nursecher

I just started in home care and have several pt's that get lab draws. Alot of PT/INR's, CBC, trough's.......my questions is.....how long can the blood sit in my car in the blood tubes before I get it to the lab? Are there certain labs that I can preserve on ice and labs that can not go on ice? I would like to be able to at least see 2 patients before running back to the lab!! Thanks for your help!

Well they have another room that is used for emergency sections so I guess that's another bed. Not sure how they got 8?There is only one shower for the entire floor and Dad's are not allowed to spend the night. It's very outdated. It's a nice little hospital, but like I said I won't get alot of experience. I would love a little OB thrown it but the hours/salary would not be worth it. Being per-diem at my job now, I pick my own hours and get paid more. The only reason I was willing to give that up is to do OB FULLTIME! There are a few nurses that are getting near retirement at the hospital I work at now, so hopefully that would open up a position for me in the future. It's still a small OB but a closed unit, more modern, with a little more action. Thanks for all you support!!

Well.....just got home from my interview. It went really well, but I don't think I want the position. The problem is they only deliver 250 babies/year. When there are no patients you have to float on the other floors. I asked how often this happens and they said sometimes they have no OB patients for up to a week. When you do there is usually only one or two. They have ONE labor room, ONE delivery room, and 4 semi-private post-partum rooms. My fear is that I won't get enough experience to feel comfortable. Also, if I'm going to be doing med-surg 1/2 the time then I'll stay at my job I have now.

My dream job is in OB and that is why I went to school (graduated 2 yrs ago). That being said, I have not been able to find an OB position, and have been working as a float nurse (Med/Surg, Tele, orthopedics, rehab, Peds). I have learned A TON and feel very comfortable taking care of a diverse patient population. If I could have gotten into OB right out of school would I have taken it? Absolutely. Looking back I'm grateful for all the real life nursing experience that I have gained, and will fall back on for the rest of my career. I have an interview for an OB position tomorrow. If I don't get it I will be sad.....but I know I'll never give up.

I'm not sure, the website said 8 bed L&D so I don't know what type of rooms they are. It is a small community hospital so I'm not expecting it to be a huge # of births/year. Just hoping I can get the experience. It's hard around here to get your foot in the door in OB.

Thanks for your answer! Great questions!! How many births/year would you expect for a small L&D?

I have an interview in the morning for an OB RN position at an 8 bed labor and delivery unit!! I have been out of school for two years and currently work in the nursing pool at another hospital. I have no experience in L&D and I'm really hoping that they give me a chance. This is my DREAM JOB and the reason I went to nursing school. Any advise for my interview? *Also, what questions should I ask them? And is an 8 bed L&D big or small?

Well friends and neighbors, I'm still here freezing my @$$ off!! lol Just wanted to say I'll prob be here for a long time cause now that the economy turned to crap, it's best we stay here where my husband has a good job. There are other perks to staying here in good old New Castle..... family, friends, cheap livin, ect. Also let me say....I LOVE MY JOB!! I work for a small community hospital per diem so I make good money, make my own schedule, and get to work all over the hospital and have great experiences. I :redbeathe NURSING!! Now don't get too excited. I am planning my vacation to the beach as we speak.... This thread is too much fun!! Oh and "Pittsburgh ain't goin to the superbowl!!"

FYI......I LOVE MY JOB!!!

I agree. I love Pittsburgh too!!

Maybe I'll go hang out in the OB department with baked goods!! LOL

I interviewed for a OB position on June 9th and they just officially posted the position on Friday. I sent the manager an email and said: I wanted to thank you again for meeting with me on June 9th to discuss the per-diem RN labor and delivery position. I wanted to let you both know that I am still very interested in the position. I hope that you will keep me in mind for any other position that would open up in your department in the future. Thanks again for your time and consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon. she responded: You are welcome and we appreciated your time to speak with us. We have not yet filled the position and we will continue to keep you in mind. How do you take this? Are they still considering me for this position? I really, really want it!!!!!!! I don't know if 'we have not yet filled the position' means I did not get this one?

I interviewed for a OB position on June 9th and they just officially posted the position on Friday. I sent the manager an email and said: I wanted to thank you again for meeting with me on June 9th to discuss the per-diem RN labor and delivery position. I wanted to let you both know that I am still very interested in the position. I hope that you will keep me in mind for any other position that would open up in your department in the future. Thanks again for your time and consideration, and I hope to hear from you soon. she responded: You are welcome and we appreciated your time to speak with us. We have not yet filled the position and we will continue to keep you in mind. How do you take this? Are they still considering me for this position? I really, really want it!!!!!!!

Hourly rounding is being piloted on my unit (Med/Surg/Ortho/Peds/Tele) ......Pure and simple I just don't have time to mark the paper every time I am in the room. Yes, I am so busy that I do not have time. I have between 6-10 patients and it doesn't get done. LPN's/CNA are able to do this as well and don't. I am in my patients rooms as much as possible and as much as needed and that is it. I think we should eliminate as much paperwork as possible so we have time to see our patients once an hour. Sad that we have to write it down to "prove it". It's not working well on my unit.

I know at my first job as a new grad I had to go through a couple weeks of hospital wide orientation in a classroom setting with all new hires. I did not hit the floor with a preceptor until after that was complete. This is also what I did when I started my second job. I'm sure they will let you know on Monday after the holiday. Hang in there.

I graduated in May and worked as a GN until passing boards. It helped me keep in the 'nursing stuff' mode. Good luck and congrats!

Thank you for your response. I will look into taking some related classes. I WILL work in OB someday! :heartbeat

I have my diploma RN. Can you do the bridge with diploma or must you have your ADN? Is is possible for me to take the additional classes to get ADN or would I have to go BSN???

I need some advise. I graduated in May and have been working med/surg for seven months now. A labor and delivery job came available at a hospital near me for full time or part time. I applied and said I am willing to work either. I was told they are looking for someone with L&D experience. Another hospital 45 minutes away won't even let you do the online application unless you check the 'yes i have L&D experience' box. I want to do L&D nursing more than I can say. I love everything about it and it is a true passion for me. I am even considering going back to school for midwife, but obviously want to break into it first. So my question is.....How am I suppose to get an L&D job when everywhere wants L&D experience?? Anyone else deal with this?

CONGRATS!!! I found out I passed today too so I know how wonderful you feel! Praise the Lord!!

Congrats to you too!! It was the worst wait of my life. I was trying to analyze the test too. Everyone said that they felt like they failed. I guess you don't know until you are in that position because I REALLY had felt like I failed. I was looking into what I needed to do to retake it. I asked my preceptor what would happen to my orientation process and my job. I was a wreak! We did it though!!!!!

Fill in the blank. Good Luck!

Just found out that I passed my NCLEX-RN in PA!!!! I took it on Tuesday and just payed the $7.95 for my quick unofficial results and it says pass!! I had 75 questions, 15-20 SATA, 10-12 priortizing, 7-8 meds, 3 math quesions (that i think i got wrong), infection control, and a few which of the following orders would you question. It was hard, it was awful, and I was 110% sure that I failed. I feel so relieved. NO MORE STUDYING FOR ME!!!! YEAH!! WOOOOOO!!! :yelclap::w00t::cheers::caduceus:::up:

Thank you so much for the encouragement!! :)

I take my test Tuesday at 8:00 AM (day after tomorrow). I am finishing up my last batch of questions and I'm wondering if I'm ready. I'm sick of studying. My school did ATI predictor and it said I have 98% chance of passing. We did Drexel review course. I have been doing Saunders CD and just did 100 analysis questions and got 73%. I did 100 application questions and got 68%. Is this good enough? Am I ready?? Somehow I feel it impossible to study anymore. What do you think?