loving2

I'm looking for information on 2nd degree options/bridge programs for RN-MSN. I have a BS in Health Education. I also have an ADN and currently work as a hospital staff RN. But I have no BSN. I'm just gathering info at this point, as I am undecided on which path I want to take. Either MPH or MSN, but I know that I want to bridge and I want to take classes online. Thanks!

I am terrified of cord prolapse. I've been in L&D for 3 years and each time I check a pt I am literally sick with fear that I'll feel a cord. Will it be obvious (like strong vibrating)? FHR? So I will feel it immediately upon vag exam? I don't like to go fishing in there, but you know some of those cervixes are very posterior.

Besides cephalic and footling, what are some other presenting parts you've felt? I've heard chin, ear, double footling, scrotum, lady parts and even rectum (the nurse actually put her fingers right inside baby's rectum on exam)!Have you ever had a pt get to "complete" before you/doc realized baby was not vertex? Obviously I've had this happen and I guess I'm looking for reassurance that it does happen (even to the most experienced nurses).

No mandatory call requirement at my job. Thank goodness! They should hire more RNs

Many LD nurses on my unit are young, some unmarried and don't have children. They get offended when a patient or family member remarks that they've never been through childbirth. I can attest that these nurses are excellent! The same goes for a few nurses that I know that have only given birth via c-section. They have never "pushed". They, too, are very knowledgeable and great LD nurses! What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel that nurses without personal childbirth experiences are not as "connected" with their patients? Do you feel that personal experience is necessary/helpful?

Unfortunately we require continuous EFM so our moms are limited to how far the cords will reach (which isn't far at all). They really can't walk around except to the BR. I usually tell them to "take plenty of time in the bathroom" and walk around the room when they finish (wink, wink). We don't have birthing tubs, nor do we have balls. I've noticed some women don't like to be touched so counter-pressure doesn't work. And some women, strangely, want to stay in bed. I don't want to aggravate them by doing something they don't like I guess I'm just wondering what RNs do at the bedside while their pt is in active labor or transitioning? Do you stay quiet and just "be there"? Many (if not most) of the RNs that I work with do not spend much time at the bedside. My preceptor once told me that I needed to "get in and get out". So I never observed how to really "support" mommas.

I've been in L&D for almost 2 years. I'm almost embarrassed to ask this, but I need some suggestions on supporting momma's choosing med-free labor. The majority of our pts choose an epidural so it is very rare for me to care for a pt without one, unless they walk in and precip. Specifically I need comfort techniques. Unfortunately I never had this training on orientation. I could also use some suggestions on books to read. Thanks.

Thanks for your advice! I'm not really worried about falling off the career track. I plan to stay in my specialty for a long time. I've found my niche :) I just need to make sure I work enough to keep up my skills. Besides, I feel that working nights is already a disadvantage since I'm not visible to administration. I'm planning for this to be temporary. My oldest will start Kindergarten this fall and my middle child will start pre-K in fall 2013. I'll go back to FT status then. From what I understand (I need to confirm this), the scheduler on our unit asks the PRN staff which days/nights they can work. They organize the FT staff around PRN availablity. I know that is really crappy, but we are short staffed so that is how they they fill in the gaps (just a little backwards in my opinion). There are some PRN staff that request to work the same schedule each week and their request is honored. I know I will financially need at least one shift per week, possibly two. We always have a "needs list" posted so I know I there are shifts available. I'm just nervous that I'll regret dropping to PRN. For instance, I will give up my FTEs and won't be able to bounce back into a FT position when I want to. There is a high turnover on our unit, but there are some major changes happening (for the better) that I'm afraid will slow the turnover rate. I really want to jump into a "day" position in a couple of years and I'm afraid I will be knocked off the list.

I'm currently working night shift (7p - 7a...ugh) and I hate it. I'm also pregnant so that makes things 10x worse. Anyway, I was thinking about switching to PRN after my baby is born. It will give me more time at home with my 3 kids and I can choose between day shift and/or night shift. I'm planning to work at least one 12hr shift per week, possibly two. I will also earn at least $10 more per hour (not including shift diff). I don't need benefits since I'm covered under my husband's health insurance. Anybody have advise on PRN status? Experience? Good idea, bad idea?

