[Crouse]

Hi all,

I am working toward re-entering nursing (RN). In my time away, I have done a lot of teaching, and would like to get into a field where I can do a lot of patient teaching along with the physical patient care.

Among other things, I am considering post-partum (mother-baby). I think I would be good at helping young moms with baby care, adjusting to motherhood, and breast feeding where applicable.

Is it hard to get into that specialty?

Thanks for any tips!
Crouse

[cassioo]

I don't think postpartum is as hard to get as L&D. Many hospitals do LDRP with nurses doing the labor part also. The thing with all the teaching is to have time to do it with so many patients many places have gone to videos and handouts to "teach" and less of the hands on teaching and more of the paperwork.

[Crouse]

Hi Cassioo,

What do you mean by LDRP--the RP part?

Crouse

[cougarnurse]

The RP means Recovery Postpartum. Hence, LDRP.

'Cat'

[cassioo]

it's for continuity of card so you get the patient in labor and follow through going home taking care of mom and baby if you happen to work 3 days you could have the same couplet the whole time...some use some degree where the patient stays in the same room but different nurses take care of different aspects of the care. There are still hospitals that have labor units then patients recover for 1-2 hours then move to a postpartum bed where mom has a nurse and baby has a nursery nurse. I work at 2 hospitals one the traditional move room the other keep the same room the whole time.

[MagRedC5]

Originally Posted by cassioo

it's for continuity of card so you get the patient in labor and follow through going home taking care of mom and baby if you happen to work 3 days you could have the same couplet the whole time...some use some degree where the patient stays in the same room but different nurses take care of different aspects of the care. There are still hospitals that have labor units then patients recover for 1-2 hours then move to a postpartum bed where mom has a nurse and baby has a nursery nurse. I work at 2 hospitals one the traditional move room the other keep the same room the whole time.

cassioo; Since you do both LDRP & Traditional, which do you think benefits the new mom more?

[cassioo]

I think in general to benefit new moms more the LDRP is better but you also have to look at who your patient population is. At the more traditional hospital there is a LARGE population of teenagers, few breastfeeding, lower prenatal care who seem to want to use the nursery and have babies stay in there more or when the baby is out of the room it's not bonding time it's time to show the baby to all of the friends and the grandmother is in charge. You can often hardly get in to get a blood pressure. I think we need to have the nursery only for sick babies or when moms are unable to care for the baby because of their condition. I often move a mom from the labor area to the postpartum and tell them I'll have the nursery bring your baby and they aren't ready for them yet they have to go smoke first.
At the LDRP hospital even if mom has a c-section the baby goes to recovery with mom and a nursery nurse comes to recovery give the initial bath and keeps the family together.

LDRP would be best in a perfect world. Maybe it's personal bias but I wanted my babies with me all the time after I had them and just don't get it when someone doesn't.

[Crouse]

Dear Cassioo,

I appreciate the responses you all have made--am encouraged that the thread quickly evolved to discussion of what is good for the new moms!

Since I am considering working in an OB setting when I get back in, would you give me an idea of the stuff you do, and also your patient load? Earlier you mentioned having too many patients to do much teaching, etc.. I want to have a realistic picture.

I tend to be an idealist.......

Thanks--Crouse

[cassioo]

at one hospital postpartum usually has 3-4 mother/baby couplets so that's 6-8 patients. At the other a RN and LPN have just the moms and it's combined with any GYN and antepartum up to 18 patients. Depending on how soon you get them after delivery you could be doing every 15 minute vitals x 90 minutes or c/s every 30 minutes after recover (regular OR vital signs) Depends on how experienced your moms are also with teaching breastcare, infant care, pericare, sitz baths, incision care. 1st day c-section you have to get up and in the shower or TCDB post op. Meds aren't usually too heavy some Motrin, Tylenol 3 or Darvocets, Immunizations/flu shots at discharge. If you have baby their assessment, blood glucose, weights, hearing test, teaching cord and circ care, feeding, give demo bath. The load really depends lots on how much the mom knows to start with and how many there are you can have 10 4th time moms or 5 first time c-sections and the 10 are pretty self sufficient or if you have diabetics, hypertension, adoptions, stillborns, preterms you can be crazy. Then you have the spouse, boyfriend or lack of either, his parents her parents 5000 visitors all in the way so you can't get to mom or baby as most places have a more open door policy for OB (they need naptime)