INFJ

Questions: 1. Do you circulate your c sections? Does your unit provide the scrub tech & baby nurse also? Yes...we also are trained to scrub & assist as RNs, & we have a neonatologist and a NICU nurse at every c/s. 2. Do you do all of them (scheduled vs. unscheduled, day vs. night, etc.)? Yes 3. Do you recover them as well? Where (in a PACU in your unit, in a pt room, in main PACU, etc.?) Yes, we have our own PACU with 5 beds 4. Do you recover them by yourself, or with another employee or nurse present? Does anesthesia stay present with you & pt? Only one RN recovers. CRNA accompanies us to the PACU & stays for the 1st set of VS...if VSS then they leave. Anesthesiologist will stop by periodically & check in. We stay with pt for 1hr (if all is well) then xport to pp. 5. Where does the baby go? Recovers with you and mom? Baby goes to the well baby nursery with Dad if appropriate or NICU - Dad can go see baby get "checked into" NICU and then has to leave. 6. Is there a baby nurse with you if so? n/a 7. How many deliveries do you do per month? 350-400...500 on busy months

We give 500 LR with 30 units of Pit infusing to gravity as soon as the placenta is delivered. Most of our docs have standing orders and expect the RN to start free-flowing Pit as soon as we hear them say "placenta is out". Protocol is to give a total of 2 bags of 500ml LR with 30 units of pit. If bleeding is okay by that time, we are usually allowed to d/c the IV. As most others have mentioned, IVs are the standard of care for all patients. I think I've only heard of one come in recently with a birth plan that stated that she wanted a "help lock". Which is hilarious in its own right.... if you're gonna request it, at least learn to spell it. But I digress...

I'm a new grad in L&D and I'm doing a 9 week orientation. I precepted on the unit for about 4-5 months while I was finishing my BSN. 6 weeks of my orientation are on L&D, 1 week on Antepartum, 1 week Circulating in the OR and 1 week Scrubbing in the OR. I will be done in 2 weeks. I'm super excited and very nervous. It really seems like things can go south FAST in L&D! I totally love it! I'm a born L&D junkie! I STILL can't believe that this is my JOB!! I'm in love! Amy

Thanks guys! I am seeing a trend with most of the people who took 75 questions and thought it was a monster. I just hope that it works that way for me, too! I did a whole lot of Saunders (from the book, as well as the CD), but I did all of the questions and CD in the Kaplan NCLEX-RN book. I also got a book at a Sylvia Rayfield review course that I went to and did most of the questions in it, as well as attended a HESI review (which stunk). I don't really feel that the questions were like what I was practicing, they were much harder and much less cut and dry. Keep your fingers crossed!!!! Amy

I took it in AL...we have the fast results check, so I'll know on Thursday. I have GOT to find something to preoccupy my time! Right now I'm just obsessing and 2nd guessing everything! I have no idea how to feel! Good luck on Monday! =)

Just finished taking NCLEX-RN. It cut off at 75 questions...I think I only knew about 3 of the answers for sure. It was the hardest thing that I've ever taken -- it made HESI seem easy! I am so scared that I failed. I feel numb...shellshocked, really. I feel like after all of this school it comes down to this crappy feeling! Plus...I KNOW that I KNOW so much more than this test reflected! I'm just PRAYING that I don't have to do this again! Plus I have my DREAM job in L&D and don't want to have to tell my nurse manager that I'm a failure.... Words of wisdom???? Amy:chair:

YAY!!! Congrats everyone!!! I start my job orientation Monday, May 22 for Labor & Delivery... Waiting for my ATT to take NCLEX!!! I'm SO ready to be an RN!!!! Good Luck!!! Amy

Hi! You asked a great question...maybe I can help a bit! I will graduate in May and I have been hired as an L & D nurse. I have a BA in Psych and a Master's in Counseling. You are wise to steer clear of social work (from a money standpoint!). In my opinion (and very limited experience) one of the things that I love about L & D nursing is the fact that there is a psych/counseling/social work aspect to it. What I mean is, there is always a family dynamic present surrounding the patient. Sometimes you see patients with broken families, no support system, no money to provide food for themselves or their children, and sometimes you see women and families who are going through seriously tough times (i.e., chance of delivering prematurely, fetal demise, fetal anomolies, etc.)...and then you also see the joy of couples who have been trying to conceive for a long time and it finally happened. I believe that L & D is a great place to combine nursing skill, critical thinking, and some psych/social work aspects. I fell in love with L & D because I believe that it is a special priviledge to take care of someone as they are bringing a new life into this world. I fell in love with the emotions and the science of it all! Forgive my rambling....you have no idea how pumped up I am about becoming an RN....especially one in L & D! Hope this has helped somewhat! Amy

Yay! Congratulations! How do y'all decide where students go for preceptorship? We do a lottery and I'm hoping that there will still be a chance to actually get where I want.... Congrats again! Amy:lol2:

I'm so glad that this warning is already posted. I had my L & D clinical yesterday and the nurses were telling us to tell all of our friends who are on it, because evidently, very young women are throwing PEs and dying! That's craziness....this is going to be a huge scandal!

Wow! Thanks for the reply. I am sorry that they were "snobby" to you at Crestwood. I guess it doesn't really surprise me. I just expect HR folks to be excited to see RNs...because they are the majority of employees and there is a shortage, right?!? Since you are working at HH, can you tell me about how the benefits package? Like, is 401K available? How much can you put in? If you don't need insurance through HH, can you exchange that for extra pay? My husband is totally hounding me to figure these things out, because *hopefully* I will be working there after May! Also, how long did it take before they offered you the job? Did you interview with HR as well as the Nurse Manager? Ok...I have totally bombarded you with questions! I hope it's not too overwhelming. I am graduating in May and I'm dying to know answers to these questions - I just feel like there is no one that I know to ask! Thanks!!! Amy :)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/postpartumdepression.html www.postpartum.net www.postpartum.org I hope these help...I just used them in a post-partum teaching assignment! Amy:)

Hi! I am in my next-to-last semester in UAH's nursing program! There are a million arguments for ADN vs. BSN and I'm not even going to go there! In my opinion, that's a personal choice =) But, what I can help you with is to tell you a little about UAH's program and what I've heard and seen of Calhoun's. UAH has a great program. It's super intensive and really heavy on "book smarts" and knowledge. One major difference in the nursing curriculum between BSN at UAH is that you have to take a research class and a leadership & management course. The faculty at UAH is very supportive and helpful. I really haven't had any complaints other than my clinicals so far (of course not counting OB or Peds) have been cardiac...which means I haven't seen much other stuff - this doesn't occur with everyone, I just had crappy luck. I hear that they are really good to their grads and are willing to write recommendations and help get jobs and get in grad school, etc. I think that the year that I got in (2004), the GPA cut off was around 3.0 or so. I had a few pre-reqs that I took at Calhoun, so that is where I know most of my information from about there... They seem to get more clinical time and focus more on the skills and "on-the-job training" aspect. I also know that it is very hard to get in to the program. I'm not sure of the number that they accept, but I think there are only 5 or so required classes for entry into the nursing program (Math, English, and a couple of others) and other classes (Anat & Phys I & II and Micro) are considered *extra points* toward getting you accepted. The only downfall that I heard from people applying to that program was that there were people who took the Math, English, etc. several times in order to get all A's to get accepted into the nursing program. I do know that they were increasing the number that they were going to accept due to the high amount of applicants. The GPA cut off in 2004 was something crazy high, like 3.75 or so. Both Calhoun and UAH get to do clinicals at Huntsville Hospital, Crestwood, Decatur General, N AL Regional, Athens-Limestone (for preceptorship). My main reasoning for choosing a BSN at UAH is that this is my second degree, so I already had everything for my core classes for another 4 year degree except for Anat & Phys, Micro, and Chem; so, an ADN would have taken me the exact same amount of time. I am planning on getting another Master's at some point, so that's why the BSN was the best decision for me. I really do believe that both schools are great and you won't go wrong either way. I hope that this has helped some! Please feel free to ask any more questions...I will do my best to answer them! Amy:wink2:

Thanks for the quick reply! As a soon-to-be new grad, which would you recommend doing FIRST? I have a huge interest in both and I don't want to make a mistake! Thanks again!!! Amy:)

Anyone work NICU first????

