guamba

Im an L&D nurse and some of the best nurses I've worked with were men-yes L&D murses go into this rotation with an open mind. We are nurses and science is our base. Yes this woman has a lady parts but you're not looking at is sexually, you're looking at it scientifically. She needs one to have a baby, end of story. Don't be shy with family members or with the patient. Thank them for letting you care for them and wipe that sweat off your brow before you try and find which hole to put that foley in.

You're not going to get a job in a specialty like L&D unless you have experience so here's what you do. Instead of applying for straight RN positions, look for RN residency programs or new graduate academies. Lots of places are starting these two things and just because you aren't a new grad, doesn't mean you can't apply to them. They are for new grads and nurses looking to switch specialties alike. Best of luck!!!

Nursing school is extremely tough, especially when you have other things going on in your life an your professors expect you to devote 100% of yourself to them and their class. I get it, I've been there too. You might need an outlet of some sort-a destressor-yoga, running, laying in the park. Are you close to anyone in your class you can talk with? Do you think you need to see a counselor on a regular basis? Just remember that "this too shall pass." And it really will. Nothing stays awful forever and time heals all wounds-no matter how deep and even if it leaves a scar. I wish you the best, and I wish I could give you a hug.

I'm gonna teach you the easiest way I've ever learned---been a labor nurse for 3 years and learned this just last week. All you care about are these numbers- 10--60--12 in regards to pH--PCo2--HCo3 respectively. If the pH is above 7.10 you don't care about the gas because it's a normal value- you can call it normal and move on with your life. If the pH is below 7.10, you move on to the next two numbers. If the pH is below 7.10 and the PCo2 is above 60, you know there is a respiratory component but you want to rule out mixed acidosis so you need to look at the HCo3. If its below 12, it's normal so you know you have respiratory acidosis. If pH is below 7.10, PCo2 is below 60 but HCo3 is above 12 what do you have? Metabolic acidosis. And finally of pH is below 7.10, PCo2 is above 60 and HCo3 is above 12, you have Mixed acidosis. I hope this helps. You can PM me if you need more clarification.

You need to get un-scared to talk to managers. Part of the reason I have a job as a labor nurse is because one day, after being denied and really lied to by HR, I printed my resume, put on my interview clothes, marched down to the office of the labor and delivery manager, knocked on her door and asked her to interview me-point blank, on the spot. She did, and hired me that day. I don't know about your area, but where I live, we have Perinatal Academies where nurses learn how to be a l@d RN both didactically in the classroom and on the floor simultaneously. We only hire internally so nurses in house that work on other floors and nurses who have their RN license but are working as clinical assistants. I'd advise you to take a chance!!!!! If you don't, you'll never get the job or at least never get the chance to say you did all you could.

Even if they're ruptured!? I hate chorio so I try to stay away from ve's on ruptured patient as much as possible. I just feel like if you've worked on labor and delivery for a while you get a gut sense about when to check your patients. I told my manager the other day I don't always VE prior to epidurals and she counseled me on how I should always VE prior.......I always VE prior to fentanyl....not an epidural though.......

13. So, so sad. When I was in middle school my 12 year old classmate had a baby.....

I wondered what people's opinions were regarding VE's prior to epidural placement. I don't have a standard practice. If I feel like things are moving quickly and a mom is requesting an epidural then I'll check her. However, if she's a primip, ruptured, not at high risk for precipitous delivery, and was in early labor upon her most recent exam a few hours prior, I may not check her. What are people's thoughts? Any unit policies you have in place?

At my facility we use Alaris pumps and you absolutely should document the I&O of pitocin. It's important to know how much you're pumping into your patient and whether or not they're clearing it. You don't necessarily have to do hourly I&O documentation unless they're high risk I.e. in controlled hypertensive or pre-ecmalptic, kidney disease etc. I would bet all pumps have a volume infused option. Also, no matter how often you're titrating the mu/min (and you should be documenting this on the MAR) the ml/hr is what you're documenting on the I&O flowsheet.

Thank you!

Hi everyone! I'm looking into my first travel assignment in Denver and wondered what anyone had to say about labor and delivery nursing at Presbyterian St. Luke's and Rose Medical center. Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated and accepted!!!!!

Thank you so much!! I'm stoked.

I've never taken a travel assignment before but would LOVE to!! Any recommendations of companies to definitely sign up and definitely NOT sign with? I've applied with RN Network and Cross Country Travel Corp