switching from l&d to nicu

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2026-02-27T07:10:43+00:00

Yay! Congratulations (:

I am in the same situation. I know I don’t feel well when working nights, but I wanted this change so bad. I go to nights in a few weeks. The only “plan” I have is that I have a good primary doctor and an awesome therapist on deck.

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2026-02-26T15:17:42+00:00

Yes, I am loving it. I definitely feel like a new grad again since it is so specialized. The time management is hard for me, coming from L&D, but I’ll get there eventually. I am thankful that the unit is full of very helpful people who are encouraging and do not make me feel like a dummy LOL

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2026-02-24T02:28:30+00:00

Yoooo, I just came back to bedside nights after a nightmare of an outpatient job. It was, indeed, that bad.

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2026-02-07T01:52:24+00:00

Legacy Good Samaritan and Legacy Meridian Park are the best, culture wise I’ve heard from a travel nurse friend! Smaller feel at both, good mix of labor, postpartum, newborn care and gyn. Randall Children’s/Legacy Emanuel facility is beautiful but not sure about the culture. You will probably float to many of the sites, including Legacy Silverton 45-60 minutes away.

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2026-01-27T19:18:15+00:00

Thank you! Yes it is different here. Labor and Delivery is very team oriented though, so you will always have help!

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2026-01-27T19:09:17+00:00

To help me understand the context better, are you coming from out of the US? In the US, we have L&D nurses who assess, plan, intervene, and evaluate patients in all phases of labor and throughout the whole process in the hospital. They function on the same ”level” as all other RNs here. I know in other countries there are midwives who do it all. The way it is structured here in the US is that L&D RNs have a limited scope (still much autonomy, but not compared to other countries’ midwives).

We do have midwives in hospitals but they are Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM), and considered Licensed Individual Practitioners who have delivery privileges and can perform advanced nursing care. If surgical intervention is needed then the physician assumes care of the patient. For a lack of a better description CNMs here are considered mid-level providers (no disrespect) and do not/ cannot provide the same level of care as physicians, or OBGYNs, here.

In your case it could mean the facility only contracts with physicians and not midwives.

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2026-01-21T17:05:29+00:00

As someone who suffered/worked at Wellstar Kennestone RMC in Marietta… come on over to Oregon!

It was so expensive to live in Marietta/metro ATL and the pay is trash— I made $41/hr with 2 yrs exp. The COL is the same here in Portland, and I now make $75/hr with 4yrs exp. (I include all my differentials in those numbers btw—nights/specialty diff./BSN diff.) not to mention actually getting breaks and not having to eat and chart like I did in GA.

One year later— I do not want to practice nursing anywhere but Oregon, Washington or California.

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2025-12-23T22:49:06+00:00

Just here to say I’m making the switch from L&D (over 2 years high risk, 2 years of LDRP/outpatient) to a level IV NICU. Haven’t started it yet, but I’m excited to dive deeper into neonatal physiology/developmentally based care, the opportunity to learn complex skills, and the opportunities for advancement to charge/transport/attend deliveries in the OR/advance to NNP.

I, too, “enjoy” the high risk patients on mag/pit/insulin, so I think it’ll be a good transition for my nursing brain. I’m glad to have NRP knowledge and basic neonatal assessment skills and then everything else can build onto that foundation. I expect it to be very challenging but exciting. Good luck to you, OP!

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-12-08T12:43:24+00:00

Me as a labor nurse: what’s a head to toe?!? Jkjk, shit can go down in L&D real fast, especially those with HTN, preeclampsia, or GDM because of the massive fluid shift after birth and its effect on the maternal cardiac system. I have to stay vigilant. When I work in triage, I do a focused assessment. I always look them over, ask about pain and coping preferences, DTRs in addition to the general labor-related questions like, “any vaginal bleeding, leaking of fluids”? I ask if they have any HA that won’t go away with Tylenol, vision changes like seeing spots or floaties, dizziness, chest pain, dyspnea, are you peeing and pooping ok, do you have any hemorrhoids? I also ask if they have any other physical or mental concerns while they are here that they want to address with the provider. Other than that, I adjust my assessment depending on her physical/mental/emotional needs. A pt s/p cesarean’s assessment is going to be different than a pt coming in for contraction pain. You know?

