Starting in MB Monday!

Published

Specializes in L&D.

My background is L&D (for 3.5 years) and recently my only job has been teaching a maternity clinical for nursing school where I mostly care for PP patients with the students.

I start a new job Monday, PRN on a mother/baby unit.

I'm excited because I want to transition away from L&D (not a fan of the pace and stress level...) and into MB and maybe NICU and Peds eventually. At this new job I will hopefully be cross trained to their level 2 NICU which is great.

Any tips on coming from L&D to MB?

I feel pretty confident with the moms, but the babies are a bit out of my comfort zone.

Not sure yet how much orientation I'll get, maybe a couple weeks. They said it just depends on how soon I get through the competency checklist.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't have any tips, as I am a new grad, but I start mother/baby this month too :).

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Perinatal.

After 19 months in L&D, I started in MB 5 months ago. I am really happy here! I always thought I wanted L&D but quickly realized the stress level was not for me. MB is a much better fit for me. There are days that I am SUPER busy, like over the top. But it's still better than the high stress anxiety of L&D any day. I really enjoy the new parents and teaching dad how to change the first diaper, or explaining to mom what's expected with a newborn and postpartum recovery. I also love having an L&D background and feel like higher risk patients are no big deal. I'm also often asked to start IVs since I have more experience with them ;) Good luck to you, I hope you enjoy the change as much as I did! Definitely use a brain sheet to keep track of all patient info, what has been done, and what you need to do. It's much more routine in the MBU world :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

@calinurse4 do you have a brain sheet template that you wouldn't mind sharing? I don't like our report sheets at my facility & i am allowed to make my own but I need some ideas

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Perinatal.

I just use one from work. I feel like maybe there are better options but now I'm used to it and most nurses there use the same, so it's easy to just read off. Next time I work I will grab a blank and upload it to see if you like it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

Congrats! I love being a M/B nurse. You'll do fine in that area and glad you get the cross training opportunities.

Sent via iPink's phone using allnurses

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Postpartum, Med Surg, Home Health.

Have you started your job and how is it going so far? Update please!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

So far so good! Nurses are nice, we have nice helpful residents on the floor which I enjoy coming from a teaching hospital.

And the work load is so much nicer than what I'm used to on a busy L&D unit.

Usually 2-3 couplets, maybe a GYN post-op too.

It's fun to be able to snuggle babies and do pt teaching.

Hardest part so far is a heel stick on a baby for PKU & bilirubin. But experienced nurses seem willing to help newer nurses with stuff like that.

I'm going to start cross training to their L&D soon.

Only one dark moment - this week we had a pt have a seizure and end up on life support with a brain bleed. Of course we all thought preeclampsia because she also had high BP and headache. But urine and blood tests were normal and neurologists say fluke brain aneurysm. So awful and scary....

PP is mostly a calm and happy place, but when things go bad it's BAD....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.
I don't have any tips, as I am a new grad, but I start mother/baby this month too :).

Bellatrix - I just ordered this same ID badge holder from Etsy!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

adpiRN, omg, that's funny I got mine in the mail today! You'll love it, it's so cute!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Postpartum, Med Surg, Home Health.

AdpiRN what state so you work in that you have 2-3 couplets only? I am in CA and we usually have 4 couplets, if very understaffed sometimes will have a 5th couplet or a mom who's baby is in nicu

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

GA. It's a tiny hospital. Entire hospital census is usually 30-50 pts!

The last shift there were only 4 couplets on the floor and two nurses. (Plus me but I'm on orientation)

Each nurse got an admission but also had a d/c so ended with two each.

We've had 4 before though on busier days.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion