What makes a good L&D nurse?

Published

And on the flipside, what makes a bad L&D nurse?

I'm a SN and we start our L&D rotation in the fall. It is my heart and passion and I want to be at the top of my game clinically. Any tips? Common drugs used on your floor?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

IMO, the thing that makes a good L&D nurse, more than anything else, is a love for what you do, and a caring and compassionate nature towards your moms and babies (and their extended families!). I know it sounds cliche, but it's true.

Common drugs:

Pitocin

Cytotec

Cervidil

Terbutaline

Nifedipine

Magnesium sulfate

Methergine

Hemabate

Penicillin G

Ampicillin

Clindamycin

Gentamycin

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

I think the previous poster covered the majority of meds that we use. The only thing I would add is the pain meds we use like motrin.

I think that a good L&D nurse also has to be good at working under pressure and quick decision making skills. L&D is alot like ER, you never know what is going to walk in the door next. Things can go bad really quick in L&D and you are dealing with 2 lives at time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for this question, I as well start a L&D clinical placement in the fall and I was thinking of the same questions!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

A good strong backbone doesn't hurt either. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care, Cardiac Ca.

agreed with all above with one caveat...

PLEASE don't fulfill the stereotype of the L&D nurse when it comes to territorialism, know-it-allness, eating the young (students), etc. Those great L&D nurses are worth their weight in GOLD, but the cranky, showy, and superior RNs make stepping on a maternity unit very painful, without needing to be in labor. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Further education-I dont believe you learn all you need in the brief edcuation you get during your RN training

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
agreed with all above with one caveat...

PLEASE don't fulfill the stereotype of the L&D nurse when it comes to territorialism, know-it-allness, eating the young (students), etc.

I think that is a stereotype of any older nurse, not just L&D.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

I'm a SN and we start our L&D rotation in the fall. It is my heart and passion and I want to be at the top of my game clinically. Any tips?

I commend you for wanting to prepare yourself ahead of time for your upcoming clinical rotation....I wish every student nurse would do this. These are things I tell student nurses that follow me: learn the basic terminology used in the labor and delivery setting, the basics of fetal monitoring, like what a decel and an accel is and what different types of decels might indicate and responses to these decels, how to determine the baseline fetal heart rate, how to measure how often contractions are occuring, know the mechanism of labor, the stages of labor, and how to help women during these different stages of labor. I know this may sound like a lot, but it really is not. Most of this info should be in your textbook. I believe that the more prepared you are for your rotation, the more you will get out of it! Also, don't be afraid to cry when you see your first delivery:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.
Also, don't be afraid to cry when you see your first delivery:)

:yeah:

That is great advice that I wish someone had shared 10 years ago!!! I still remember the family, the doctor's name, how much the baby weighed, everything. I stood there blubbing like a fool, and the nurse I was with turned to me and said, "It's okay. I've been doing this for 20 years and it still gets me sometimes." So...OP, if it happens to you, know it has happened to a LOT of people before you. :redbeathe

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I work as a Tech on the L&D unit at my local hospital and the things that I have noticed that have made the nurses there good at their job include: being prepared for anything and everything at any moment, having a strong passion for this particular type of patient care, always researching and being on top of the new medical technologies in that field, etc. You need to be able to deal with a slow pace or a fast pace. I have noticed that L&D can be very slow at one moment, but within minutes it can be very hectic. Just be ready to change your pace quickly. Not sure what type of hospital you will be going to for your L&D rotation so it could be hectic all the time.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Also, don't be afraid to cry when you see your first delivery:)

this is great advice! thanks! (im an sn starting ob rotation this fall as well) :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion