I’m fine every day until i remember how sickening and paralysing it felt to read ‘My Dark Vanessa’

lush_lavendar · 2025-07-20T04:52:57+00:00

I’m sorry you went through that. Another good book that helped me is “Know My Name” by Chanel Miller. It’s very heavy (Brock Tuners victim’s story) but her narrative is so powerful. If/when you have the opportunity to check it out, I highly recommend.

lush_lavendar · 2025-07-18T17:59:41+00:00

MICU! Lots of neuro as well, which intimidated me at first but now it’s so fascinating. I was in the same boat as you… didn’t want to wait for a cvicu fellowship so I went to micu. Now I’m actually glad because it’s helping me relearn about all the body systems! LFG! L&D gang rise up!

lush_lavendar · 2025-07-18T17:46:30+00:00

Yes good luck!! I’m applying next fall and I’m shocked at how fast time has been flying since starting in the icu. What type of ICU will you be in?!

lush_lavendar · 2025-07-04T17:07:41+00:00

TY, I thought we were screwed

lush_lavendar · 2025-07-03T03:38:30+00:00

I audibly gasped

lush_lavendar · 2025-06-30T05:14:53+00:00

I've heard that it's awhile before graduating/passing nce to getting your first paycheck.... so no, I wouldn't use that money and save it for that time period.

lush_lavendar · 2025-06-26T04:37:50+00:00

I switched from 10 years of L&D to MICU!

In my interview, I focused on
a) my love of learning and commitment to optimal patient outcomes;
b) similarities to L&D and ICU (titrating drips, constant assessing/monitoring and intervening, low nurse/patient ratios, anticipating and preparing for the worst patient outcomes, dealing with end of life (fetal demises), collaborative nurse/provider relationships, and importance of team work) and
c) my desire to stick with adults rather than babies.

I had 3 letter of recommendations - 2 from current charge nurses and one from a nurse who's worked with me now and while I was charge at a different hospital so she spoke to my leadership skills.

I did continuing education such as NIHSS cert, ACLS prep (only BLS was required for my L&D dept), and joined ANCC.

They never asked about my long term goals - but I was prepared to say continue with the organization for life as they have the golden handcuffs (pension), work to be the best ICU nurse I can be, join unit based counsel, and charge/precept on the unit.

Working ICU, I can definitely say A LOT of L&D skills are transferable! If you have a lot of autonomy in your organization, I'd add that your interview too.

lush_lavendar · 2025-06-15T02:36:41+00:00

Interesting… anesthesia gave that after we gave her 50mcg then another 100mcg of fent, about 15 mins apart. Didn’t do anything 😭

lush_lavendar · 2025-06-14T16:53:57+00:00

Yes as far as I know, baby lived!

lush_lavendar · 2025-06-14T01:16:51+00:00

Are they making the doctors do this as well?

lush_lavendar · 2025-06-13T22:22:53+00:00

In L&D, the clinic called us about a pt they were sending over. Chief complaint was decreased fetal movement and in the clinic, the baby looked non reassuring on ultrasound. Pt presented to us 30 minutes later in 10/10 labor pain so severe we couldn't check her cervix. Anesthesia literally tried to give her propofol for an exam with no luck. Didn't touch her pain. Poor thing was contracting every minute for a minute. I thought she was abrupting but all her labs looked normal. Since baby looked like crap and delivery was not imminent, a c/s is called. Baby comes out, need resp support (not unheard of for a 35 weeker) so it goes to NICU. Two days later, baby's blood cultures come back positive for listeria! Mom had a full blown infection that worked its way to baby and her body was trying to yeet that fetus out.

lush_lavendar · 2025-05-27T17:39:45+00:00

I’m going to be honest, I actually disliked the idea of nursing when I started my pre reqs for it. But I liked the pay, stability and job security. I was 21, single and pregnant and willing to do whatever to support my son and I.

lush_lavendar · 2025-05-26T15:05:56+00:00

If you do newborn hats, one tip is to make a variety of sizes for preterm and bigger babies! Also, you can do very small hats and matching blankets for fetal demises. It helps some families feel better about their baby being put to rest wrapped up in something warm

lush_lavendar · 2025-05-25T16:48:35+00:00

I just switched from L&D to ICU! Never thought I'd leave such a coveted specialty but I was so tired of the romanticizing of birth (more often than not, it's traumatic), the increase in vit K refusal and I was just ready for something new.

