tn_sunshyne

All these post sound so familiar........I work at a University Hospital that also specializes in high risk pregnancies as well. In our schedule book we have spaces for up to 8 inductions, that doesn't count the scheduled C/S or BTL's. I find that at our hospital we generally have more inductions on Mon and Fri (Fridays being the worst), this does not count the pt who come in laboring, PPROM, PIH, or any regional referals from outlying hospitals. Lets not talk about the inductions before any of the holidays, when our doc's don't want to be there so they can spend time with their families. But the ones that get us are the pt's that come from the office either for C/S or inductions and strangly enough have been NPO since midnight (coincidence......I think not!) Or here is one that we have seen a lot here recently, induction for "short stature"......okay that's a C/S waiting to happen! Or occassionally get "social inductions" because the pt is a friend of a doctor. Somedays we are spread so thin that we never get a chance to get a break or even go to the bathroom for that matter. But we do have an awesome nurse manager who has been trying to get things changed. Only time will tell. Just glad to know it's not just us.

I was a new grad 3 yrs ago and started off in L&D (my dream job) at a busy university hospital, was told by many that I needed to work med-surg for 2 or 3 yrs to gain experience. I was fortunate enough that my department had an awesome 3 week orientation for new grads which consisted of "class work" studying fetal monitoring strips, learning about PIH, GDM, PTL, high risk pregnancies, fetal demises, learn about medicines that were used in pregnancy etc... We had to take "test" to show our understanding. Then we were placed with a preceptor for 10 weeks out on the floor where we learned how to bring all this information together and practice our skills. We learned how to care for laboring pts, pre-op c/s, circulate in the OR, recover c/s and tubals, take care of PIH and PTL pt's, work in triage. By the end of my orientation I had learned a lot and felt overwhelmed. A fellow nurse told me it usually takes about 2 yrs to feel comfortable in L&D. She was right. It has been 3 years now and I don't regret the path I chose, I love my job as an L&D nurse, it is the most rewarding job I could ever imagine having. I truly feel this was my calling in life, you are a part of a very intimate moment in a families life. I think until you feel comfortable with the knowledge and the care you give you will always second guess yourself, but in time it all comes together. Good luck and best wishes!

In our hospital (which is a University teaching hospital), it is our policy to ask all family members to step out while placing the epidural. Generally there is one nurse and anesthesia resident or SRNA and the attending anesthesioligist present. Maybe local or private hospitals practice different standards.