mandykatrn

Thank you to all those who responded! This is very helpful!!

Hello - I am new to Labor & Delivery. I'm still in orientation, and have so much yet to learn. I am starting to get a handle on labor, but deliveries are still quite overwhelming. I was hoping you all could help me identify potential things I should be looking out for during 2nd stage and delivery -anticipating complications, what the doctor may need, etc. I want to prioritize the nursing skills and tasks expected during a delivery. So far all the deliveries during my orientation have not been complicated. I am nervous, as my orientation is almost over! Thanks for your insight and expertise!

Thanks for the replies! :kiss These are very good ideas and I will call my brother with these suggestions! I'm also going to call the medical school where my brother has been getting treated and see if they can do anything.

Got a pretty dire situation developing for my brother in France. He is attending a university there until May. He's a hemophiliac and requires prescription medication daily. He could only take a 90-day supply with him when he went over. He mistakenly thought that my dad would be able to send his re-fills there as he needed it. But it's illegal to ship prescription medication from the U.S. to France unless it is from one corp to another. Fed-Ex won't do it. My dad has tried every avenue he can think of to get my brother's meds to him. As a desperate last resort, he even tried sending them through regular mail which was a huge mistake because $5000 worth of meds are now lost. If I could afford it, and take the time off work, I'd fly over there with his meds. But it's out of the question for me. My dad isn't in a position to go over there either. Surely my brother isn't the first overseas student this has happened to?! My brother is down to his last 7 days worth of meds. If he doesn't get a new supply, he'll have to come home. My heart is breaking for him because he's been through so much and it seems his dreams just keep getting crushed. Isn't there a way to get his meds to him? Anybody have experience in this kind of situation? Can his doctor phone his prescription over there? Any suggestions or experiences please!!!

Not in my neck of the woods...

Deleting original post because the situation has been resolved and I'm at peace with my decision. Thanks for all the replies.

Deleting original post because the situation has been resolved and I'm at peace with my decision. Thanks for all the replies.

Well, I'm not too surprised you have to pay for the childcare. Honestly, I would expect to. But the way they advertise the on-site child care as one of the perks of working there is VERY misleading. There is a waiting list to get your child in (the younger the child, the longer the wait), and it only runs during the day!!! Okay, call me crazy, but it's not usually that difficult to make childcare arrangements when working day shift... try finding good overnight childcare. So much for them thinking of their noc shift!!

:confused: this contradicts "...but in terms of direct patient care...it's an all rn law in california for labor and delivery" from a previous poster above. can someone elaborate what the "all rn law" in california l&d means? thanks!!

This is what I've seen as one of the differences between working for a union or non-union hospital.

i have pasted the following from the ncsbn web site: http://www.ncsbn.org/testing/candidates_035dfe94afab47c9b122fb318b3af377.htm 45-day re-take policy ncsbn has a new policy regarding the number of days in-between nclex administrations. this policy reduces the minimum interval of days between repeat nclex examination administrations from 90 to 45 days and became effective january 1, 2004. candidates who have applied for licensure with the participating boards of nursing will be permitted to take the nclex examination eight times a year, but no more than once in any 45-day period, unless limited to fewer re-takes by the desired jurisdiction of licensure. the following boards of nursing are not participating in the 45 day re-take period: california-rn, georgia-rn, guam, montana, oklahoma, puerto rico, south dakota, washington and west virginia-rn. so now, most states do have a 45 day re-take policy. unfortunately, there are a few states who don't that are in bold above. hope this helps.

Yes, I have definitely found that to be the case. Especially at union-affiliated hospitals, because they go by seniority when filling open positions. Since days tends to be the most desired shift, those RNs that have "done their time" doing nights will (rightfully) get first preference over new-grads when day shift openings occur. I emphasize with the day-care situation. I'm currently dealing with that issue myself. I'm a single parent, and will be working night shift in maternity and I have a 3 y/o. I was told it averages about a year to move to day shift. I wish hospitals were more supportive of parents. It is next to impossible to find overnight childcare.

Thank you! The feeling is sooooooo wonderful - and then getting your license with "RN" on it - wooohooo!!! :balloons:

Thank you surgeryrn. I felt like my mom was there in spirit. When I told my dad that I passed, I burst into tears saying I wish mom knew - and he said, "she knows." It made me feel better. I'm going to work in labor & delivery. First I have to move. I didn't want to move until first making sure I passed the NCLEX. Now I have to find a place to live - in San Diego. The stress never ends, but this is a good kind of stress. Much better than the stress of the NCLEX!!! :) You're lucky to be almost done with orientation. Good luck with your career. I'm so happy for you. Enjoy your success!

congratulations!!! :balloons: i had a feeling you would be posting good news! yes, i really do know how you feel! getting 265 questions was the worst. i was there for 4 hours. i was definitely not expecting that. when i took the lpn exam last year i got the minimum number of questions (85) and was out of there in 45 minutes! but the rn test really kicked my butt. i had to keep reminding myself that as long as the computer kept throwing questions at me i was still in the game. i had a cold, couldn't breath, was trying not to disturb the other test takers by coughing, and they had to bring in tissues for me, only 2 at a time. my head was so congested it felt like it was in a vice. not the ideal test taking experience! :rotfl: yes, i tried to reschedule the exam, but all the test dates were booked through july and i'm supposed to start my new job on the 19th (no stress there!) i was so down in the dumps when i left. i drove to the cemetery to spend some time "with" my mom. she got to see me get my lpn, but not my rn and i was sobbing. that's a whole other story. my stupid cold was getting to me and i went through a whole box of kleenix at the cemetery! i was so scared to check the pearson site that i had my son on my lap so i could squeeze him for comfort upon seeing the bad news. i was wondering how i would be able to get through taking that test again. and then when it said "pass" i still burst out crying. then i thanked god. my whole body was so worn down from the experience that it took a couple of days to actually be able to enjoy the news. anyway, congratulations to the both of us! hope you get to celebrate like you so deserve! you're an rn now!