To specialize or not?

Work hard, show interest and let them know you want to work there. I'm sure if you have a good work ethic and are a likeable person, you shouldn't have any difficulty finding a nurse who will precept you. Good luck!

I see you're in Colorado....I'm dying to know which hospital! I've worked L&D at several of the Denver area hospitals.

Jump in anytime you can, be friendly, be helpful, be available, stay occupied (there's always something to do!), even ask the nurses what they want to see in a coworker. Usually they want to see someone who is a team player who takes initiative, who takes learning opportunities as they come, who has curiosity about what is happening in the body in that area of nursing and wants to know more, someone who researches things and wants to see positive change and instill evidence-based practice. Start pursuing NRP, ACLS, and your fetal monitoring certs, and study if there is downtime.

As far south in Denver as you can go .

Jump in anytime you can, be friendly, be helpful, be available, stay occupied (there's always something to do!), even ask the nurses what they want to see in a coworker. Usually they want to see someone who is a team player who takes initiative, who takes learning opportunities as they come, who has curiosity about what is happening in the body in that area of nursing and wants to know more, someone who researches things and wants to see positive change and instill evidence-based practice. Start pursuing NRP, ACLS, and your fetal monitoring certs, and study if there is downtime.

Thank you for your advice. The unit is finishing up a major enlargement, so there is plenty to clean with the construction going on. I will do my ACLS class next quarter in school. I had not heard of NRP, but I now see where that is vital for working in L&D. I think I will take a little notebook with me to make notes of things to research and to write down questions. I will also take my OB book if I am stationed at the front desk of the unit. Thanks you again!

Also, not that this really matters, but by "subject" line is totally wrong - it was asking advice about preceptors. I was going to ask about specializing a few weeks ago, but my OB teacher told me to be where I was happy. Love computers sometimes!

I work in a hospital that has volunteers. To be very frank with you, I won't get impressed if you get water for my patients. I will appreciate it, but I won't remember you afterwards. The only person that you'll make a good impression on is the unit secretary because you'll mostly be around him/her when doing tasks like filing and answering call lights.

So, for you to impress me and the other nurses on the unit is to introduce yourself and mention you're a nursing student in your last semester. Ask if you can shadow them. As a volunteer, your scope is limited and the nurses will know that so don't expect to be able to do hands on care. Discuss what you've seen while shadowing the nurses. Writing down things in your little notebook shows your motivated to learn.

If you want to impress the nurses, you have to find a way to interact with them. Learn their names. If you don't care to know my name, I won't care to know yours to bring back to the Manager. Good luck!

I work in a hospital that has volunteers. To be very frank with you, I won't get impressed if you get water for my patients. I will appreciate it, but I won't remember you afterwards. The only person that you'll make a good impression on is the unit secretary because you'll mostly be around him/her when doing tasks like filing and answering call lights.

So, for you to impress me and the other nurses on the unit is to introduce yourself and mention you're a nursing student in your last semester. Ask if you can shadow them. As a volunteer, your scope is limited and the nurses will know that so don't expect to be able to do hands on care. Discuss what you've seen while shadowing the nurses. Writing down things in your little notebook shows your motivated to learn.

If you want to impress the nurses, you have to find a way to interact with them. Learn their names. If you don't care to know my name, I won't care to know yours to bring back to the Manager. Good luck!

Thank you! This is great advice, and it will be put to good use!

I actually do that right now. The best thing to do is have a cheerful disposition, radiate positive energy. Nurses love that. Also always take the initiative, see what needs to be done in the unit, even if not noticed by anyone else. And when asked to do a task, make sure you respond with enthusiasm to help. Constantly use the words "my pleasure" in response to appreciation by nurses and patients, since it should be!