Hey guys!!! I'm with you!! I graduate in May 06 and I'm hoping for NICU or L&D. It will be a couple of months before I find out where I will get to precept, I REALLY hope that it is one of the above and NOT the crappy cardiac unit AGAIN!!!!! Let's keep each other pumped up! Not too much longer!!! Amy :)

Hey! I, too, will graduate in May and can really relate to what you are saying. I am fine with procedures - even new ones, but assessment still isn't coming easy to me. I have a really hard time hearing lung sounds - unless they are totally awful and it's obvious. While I'm sad that we're both having this problem...it makes me feel better to know that others are going through this, too. I really believe that it's "normal" at this point... Hang in there! Amy:)

I had to post today because it was my first clinical in L&D. I am SO pumped because I got to see a birth!!!! It was such an emotional and blessed experience to witness. It was so awesome as a student to see the ways in which L&D nurses touch the lives of others in such a special time! I find each and every one of the L&D nurses to be so lucky to have such a super job. After my experience today, I can say that L&D is on my short list of places that I want to spend my nursing career! Hope that you guys all know how special you are! Amy:)

Does anyone have any information on which hospital is better to work for in Huntsville? I've been to both, but have no idea regarding salary, benefits, how they treat their nurses, etc. Any info would be great! Thanks

Congratulations, guys!! I wish you the best of luck and would love to hear from either one of you about the interview process. Questions, etc. Y'all ROCK!!! Amy:balloons: :)

Hey Kristina-- Sorry, I have no info for you on S. Carolina NICUs...but I did notice that you are from Alabama (ROLL TIDE!!!)...AND, you recently passed boards - CONGRATS!! Where are you currently working? I will graduate in May 2006 and am very interested in starting in NICU. Any words of advice??? Look forward to hearing from you! Amy

I wish that I had fabulous words of advice for you....but I'm just posting to say good luck!!!! I hope VERY much that I am in your shoes in May!! Did you precept in NICU, or just apply there for a job? Please keep us posted on what happens with the interview! Thanks also to the above poster for posting your experience. It's good info to stick in the back of my mind!!!!! Good Luck!!!!!! Amy :yelclap:

What's tough to me about nursing school is figuring out how the instructors test. Before nursing school, I could just last minute cram learn and make straight As. In nursing school, you not only have to KNOW and UNDERSTAND the information, but you must be able to prove that you can APPLY it!!!! But, that's how you are tested on boards (so I hear...). I agree with the above poster that said that there is a ton of content!!!! It is SO, SO worth it!!! And I haven't even graduated yet!!! May 2006 - woo hoo!!! Amy :)

I have no information on Jeff State....but I can offer encouragement! One of my good friends went there. She did well and they helped her to get an incredible job as a L&D nurse. She has been very successful. While she was in school, one of her professors hooked her up with a unit secretary position. I hope your experience is just as great as hers! Go for it! Nursing school is tough...but worth it (I hope)!!!! Amy

Hey guys...didn't know AL was such a happening place!! If you are going to live in B-ham...Homewood is a fabulous place. Although it is very, very expensive. I have heard that Trussville has boomed in the past several years. It is north of Birmingham. The drive wouldn't be bad at all if you wanted to work in B-ham. Hoover and Oak Mountain are also nice. The major bad traffic area is 280. Yes, it is a super nice area with many nice homes, etc. but your commute to work will be a nightmare until something is done about the roads. I believe that on a nurse's salary with 2 kids, you could still live in a decent neighborhood. About B-ham crime...it is one of those places that you can easily end up in the wrong place. This is mainly referring to downtown Birmingham...especially Northside. Ensley is also horrible. I don't know much about school systems, because my husband and I don't have kids yet. I do know through friends who have children that the Oak Mountain school system and Hoover school systems are two good ones. Sorry I don't have better info on that. If it is nightlife and *fun* that you are into...B-ham does have a better nightlife. Hope this helped a little more! Amy:specs: