knufflebunny

I used to be an L&D nurse for 10 years. I left that job for 2 reasons. One, I was burned out. Two, there was a bully of a doctor that I made it miserable. I left bedside nursing and couldn't get myself to go back. I tried to take a travel position but I think I literally have PTSD. I found this opportunity to start my own mobile IV hydration business and I am loving what I do again! And the cherry on top is that I am making more than I was at the hospital and work a fraction of the time. If you have been thinking about starting your own nursing business. Don't be afraid to take that leap!!

Thanks everyone for the reply! I actually went to my managers with research because the best way to practice is through evidence base. They actually told me there were several other nurses who brought it to their attention. They put a reminder in our staff huddle to turn off IV infusions if patients are taking it PO. :) A few people have mentioned about asking the doctor who put in the order to clarify. I did talk to one of our Anasthesiologist and he agreed with me about stopping fluids when tolerating PO. The order is actually part of an order set. So after a patient delivers, they check boxes with whatever orders they want, so this order is standard for all patients after delivery.

I know this post is old but I got an interview for the RN transition program! I'm super nervous. What type of questions did they ask?

I wish we had male nurses on my postpartum floor! With our entire patient population being female and staff being female, there is way too much estrogen on the floor. Having a male nurse would be a nice change.

I actually did. My nurse friend (different hospital), her husband is the anesthesiologist at my hospital. I asked her the same question and she ran it by her husband. And they both agreed with me. I guess I needed more validation. LOL :)

Yes, I did interpret the IV access as "keep the IV in and patent!" not "keep the fluids running"! I'm curious if other postpartum floors are running IV fluids as long as these nurses are. The night shift nurses give me such appalled looks when I tell them I saline locked them. It makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong!

I am new to the hospital I am working at and they seem to run IV fluids for 24 hrs regardless how the pt is tolerating fluids. When I get a fresh C/S, the pt is on slow pit and IV fluids. If the pt is tolerating fluids well, not nauseated or throwing up, great bowel sounds, doing exceptionally well, I cut off the fluids about mid-day and continue with liquids to full liquids...etc. When I give report to the night nurse, they seem absolutely appalled. I explain to them that they are taking fluids PO and tolerating very well ...give them the whole above scenario but I can tell they are not happy or don't agree with what I did. Finally I asked one day shift nurse and she said that it is anasthesia's order to continue IV fluids for 24 hours. We look at the orders and I point out the part that says "discontinue IV if tolerating PO". She then points to another section that says, "keep IV access for 24 hrs" and says, "see that means keep fluids for 24 hrs." I do not agree with her translation of that order. What is the rational for keeping fluids going for 24 hrs if they are drinking fluids fine and output if fine...perfect scenerio basically. The entire unit practices like this so it makes me second guess what I am doing. 20 nurses vs 1. Advice/opinions please! Thanks!

Thank you!! Your response not only answered my question but was very educational! Are you a CRNA?

About a third of all my patients that get epidurals fail at the end. Why? In the beginning, the epidurals work beautifully, and then when it gets close to 8, 9, 10cm, it fails completely like they don't have an epidural at all. I call anasthesia back to try to fix it, but no matter how much they bolus, it doesn't work. Sometimes we try to replace the epidural but most of the time it's too late and they just deliver. Why does this happen?

I would recommend going straight into an RN program. Does she mean go from CNA, to LVN, then RN? In my opinion, it would be a waste of time to "go up the ladder". Especially in L&D, the majority of the job we do, only RN's can perform. I'm in a small rural hospital so we don't have LVN's or CNA's on our floor. I think in large hospitals, CNA's might be utilized, but I don't think LVN's. Either way, to learn L&D, you need to be an RN.

Hospice might be a good choice. I had a relative on hospice and I definitely appreciated the staff that helped our family through the difficult time. As for postpartum, I'm still considering it. I just don't feel the same connection I do with postpartum pt's than I do my labor pt's. But it's not totally off the table.

I'm happy to report that I got insurance today and covered to the max amount!

UGH! I can't believe I haven't gotten it yet! I literally asked everyone I knew about insurance because I was so nervous about being in such a litigious area of nursing. Not ONE said to get it. I will get coverage immediately! Does that mean the first 2 years I've been in L&D I won't be covered now. Well I guess better that I got it now than never! Thank you so much for this advice! I guess this has been the best advice on here yet rather than just figuring out my path in nursing!! Thank you!!

Yes I have considered being an IBCLC Lactation Consultant. It is definitely a route I can consider. I have also thought about working at an infertility clinic. I guess there are options for me . I wanted to see if there was some other area of nursing that I haven't considered yet. Some magical, wonderful, non-litigious area of nursing that I didn't know about :)

I am a new nurse but I have been in L&D long enough to know it's not right for me (almost 2 years now). I've talked to my fellow co-workers, my cousin who is a doctor, and some other specialty nurses, and ALL of them said not to get my own coverage because I am covered through the hospital. Do nurses typically carry a separate malpractice insurance policy?