Start as a New Grad on L &D tomorrow!

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2013

Congrats!!! I don't have any advice but I'm sure if you do a search here on AN you'll find great information. I'm not a new nurse but will be starting my dream job in postpartum next month. I'm very excited!!! I look forward to seeing the responses on your thread.

shicurls, BSN · Mar 13, 2013

Congrats to you both! I also will be starting as a postpartum nurse next week.

RNinLDRP620 · Mar 13, 2013

Congratulations! OB is a great field, you will love it. For starters, I think it is great that you are studying. You certainly have a lot to learn! As an orient I would advise you to ask a lot of questions and do not feel embarrassed about it. If you do not know something please do not pretend to know - speak up. A good preceptor will welcome all of your questions and make you feel comfortable asking them. Observe a lot of different things, over and over again... there is so much to see. lady partsl deliveries, sections, epidurals, BPS, D&Cs, code pinks, blood patch procedures...if it is happening try to be the fly on the wall and watch it. If you and your preceptor have a pt who is early laboring but down the hall a different pt is delivering or going for a section then get in there and watch it! Set goals for yourself. Talk with your preceptor about what you are truly comfortable doing on your own and what you want to focus on week by week. For a new grad this will be a little more challenging because you are not only learning L&D but also how to be a nurse in general. Work on things like simple head to to assessments, prioritizing all of your "tasks" for the shift, time management, talking with doctors/taking orders your first week. Work on skills as much as you can. As an L&D nurse you will need to be proficient with IV starts, foleys and vag exams. Ask the other nurses on the unit if any of their pts need IVs or if you can practice a vag exam the next time one of their patient's need checked. Remember that what you learn is ultimately your responsibility so use your time wisely and soak up as much experience as you can. If you get to watch a section then practice scrubbing in with the scrub nurse, even if you are just gowned and watching. If you have any down time (haha) then look at a fetal monitoring book and ask "what if" questions. The more you learn the less anxiety you will have when you are on your own. I personally think the scariest new orients are the "know it all" types...the ones who want everyone to think they are as good as an experienced nurse right off the bat and just "wing it." Makes me cringe! :wideyed: Luckily I don't know too many of those! And don't get me wrong, of course it is good to be smart and know what is going on but attitude is everything. In short, when I have had an orient who really wanted to learn they did just fine!! Congrats again and welcome to being an OB nurse :up: !

Hey everyone!
I am so excited to be starting on L & D tomorrow! My dream job come true! I start on my floor tomorrow and wanted to know if anyone has some tips for me? I am currently reviewing some OB material. For those that have been preceptors, what are the qualities you like when precepting a new grad and the ones you dislike.