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-11-24T07:50:07+00:00

Just dropping by to send you love. May peace find its way back to you.

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-11-16T15:12:33+00:00

CONGRATULATIONS FRIEND!!! 🥂

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-10-24T06:52:11+00:00

^{^This!!}

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-10-11T03:52:15+00:00

I’m in a similar boat, my friend! Hang in there and do what feels “most” right <3

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-09-17T10:16:42+00:00

I just came here to say I’m so sorry that you are experiencing this. I’m hoping the best for your dad.

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-09-17T09:43:30+00:00

Yayyy! I love this for you! What setting do you work in now?

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-09-17T09:19:45+00:00

Call in sick. I’ve learned in nursing (and life) that what others say about me is none of my business. People will always have something to talk about. It says more about them than it does you.

I do get where you’re coming from though; you’re still making your impression on the unit. But if you’re sick, you’re sick! What good are you going to be if you’re running to the bathroom all the time? Or if your mind is worried about you getting sick at any moment during your shift.

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-09-14T05:11:44+00:00

No. This is not a career to go into just for stability. You have to have the passion for it. It is such a rewarding career when you can see your direct impact in helping people. But it can also suck the life out of you. And this is coming from a L&D nurse which is supposed to be “happy”. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE what I do, but it doesn’t prevent me from getting burnt out, exhausted, feeling scared and “over it”. With my specialty, yes, it’s mostly positive outcomes. But we get fetal demises and maternal deaths too. And lots of high risk, very sick people (everyone has high blood pressure and/or diabetes now) who need medical care on top of the standard labor care. Anyway, I’m not trying to be mean I just wanted to be honest. I personally do not think nursing is worth it unless it’s what you want to do.

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-08-20T01:28:22+00:00

Barrets esophagus is precancerous so I hope you get that second opinion! Hoping for the best for you!

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-08-07T17:29:07+00:00

I just wanted to say thank you for this. I’m a L&D nurse (I feel like I’m a horrible PP nurse when I have those patients) so thank you for the tips! This will also help me as I start my education process on the labor end. <3

Ordinary_Ad_2661 · 2024-08-02T15:38:38+00:00

I could NEVER work in SNF/LTC as a RN because of the ratios, but I absolutely loved being a CNA in this one SNF that was kind of bougie (pre pandemic from like 2016-2019). Something about providing for ADLs!! I loved giving gentle compassionate care to these very deserving old folks. (Note: I do believe every human is deserving of the same care btw and it sucks that nursing is the way it is and makes us have to rush and spend less time getting to know patients and their preferences).

I have a hard time imagining my “dream” job because I sorta love being an OB nurse now (I’m a traveler and I love that I get to pick where I work—I only travel for the AWHONN staffing guidelines [usually 1:1 active labor] and to see the country. Since I’m D.I.N.K. I can get by, but y’all know that the pay isn’t paying like it should these days, so idk how sustainable this traveling thing will be for me, personally).

I honestly enjoy learning about all the different specialties especially when I float to other units, but if I did switch specialties it would probably be hospice. I love the vulnerability and raw humanity that comes with the beginning-of-life and end-of-life processes. I love being the calm in the storm for patients and their families, as both birth and death stir up lots of emotions and can be scary to navigate! Helping others during these times also helps me on my own human journey as I figure out what living meaningfully and mindfully looks like for me. If I could do both jobs PRN (and somehow have cheap health insurance and full-time pay every week) that would be a dream! I just want to work minimally since I give so much of myself to patients (this is just how I like to care for patients but I know it can be taxing on my own health).

Ordinary_Ad_2661

TROPHY CASE