Barkow

Barkow

L&D/postpartum

Member

  • Content

    111

  • Visitors

    4,569

  • Followers

    0

  • Likes

    2

All Content by Barkow

  1. L&D vs postpartum vs newborn nursery

    Barkow replied to Purple_Scrubs's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I work in a small hospital, and L&D, postpartum and nursery are all part of the same

  2. Do birth plans grate on your nerves?

    Barkow replied to cradlecrewer's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Where are all these mean and nasty L&D nurses that everyone is describing?? At my hospital we try to keep people off of monitors, without IVs, etc until a true need arises. We are all very...

  3. Do birth plans grate on your nerves?

    Barkow replied to cradlecrewer's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Just wanted to add that a few months ago a couple came in with a birth plan that included (among 100 other things) not wanting their baby to get ID bracelets! It's just frustrating when people come in...

  4. First vaginal exam

    Barkow replied to Sarah LnDHopes's topic in Ob/Gyn

    When I was a new nurse I always let patients know that I was learning, and not a single person ever objected to having both me and my preceptor do consecutive vag exams. I tried to do mostly patents...

  5. Pit management

    Barkow replied to RNBelle's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I also have a pitocin technique question - how closely do you follow a provider's order? Most order it to be increased by 2miu every 15-30 minutes, which I feel isn't necessarily enough time to see...

  6. How long was your L&D orientation?

    Barkow replied to SewHeather's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Mine was about four months as a new grad, but I work in an LDRP so postpartum, nursery, and gyn orientation are included in that amount. I would have definitely appreciated more time, but you will...

  7. How did you know you REALLY should be a nurse?

    Barkow replied to csab's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Before starting nursing school, just make sure there are other areas of nursing that you'd consider if for some reason there was no hospital near you willing to take new grads at that time. I was one...

  8. How do L&D nurses REALLY feel about natural birth?

    Barkow replied to WVUturtle514's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Nurses at my hospital are very supportive of natural birth, so long as you've really done your research and know what to anticipate, and have a very good and prepared support system with you. Most...

  9. "Caught" my first baby!!

    Barkow replied to Calzonan RN's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Kiwimid - this forum primarily consists of OB nurses (NOT midwives or docs) in the United States who are NOT responsible for doing deliveries, and we are NOT technically trained to do them (nor...

  10. What would be reasons why someone didn't like L&D?

    Barkow replied to Sarah LnDHopes's topic in Ob/Gyn

    While I generally love my job, work politics get really stressful. I also think that the nurses on my unit have way more autonomy than they should (no in-house docs overnight, and they like their...

  11. Introduction & Question

    Barkow replied to Smurfette752's topic in Ob/Gyn

    On my floor (an LDRP) PCAs take mom vitals, help clean up after deliveries, set up delivery tables, do some clerical tasks on night shift, empty/remove foleys, make beds, etc. We also frequently have...

  12. The skinny on working nights

    Barkow replied to UNC_nurseL&D's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I work 12-hour nights and at this point in my life it's awesome because I live by myself, but I'm honestly not sure how it would work out if I was married or had kids. I tend to lump my work days...

  13. Is CNM right for me?

    Barkow replied to peytonsmom's topic in Certified Nurse-Midwives, CNM

    I don't think your own birth experience should have anything to do with what your future patients would think of you, and it doesn't even need to come up. Many midwives have never given birth at all,...

  14. How much experience needed before starting CNM program?

    Barkow replied to may8755's topic in Certified Nurse-Midwives, CNM

    I almost went directly into a combined 2nd degree BS/MS CNM program because I knew I always wanted to be a midwife, but decided to just get my BSN first and work in L&D. I've been here for a...

  15. Interview Attire? Suit or no Suit...that is the question...

    Barkow replied to RiverRunner's topic in Ob/Gyn

    I echo the advice that it definitely depends what part of the country you live in. A suit would be a bit much in the rural hospital where I work, but wearing one would certainly never hurt your...

  16. SUNY Downstate (in Brooklyn)

    Barkow replied to AWanderingMinstral's topic in New York Nursing

    I'm also wondering about graduate programs at Downstate, specifically midwifery. If anyone has information about that program, or general information about ease of dealing with the administration, red...

  17. About how long is an L&D orientation?

    Barkow replied to shorty24's topic in Ob/Gyn

    As a GN on a low-risk LDRP unit I received about 14 weeks of orientation. It definitely could have been longer, but on the other hand there's no way you could ever experience everything during your...

  18. Wondering if I should continue my education.

    Barkow replied to CoRoKo2009's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Where I work (somewhat rural), about 80% of the nurses on my unit have an associate's degree. There is no pay differential between an associates and bachelors degree, and because we all take the same...

  19. Checking dilation help...

    Barkow replied to Jocee82's topic in Ob/Gyn

    Something that's really important when checking dilation is not rushing. I used to want to get in and out as quickly as possible, but the anatomy up there can be tricky on some women and by taking the...

  20. new grads entering L&D

    Barkow replied to stelarRN's topic in Ob/Gyn

    About a year ago I was hired straight into an LDRP along with another new grad. While it was definitely a LOT to get used to at first because you have to learn basic nursing skills along with all that...

  21. Night or day shifts?

    Barkow replied to NICUplease's topic in First Year After Licensure

    Night shift pros: -shift differential -aren't constantly watched by manager -more independent decision-making -don't have to wake up before dawn -better parking (day shift uses shuttle parking) -less...

  22. L and D Scrubs

    Barkow replied to zahryia's topic in Ob/Gyn

    My favorite combo is black pants with a solid, brightly colored top. I like the tops from Urbane Scrubs that have the different colored trim. For patterned tops that aren't cartoonish, Dickies has...

  23. How far does everyone commute to work?

    Barkow replied to Sandwitch883RN's topic in Ob/Gyn

    20 miles each way, takes about 25-30 minutes. I work 12-hour shifts though, so typically I'm only there 3-4 days a

  24. Process of signing up for call

    Barkow posted a topic in Ob/Gyn

    We have mandatory call on my small LDRP unit, and since we're short-staffed right now we've ended up having to take a lot more overtime and calls recently. Our basic problem is that we have no good...

  25. Question about pumping at work.

    Barkow replied to momma/babyrn's topic in Ob/Gyn

    We've had a few who pump and it's not usually a problem. Just make sure your patients are taken care of before you run off - it seems that within five minutes of someone going to pump their patients...