Would you commute to a job that you love even if it was 1 hr away? Or would you work at a job that you don't like even though it is more convenient (i.e. much closer to home, better hours for family)?

I believe there may be a *day* WEA available too. Currently, DH only works 3 days/wk. He's trying to get full time work. I never work the same days each week. Fortunately, I work 3 consecutive days, but the days are different each week so it's not a predictable schedule. WEA would be more predictable, but I would have to commit to a strict contract (only 4 days off/yr, no sick calls, etc.) I'm so torn.

I currently work days, three 12 hr. shifts. I'm new to L&D. I have two small children, ages 2 & 4. I love the hustle & bustle of days, but I'm considering switching to a night weekend alternative position. The hours would work better for our family since we won't need daycare and the shift diff is great (we need money!). My concerns are lack of sleep, and possibly losing my "day" slot if I wanted to return back to days in the future. Day positions are hard to get. I'm lucky I got it. I worked one overnight shift and I spent the next day sleeping, with LOTS of interruptions from my kids. I only got 4 hrs sleep in the middle of the day. I feel like I wasted a whole day. What are your thoughts? It seems like the most experienced RNs are working nights. How hard is it to adjust? My kids won't be in school for another 2-4 yrs.

How long are most orientations/preceptorships? What characteristics make a good orientee? What is a typical timeline? For instance, what tasks should the orientee be proficient in by one month, 3 months, etc? Does your orientation include didactics/classroom instruction?

I'm new to L&D. I've had a few people, (mostly non-healthcare individuals, but also another nurse) mention that a good L&D nurse should have gone through labor herself. That way she truly knows how the patient feels. What is your take on this? I have 2 children. I labored with my first child and ultimately gave birth via emergency c/s. My 2nd child was born repeat c/s. There are a handful of nurses on my unit that don't have children and I feel they are very skilled and compassionate.

Thank you so much for explaining this! I talked to my preceptor today and she agreed that it takes practice. Today is only my 3rd day. :)

Ok, I'm brand new to OB nursing and I did my first lady partsl exam on a pt. with an epidural (thank goodness she had an epidural ). Anyway, I don't know what I'm feeling and I have no idea what my preceptor is talking about. She said I had to pull the cervix forward. The pt. was 6cm dilated and 80% effaced. There was another pt. that she had to search for her cervix. Another cervix was long. What are these terms? Should I be feeling for the cervical os?

Ha ha. No kidding!

Ok, let me say that I am THRILLED to have landed my dream job! I'm pleased to even land a job, period. Especially in L&D, as I've heard it is very difficult to get a job in L&D where I live. I know how tough the market is for any nursing specialty. I have been a RN for 5 years, all community nursing. Health Educator for 6 years prior. No acute care experience. I have a BS in Health Education. Strong background in teaching. My new job is in L&D where there is a lot of teaching. Perfect! Now, here's my issue. My base pay is that of a NG. The hospital states I have no acute care exp. so they have to pay me as a NG. I agree with that to a point, but I feel that I should receive a little more compensation for 1)being a nurse for 5 yrs. I still have other nursing skills, maybe not all the *clinical* skills you have in a hospital; and 2)I have a bachelor's in a health-related field. After my night differiental, I am somewhat comparable (well, $1-$2 less) than the other local hospitals. I spoke with the HR manager about negotiating my salary and she said I would have to discuss that with the DON and my nurse manager. I don't want to rock the boat too much, but I thought I could ask for an evaluation in 6 months or 1 yr. At that time we could consider increasing my salary. Of course I would need that in writing. Do you think that is fair? Should I leave it alone and count my blessings? I guess I could ask how they typically handle pay increases (what determines an increase, when, how often, etc).

I got the job in L&D! The phone call came from HR.

I know, I wonder if I should have done that too. It's out there now. I am so disgusted with everything.

