Thoughts/advice?

[Maladroit, BSN, RN]

I'm a current Med/Surg Peds nurse wanting to switch to either L&D or Mother-Baby at a large teaching hospital. Part of me really wants to be on L&D, but a large part of me is extremely nervous about the nature of L&D (unpredictability and intensity). When I think about working on MBCU/Nursery, I think I'd get tired of it. I don't enjoy working in Peds, but I love being a nurse and I'm a fast learner. I could use some advice or direction from seasoned nurses in those areas. Thanks.

[chiandre]

My suggestion is to start from Mother-Baby unit before going to Labor and Delivery unit. L&D is the ICU of Obstetrics. You will need a good nursing foundation before going there.

As a Labor and Delivery nurse, you will need exceptional clinical skills; superb critical-thinking skills, and outstanding interpersonal skills. These will help you to work with different levels of practitioners. You have to be assertive and confident.

Don't get me wrong, you will succeed as L&D nurse without good foundation, but it will be a hard.

I was like you. I started from general Peds med/surg then transferred to postpartum. When I finally made it to L&D, I was so efficient that I only did six weeks of orientation to work in a level 3 L&D unit!

Anyway, you know yourself. Follow your passion.

Good Luck!!