RE: Preparing for L&D

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 6, 2005

Hi Everyone:

This is a great forum - I have learned a lot about OB/L&D just from reading over all of the threads - your responses are always helpful and caring and demonstrate the best of nurses and how we should all be to one another.

Welcome to allnurses.com and the OB/GYN forum!

I am a new grad and I am currently interviewing for L&D, PP positions (although after reading these threads I am beginning to see the wisdom in starting in PP). I am wondering if anyone can help me with the following:

1) For those of you who are working in L&D - can you tell me why you like this area of nursing? I have my own ideas of why I might like it but I would like to hear from some professionals about what it is about nursing in obstetrics, L&D, PP, etc which is satisfying

I love seeing new lives brought into the world. Truth be told, I get a natural "high" with each birth, and I tend to bond quickly and well with my laboring patients and family members. I find my work very life-affirming and satisfying. I love being part of the making of new families and lives as my daily work. Sound sappy? Yea probably but I swear, it is the truth. I love it.

I work LDRP, meaning, I do it all. I do labor/delivery, recovery and post-partum/mother-baby care. I take care of them from the time they come through our doors until they get to take their new babies home. I love being part of the labor/delivery continuum this way.

2) As well any help you can offer on case-based questions the interviewer might ask me (e.g. i had one PP questions regarding hemhorraging and assessment, e.g. remember to check the fundus, cross & type patient, order a unit, etc.).

Be prepared to answer the tough questions, like:

"what are your greatest strengths/positives you have to bring to our unit??

"What are some of your interests outside of work?" Hobbies, etc?

"What, if any, are your weaknesses?"

"Do you consider yourself computer-savvy and if not, are you willing to learn?"

"How do you handle crises/emergencies?"

"What are your future goals? Do you have a long-term plan for your nursing career?"

"What do you find may be your toughest challenge working in OB nursing? What do/would you enjoy most about it?"

"Are you flexible, meaning, willing to work days you are not scheduled, and weekends/night shifts?" OB is a 24-hour business, as you know--and there may be times you are needed to be on-call or available to work when you did not plan to?

"Do you have any questions for me?" (make sure you DO have questions for your interviewer, so you don't look too uninformed or casual!---ask about staffing patterns, numbers, types of care providers---midwives/OB's, and do ask for a tour of the unit, etc.)

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated!

Hope this helped some. Again, welcome to our forum and to OB nursing.

lpazek · Oct 8, 2005

Hi SmilingBluEyes:

Thanks for responding to my post - yes the questions you suggested are a big help. I am preparing myself for the interviews with them. I am just wondering if anyone can also think of some clinical case-based questions that I might be asked?

All your help is greatly appreciated!

Hi Everyone:
This is a great forum - I have learned a lot about OB/L&D just from reading over all of the threads - your responses are always helpful and caring and demonstrate the best of nurses and how we should all be to one another.
Welcome to allnurses.com and the OB/GYN forum!
I am a new grad and I am currently interviewing for L&D, PP positions (although after reading these threads I am beginning to see the wisdom in starting in PP). I am wondering if anyone can help me with the following:
1) For those of you who are working in L&D - can you tell me why you like this area of nursing? I have my own ideas of why I might like it but I would like to hear from some professionals about what it is about nursing in obstetrics, L&D, PP, etc which is satisfying
I love seeing new lives brought into the world. Truth be told, I get a natural "high" with each birth, and I tend to bond quickly and well with my laboring patients and family members. I find my work very life-affirming and satisfying. I love being part of the making of new families and lives as my daily work. Sound sappy? Yea probably but I swear, it is the truth. I love it.
I work LDRP, meaning, I do it all. I do labor/delivery, recovery and post-partum/mother-baby care. I take care of them from the time they come through our doors until they get to take their new babies home. I love being part of the labor/delivery continuum this way.
2) As well any help you can offer on case-based questions the interviewer might ask me (e.g. i had one PP questions regarding hemhorraging and assessment, e.g. remember to check the fundus, cross & type patient, order a unit, etc.).
Be prepared to answer the tough questions, like:
"what are your greatest strengths/positives you have to bring to our unit??
"What are some of your interests outside of work?" Hobbies, etc?
"What, if any, are your weaknesses?"
"Do you consider yourself computer-savvy and if not, are you willing to learn?"
"How do you handle crises/emergencies?"
"What are your future goals? Do you have a long-term plan for your nursing career?"
"What do you find may be your toughest challenge working in OB nursing? What do/would you enjoy most about it?"
"Are you flexible, meaning, willing to work days you are not scheduled, and weekends/night shifts?" OB is a 24-hour business, as you know--and there may be times you are needed to be on-call or available to work when you did not plan to?
"Do you have any questions for me?" (make sure you DO have questions for your interviewer, so you don't look too uninformed or casual!---ask about staffing patterns, numbers, types of care providers---midwives/OB's, and do ask for a tour of the unit, etc.)
Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated!
Hope this helped some. Again, welcome to our forum and to OB nursing.

mitchsmom · Oct 10, 2005

"What are your future goals? Do you have a long-term plan for your nursing career?"

Do you guys think that it would be detrimental to say "I plan on getting my MSN (or CNM) in a couple of years"?? ..because you may leave?

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 10, 2005

NOT AT ALL mitch'smom! I think it sounds very appropriate. It shows you are willing to learn the ropes before going on...nothing wrong w/having goals, if you ask me.

storkbynight · Nov 2, 2005

Other potential questions:

Give an example of a time when you chose the harder right over the easier wrong, give an example of a time when you took the lead in a situation, how would you handle a situation in which you have a conflict with a physician?

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 2, 2005

Great suggestions StorkbyNight....oh and welcome to allnurses.com! Glad to have you on board.

SCmomof3, RN · Nov 2, 2005

Insightful thread!! :)

epiphany · Nov 3, 2005

Do you guys think that it would be detrimental to say "I plan on getting my MSN (or CNM) in a couple of years"?? ..because you may leave?

Hi mitchsmom!

I decided not to mention my goals that specifically during my interviews. I did mention that i was going to grad school so I could request certain days off. Many nurses are in grad school, so people are used to that - I don't feel that I'm hiding the truth by not being specific about my CNM goals, and I don't really stand to gain anything by baring my soul during the interview.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 3, 2005

I am not sure it is baring the soul to briefly discuss goals and aspirations---as long as you don't go on and on about it. You do not want to seem as if you are using this job as a mere "stepping stone" to so-called "bigger and better things"----

most interviewers like to hear you HAVE goals of some sort. It's all in how your word it, I guess. I have never perceived having turned off an interviewer discussing very briefly my goals and aspirations in the future. I think it's better to say SOMETHING than be vague.

epiphany · Nov 3, 2005

I am not sure it is baring the soul to briefly discuss goals and aspirations---as long as you don't go on and on about it.

That's what I mean - you don't have to be specific. For instance, I wanted to get my CNM in three years, but I said I was interested in maternity and was planning to go to school. I think that suffices because it's the truth. I would be careful to say anything that would reduce my chances of getting the job, is all I am saying.

studentnurserachel · Nov 3, 2005

I had someone (former nursing instructor incidentally) who has worked in L&D for many years tell me that she thought it would be a good idea to mention my career goals of being a CNM. I feel a little unsure about being that specific because the fact is that it will mean that within 2-3 years I will be drastically reducing hours, if not leaving the unit altogether. I do not consider the time spent in L&D to be merely a springboard to something bigger and better, but I think it might be difficult to convey that to someone else. I guess for me when the time comes, it will probably depend on how I think the interview is going and what question I am asked, and the interviewer her/himself as to how specific I am about my future career goals.