You may/may not recall an earlier post about my horrible interview. My interview was with this crazy, inappropriate, unprofessional nurse manager on MedSurg. Well, 2 weeks later I interviewed in a different dept. (L&D) and the nurse manager informally offered my dream job on the spot. She has been keeping in touch via phone and email with me the past 2 weeks. I'm just waiting for the call from HR. I am so excited until today. I called HR to check my status on the L&D job and HR tells me there are 2 approvals for 2 different dept. (one in MedSurg, the other in L&D) and the DON has to decide *if* she's going to hire me, and *which* dept. she wants to put me. She said they "are wondering how dishonest" I am and think I wasn't forthcoming with the managers. WTH? It's nothing but a turf war and I'm being made to look like I'm dishonest. I told the first crazy manager that my goal is to eventually transfer to L&D but I would give her a solid, one year on her floor. (I later decided there was no way in hell I'll work for her, but I was polite at the end of the interview and left it alone). When I managed to get a word in, I told her my passion lays with women's health. I guess the crazy manager was too busy talking about herself to listen to anything I said. NO formal offer was made from HR about that job. Fast forward 2 weeks. I land an interview with L&D. Everything is great. I tell the manager I have papers in HR for the other position but no formal offer was made and I don't want the job anyway. She said that's fine. How am I being dishonest? I feel like this crazy MedSurg manager is making trouble. I will be so upset if I lose this job in L&D b/c of this drama! When talking with HR today I mentioned that no offer was made from HR on either job. I told her even if the MedSurg job was offered I decided I wasn't going to take it b/c of the experience I had with the manager during my interview. That interview was one month ago and I still haven't gotten an offer from HR anyway. She probed about my experience and I told her everything that happened. The racial comments that were made about other nurses, the plans to "clean up the floor" and fire people, the bad-mouthing other nurses and using first names, etc. I told her how unprofessional the interview was and that I was turned off. These were all reasons I decided I would not take that job if it were offered. Why can't I interview with other departments if no contract has been signed? I don't understand that. Yes, it territorial, but my goal is to work in L&D and that was mentioned in my interview. Now that I've finally made it (maybe) to L&D I get a roadblock. So now I have to wait until DON decides if I can have the L&D job. HR is supposed to meet with the DON today. I'm sure this will be discussed.

I can relate. I am (hopefully) leaving my school nurse job to work in L&D. My job right now is low-stress, and I get so much time off (weekends, holidays, 2 weeks winter break, spring breaks, summer break, etc). I have a toddler and preschooler. However, my hubby is unemployed and we need the money. A position in L&D opened and I never in a million years thought I would even be considered. I've always wanted to work L&D. I know it will be a huge adjustment for our family, but I don't know when/if the opportunity will present itself again. I hate, hate, hate leaving my kids every morning, 5 days a week. It's always hard to juggle family and work. The guilt is horrible. I say go for it with an open mind. It doesn't sound like your current job is secure. What if you pass this opportunity then your current job crumbles?

I'm hoping to go for my IBCLC in the next year or so. Hopefully I'll get the L&D job that I interviewed with last week. That will help tremendously.

My interview for my dream job was one week ago. The hiring manager/head nurse basically offered me the job "informally" on the spot. We really clicked and she told me I have the job. She even walked me to HR to sign some papers to get the ball rolling. I have not heard from HR. The nurse manager did email me and said she would "be in touch" with me. What should I do? Should I call HR and check the status? I know HR is short-staffed, but my orientation starts in 3 weeks and I'm not going to resign until I get a formal offer.

No case scenarios. I prepared by researching the hospital website and looked for key words in the job announcement, such as "family-centered nurse" "passionate" and "great communication skills". I used those words a lot when I interviewed. I showed enthusiasm. I told her I was flexible with scheduling. I was upbeat. A quick learner. I mentioned a few books that I was interested in reading. Check the sticky on this forum. She asked questions like what are your strengths? Weaknesses? What is your confidence and self esteem level on a 1-10 scale? Long term professional goals? She seemed more interested in finding the right fit and personality. She wants nurses with a good personality because the clinical skills can be taught (in her words). Be personable and show the interviewer you can establish rapport. I feel that is always important. I broke the ice early. Good luck.