experience. I am a team player, and am in someone else's delivery to just be an extra set of hands, even if it's just to write the baby bracelets, because I know how it feels to be all alone. Nobody does that for me, and I can't help that. I feel like everyone is so burnt, and I am sure that I will get there someday as well, but right now, please, let me revel in this beautiful time in a person's life, and so what if they are needy, and so what if they thought their would be no pain involved, and so what if I had to push with them for 3 long hours, if I changed just one person's life, then I have made all the difference. Jennie

I received my DREAM JOB last June in L&D as a new grad and was basically taught everything I know from my wonderful preceptor. I was hired for nights, because that was what was available at the time of hire, but let the nurse manager know right then and there that IF EVER a day time position opened up, and nobody else wanted it, I would be very interested. I oriented on days for 8 months, and started the night shift about 8 weeks ago. Right before I was going to nights it was clear that days were being shorted, and they were going to open up a day spot. NOBODY FROM NIGHTS WANTED THIS POSITION, and I inquired about it with my "fellow coworkers". Well, what I got was the complete opposite of what I expected. These "fellow coworkers" who complimented me on a daily basis of what a great learner I was, a team player, and a wonderful DR nurse turned on me so fast that my head was spinning. When I privately asked my preceptor what everyone was so upset was, she pointed her finger in my face and sternly said "I SAT IN ON YOUR INTERVIEW 8 MONTHS AGO, AND YOU CLEARLY STATED THAT YOU WWOULD WORK NIGHTS!" She then went on to say that people would be very angry if I went to the day shift being a brand new grad and all. Again, let me remind you, NOBODY WANTED THE DAY POSITION. Then, a per diem day person decided to take it. 2 months later, in walks a nurse from another hospital who was hired to work days, never saw her before, no job was posted, nothing. Just came out of the blue. Again, I questioned it, and had my head bit off from many people who think I have no right to inquire or even desire a day shift so soon in my "career". Anyway, just wanted to vent, can anyone explain why this occurs? All input is greatly appreciated. TIA! Jennie

I am looking to get my NP in women's health, and would like to do it online, part time, on my time. Can anyone recommend any accredited programs that have this curriculum? Thanks in advance.

So I worked 3 nights in a row, to get them out of the way, and I have to say that I did survive, and that my worrying was really not that necessary. It wasn't too bad. First night was the worst, of course, the 2nd night I thought "I can NOT do this" and by the third night I was fine. I am looking forward to my 4 days off in a row, and I hope I don't have a hard time readjusting to days. I got home from work this morning and slept for only 3 hours and then I forced myself to get up, so hopefully tonight I will sleep long and hard. My sleep during the days that I worked was not good, I would sleep for 3 hours, wake up to go to the bathroom, then sleep on and off for the remaining 3-4 hours, but I never felt "well rested" or that I ever hit that sleep cycle of deep sleep. Any advice for a newbie? I have blackout shades, ear plugs, a sound machine and eye shades, but do you EVER attain that deep sleep cycle again? TIA! CIndy

Hi all, am starting the night shift tomorrow, and was wondering if this was a safe product to use, and if it is, how many mg. do you take, and when is the best time to take it? I am not a pill popper, in fact, I don't like to even take Tylenol, but I am so freaked out by starting nights, I just am looking into alternatives in case I need to. I am sad because I am finally doing what I love to do - L&D, and being a new grad right out of school, my hospital had me on an extra long orientation - 8 months, so if I am unable to do nights, I am going to have some problem. It's so hard to find day jobs in L&D, so I really want this to work. TIA!

Thanks to all have answered me. I appreciate it SO much. Just a few questions: Kate, you said you have earplugs that work great, what brand are they? And all of you on the night shift, whats the best way to work, do your 3 in a row? Spread them out? Please let me know. Again, thanks, you are all a GOD SEND! Cindy