So disappointed with my clinical experiencr

[donk]

I'm in my maternal/infant rotation right now and I was so excited for it but its been one let down after another. We lost a week due to our practicum instructors miscommunication with the program coordinator (we were supposed to start a week earlier) which happens and I was ok with that. So our first week we spent in orientation... 10 hours of policies and paperwork which was incredibly long but I understand the rationale. My 2nd/3rd week I was in simulation lab and so I didn't get to go to placement. The next week I was placed in the NICU so I got to see a few procedures (there were only 3 infants there) but couldn't do anything since it was all beyond my scope. So I basically sat at the desk reading through textbooks and asking questions of the staff. This week I was finally on the floor but paired with a nurse who didn't seem very pleased to have a student with her and wouldn't allow me to do any of the assessments or vitals or anything. Then we found out that this coming week will be our last due to exam schedules when we should have had another week. So I've lost 4 out of 6 weeks on the floor, I have one day left and I haven't touched a single mom or babe

I'm not trying to complain, I'm just so disappointed with the whole rotation and feel like I've been cheated out of experiences that I was really looking forward to. The rest of my group is in the same situation but all the other groups have done and seen so much. I really wish I had chosen another location now so that I may have had a different experience for maternal/infant!!

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

That does sound like a disappointing experience, at no fault of yours. You could ask your ob/peds instructor if they are able to assist you with any shadowing opportunities outside of class. You could also try to do a summer internship in OB or peds, or your senior practicum.

[Fireman767]

It does happen and the OB is a hit/miss. I lucked out where the first day of OB my patient gave lady partsl birth an hour after I arrived, and then we were followed by a C-section about 2 hours after that and then a trauma induced C-section an hour after that, and when I was leaving we had the teams prepping for another C-Section. That was the height of the excitement, and the only births of the semester. The week after it was all postpartum, most 2+ days after birth with little to do. And the last week was 2 patients on the floor and both refused students. So most of the time we spent studying for the pharmacology exam we had the next day. So it may suck, but OB isn't a guaranteed to see action area for us nursing students.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

My only OB experience in school was a "normal labor" that (in my memory) lost fetal heart tones when then the baby "got stuck" in the birth canal emergency c section of a still born hysteria and tears....I never wanted to enter OB ever again and I didn't until I deliverd my babies. It didn't affect my career or boards at all.

I was 17 years old ......horrified and forgotten in the room. OB is one of those hit or miss areas and the nurse are very protective of the Mom's and babies.

[donk]

Thanks for the responses! It makes me feel better knowing its not going to hinder me in anyway. I was afraid I'd lose out on some experience or skills that I may need later on.

[Jennybrie]

As previous posters have already mentioned, OB is hit or miss. Even if you did get the two weeks back, you may still have missed what you wanted to see. I sort of understand how you feel with clinical assignment let down. Half of our class was scheduled for med/surg all sememester and half were able to go to higher acutity (ICU, ED, PCU). My point is that you don't always get the opportunities you expect but look at every clinical day as a gift and try to learn from the experience regardless of the setbacks.

Good luck!!

P.S. If your school offers preceptorship, try to find a hospital with a higher census in OB so you'll have a higher chance to do more.

[Morainey, BSN, RN]

I think I laid hands on a baby once during maternity clinical... didn't see a lady partsl birth or a C-section at all. We did have a low census on that unit but that was characteristic (according to the RNs there) and my instructor tried to give everyone a turn. Most of us ending up "sharing", one student for mom, one student for baby. I usually got mom, obviously. It wasn't anything I wanted to specialize in, anyway, so I wasn't too choked up about it. If things were slow we watched birth videos or studied.

It wasn't your fault you didn't have a good clinical experience. I'm sorry you're disappointed, but those things you mentioned were beyond your control. It's a bummer though, especially since it seems like you were looking forward to it.