MarcyRN3385

Thanks for all the replies and advice :) My first day on the floor was yesterday and it was an awesome day! I watched a c-section and then went with my preceptor to help with postpartum care. I know this is what I meant to do. The feeling I get when I am there is nothing I can explain. It is so nice to actually look forward to going to work and not watch the clock anxiously all day waiting for the day to end. I'm only 25 so I have many years of nursing ahead of me and this will be my main focus from now on :)

I've been an RN for 2 years now and just landed my first job in OB....my dream job! Before I even started nursing school I knew this is what I wanted to do. However, I didn't know how hard of an area it is to get into. After being unhappy working on med-surg units for the past 2 years I'm finally going to get to do what I've always wanted. I will be working in a smaller birthing center at a local hospital. I will be cross-trained in all areas and then rotate after I'm off orientation. I'm SO excited but also nervous because I know I have alot to learn. Any advice or tips for a soon-to-be OB nurse?

See I thought the same thing...I thought glyburide was more to help maintain blood glucose levels...kind of like lantus does. No...I will NEVER do that again!

About a week ago I had a patient came to our unit after a peripheral angiogram (I work on a med-surg unit). The patient was quite lethargic but began to come around a bit after he got settled in his room. He was diabetic (type 2). I got a set of VS and checked his blood glucose which was 83. The patient also had a dinner tray brought down with him from recovery. With is 6pm meds he had glyburide scheduled. I went ahead and gave it thinking he was going to be eating. Well, he fell asleep. I work 7a-7p so I reported of to the next nurse coming on at 7. Well, the patient's blood glucose ended up bottoming out and they had to give him an amp of D50 that night. Throughout the next day he was practically non-responsive according to the staff (I wasn't there the next day). Normally a peripheral cath patient is discharged in the am after the procedure but d/t his hypoglycemia he had to stay an extra day. This is all my fault and I feel TERRIBLE! I have been a nurse for 1.5 years and this is my first major med error. I am beating myself up about it and keep asking myself....what was I thinking? I also failed to check the order which stated to hold the glyburide if blood glucose if below 150! I feel absolutely horrible! My NM told me not to stress about it...it happens...but if I would have just doubled checked my orders it wouldn't have. From now on my orders will be VERY thouroughly checked before giving ANY med. Has this kind of thing happened to anyone else?

Thank you so much for all the replies...I know a wonderful person in HR that may be able to help, also a nurse educator who really likes me with ties to OB. I will look into AWHONN and getting certified in NRP and basic fetal monitoring...I am already ACLS certified. I have tried calling the Nurse Manager but I got her voice mail and she never called back . I've heard that she is VERY picky about who she hires...which is good all NMs should be...but I just want a chance! Hopefully soon I will be on here with some good news about a wonderful new job I have :)

Ok so here is my story. I am an RN and have been since May 2008. My first job was on a med-surg unit and I worked there for approximately 7 months, then had a baby and during my maternity leave was offered a higher paying job at a plasma donation center. I HATED the plasma center and worked there from March 2009-November 2009...couldn't stand being there any longer...I was bored to death! So I recently went back to med-surg...same hospital I was at previously but different campus (and unit). I like it...can't say I love it...but it's a job. My true passion is OB...any area...L&D, Mother/Baby, NICU...it wouldn't matter. I LOVED my clinical rotation in OB and once I set foot on that unit I knew that this was my calling. I loved every minute I was there. There are only 2 hospitals in my area that have OB units and both frequently have positions open. I cannot tell you how many positions I have applied for and have never even gotten a phone call. I'm so frustrated! What does it take? Then to top it off...I was in orientation in Nov for my new job and there was a women sitting next to me who was hired for OB (a RN). I began talking to her and told her how much I wanted to work in OB someday and asked her where she has worked previously and she stated "I haven't I just graduated"....I was furious!! Why would they hire a new grad over someone who actually has experience?? Please if anyone can give some tips that may help me get into this area I would appreciate it. Anything special I could put on my resume/application? Any special certifications I could get without having OB experience. I'm planning on going on for my BSN..possibly starting this fall which I know may help. Any other advice??

Just hang in there ok? I also agree that you may need to take some time off for yourself. Just one day could make a HUGE difference. I wish I would have done that. I was like you...studying all the time and was SO stressed out. By the end of my first semester I was a basket-case and I ended up dropping out of the program. I didn't think I wanted to be a nurse anymore. But now I realize what I BIG mistake I made and I really do want to be nurse, more than anything. I'm now planning on going back and this time I will finish..I'm determined! So don't let this tough time get to you. Think about how happy you are going to be on your graduation day and what it'll be like to be able to put RN after your name, how proud you will feel :). Just don't do what I did and give up. Because I really, really regret it now. But now I have set my mind to it and I know I will make it and I will be a nurse. So just hang in there and it'll all be over with before you know it. Hugs!!