jenib

I am a Canadian OBS nurse working in Nova Scotia (Cape Breton). I worked with UK trained midwives when I first graduated, in Ontario. I learnt more from them than any school could have taught me. They were far more hands on, and were used to doing a lot more than nurses in Canada do. In fact, MDs frequently didn't need to come for the delivery, the midwives did everything. I think you may find yourself limited here. A portfolio would be good to bring, the College of Nurses of Nova Scotia insists we maintain and update ours individually. Generally, at the interview, they will just ask you your experience, any courses you might have. The interview will probably consist of "scenarios" and how you would handle them. They may consist of anything from how to deal with a difficult doctor to an OBS emergence. The interviews are fairly standard. We usually have three management personal interviewing each person at a time. Feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. Good Luck!

I make just over $30.00/hr CAN. With overtime easily $80,000 to $90,000/YR. But unable to get time off, is it worth it?

Does anyone have any experience with cytotec/misoprostol for retained placental tissue? If it is given intralady partslly, who gives it? How long postpartum is it effective? Does anyone have a policy/proceedure at their hospital that they could share? We just recently can across using cytotec for retained tissue after a routine pregnancy and delivery, pt. hemorraged post partum, had a syntocin drip 20 hours p.p., two doses of hemobate, passed a large piece of placental tissue day 4 p.p. and cytotec was started intralady partslly on day 5 and orally on day 6. Pt. and babe remained in hospital for over 8 days. It seemed, at the time, that a good old fashioned D&C would have saved everyone time and money, and mom may have been able to successfully breastfeed had we got that tissue out. What do you guys think?

Obviously we have more time, only 100 + low risk deliveries a year. No epidurals. But only 2 nurses to work L&D, postpartum/gyn surg. and clinics. We have no nursery at all. Babes needing special care are sent to regional facility with mom. Babes here sometime come to "tea" with us in our break room.

I hate to say it, but I would be asking over and over to see the baby also. Do you separate mom and babe pairs? Do you still have a regular nursery? Or are you talking about NICU or special care nursery? We haven't had a regular nursery for years. Moms and babes are never separated but cared for together regardless of where they are. How do you manage successfull breastfeeding?

We do not offer epidurals at our hospital, although we may occasionally have the odd one. I usually find that a woman instictively knows when it's time to push, and pushing before that usually is unproductive. I do not let my patients push before 10 cm. but look for comfort measures to help decrease the urge-position changes, empting bladder etc. I have seen a cervix become quite swollen from pushing too early. It usually isn't that long to wait.

I took the also course last fall and found it very informative, a little more info than a regular L&D nurse really needs to know, but not just a course for the docs. It helped explain why the docs make some of their decisions and do some of the things I always thought crazy. Ever see them "practice" putting on forceps, and they don't really look like they know what postion the babe is in or how to even put them on. There is a method to that madness. And good reviews for shoulder dystocia, PPH, fetal surveillance, charting and how to avoid trouble or lawsuits. A good course overall.

How about spending 11 plus hours with a woman helping her through her labour, walking up and down halls, in and out of the shower, rocking, hold her legs for 2 hours and encouraging her pushing efforts for the doc to walk in and bearly make the delivery. Who gets all the thanks? The doc of course. The nurse gets to go home tired and sore but happy herself with a job well done.