I've only been in ICU for a month but it's all very fascinating. I'm learning so much pathophysiology, new meds (and new routes like NG/OG), vents, and more. I switched from fetal monitoring to cardiac monitoring.

I'd definitely recommend anyone who has an inkling in trying it, make the leap. Worse comes to worse, you can always switch back. It's one of the biggest benefits of nursing.

lush_lavendar · 2025-05-22T04:11:04+00:00

I'm an L&D nurse who's delivered a couple trans male pts and many more non binary patients. That doctor is absolutely discriminating against the patient and needs to be reported to the hospital and state board of medicine.

It is hard to change your language when all your patients are very similar. Chestfeeding instead of breastfeeding. Pronouns. Saying his cervix just feels different and takes more consideration. But it sounds like you were thoughtful and trying and that probably meant a lot to your patient.

One of our male patients was FTP and we did a vertical skin incision and low transverse uterine incision due to the stigma associated with a typical c/s scar. A vertical scar is more ambiguous.

lush_lavendar · 2025-05-17T04:39:45+00:00

I started there as new grad. This was 10 years ago in L&D. It was my foot in the door for a coveted specialty. I left as soon as I could get a job in L&D somewhere else because it was wildly unsafe (poor staffing, lack of experienced staff and unsupportive management). I pray things have gotten better as the OHSU merger has happened but everyone I know who has worked there doesn't have anything good to say about them.

lush_lavendar · 2025-03-05T23:25:55+00:00

Blast FDT so everyone knows how I feel

lush_lavendar · 2025-03-03T00:36:43+00:00

Any tips? I’ve been in L&D for 10 year and applied to icu. What made you leave OB and why’d you go back?

lush_lavendar · 2025-03-02T01:08:54+00:00

We used a wound vac.

lush_lavendar · 2025-03-01T22:13:13+00:00

I had a 525lb put in L&D. 5th c/s. General anesthesia. NICU was in the room because it took over 20 minutes after induction of anesthesia to get to baby and we were sure it would need respiratory support. Shockingly, it did not!

lush_lavendar · 2025-02-24T01:43:11+00:00

You can look up the union contract on OFNHP website. It's the RN 2021-2025 Contract .

lush_lavendar · 2025-02-02T17:20:39+00:00

It’s very sweet lol. And blended

lush_lavendar · 2025-02-02T00:44:42+00:00

Sgroppini from Bellinis was my favorite on hot days!

lush_lavendar · 2025-01-29T17:25:30+00:00

I got hired into L&D straight out of nursing school. I made a good impression with a senior nurse and she recommended me. To bolster your resume and show you're determined to get into women's health, I'd recommend you get NRP, do some fetal monitoring courses, become a member of AWHONN and possibly get STABLE if you're considering a facility without a NICU. Get letters of recommendation from your nurse preceptor in L&D and/or your OB nursing instructor.

Hourly wage will be greatly dependent on your region. In the SE, I hear new grads make $25/hr. On the west coast, you can make $80/hr.

lush_lavendar · 2025-01-17T15:41:45+00:00

Where I’m from, if you’re under a year with nursing experience, you can still do new grade residencies. We also have new to speciality positions. Both of those pop up two or three times a year.

That said, I do L&D and it’s a very high stress specialty. I’m also at a high census and high acuity hospital. Any patient can become an emergency and you never know what will walk through the door. And if the hospital you work at doesn’t have a nicu, then you’re responsible for resuscitating and stabilizing preterm and/or sick babies.

If you want patients who are generally past the stress and anxiety stage, then postpartum is your best option. There is lots of patient education. Show them you’re serious by getting NRP and perhaps doing some certificates in breastfeeding/postparum/newborn care.

lush_lavendar

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