[sbic56]

OB is definitely a "calling" type of specialty. The only other specialty I felt I really belonged in was Psych...I think it is very closely related to OB in alot of ways. I really don't want to take care of "sick" people. Don't alot of OB nurses feel this way?

[fergus51]

I never use the word calling because it seems like what nuns have for their profession, not me. But I know OB is where I am meant to practice. I love that I get to know my patients and share in an incredible experience. I always say OB isn't always happy, but it is always meaningful.

[JailRN]

I think every specialty is a 'calling'. I take my hat off to OB nurses, wouldn't want to work there, although I floated there once or twice. Actually, I take my hat off to all of my sisters and brothers who do ANY kind of nursing. We take so much crap from pts, families, and administrators, not to mention each other, that sometimes I'd rather my calling was working in a candy or ice cream factory.
Ah yes!!!

[mother/babyRN]

Nope, it wasn't my calling. I don't even know if I had a calling. I remember feeling burned out in cardiac care, and applied for OB to get the heck out of there. Now, I enjoy it, but some of us are adrenalin junkies, as much as we hate to admit it, and definitely cardiac, er and especially delivery, certainly give you a rush, whether or not you want one..I actually miss dealing with other sorts of patients, and don't always feel as confident as I should when I float. I don't know, if I were to make a change, that I would go into OB, as much as I do love it.....At a crossroads, I guess....

[mother/babyRN]

I wasn't "called" to nursing such as some of you were. I needed a job after high school and worked as a nurses aide in the same hospital in which I currently work. Somewhere along the line I noticed that the nurses were getting paid quite a bit and I was doing most of the scut work. I wanted to be an archiologist or oceanographer. Nursing was as far away from that as anyone could imagine, BUT once involved, I knew it was the right place for me.....

[finallyRN]

From the moment I started nursing school I wanted to work NICU. When I graduated school I passed up some job offers because they weren't in NICU. Then I started getting desperate so took the job at my current hospital with an understanding that once I finished my New Grad orientation I would be trained in Peds and then NICU. Well I finished the New Grad Program on M/S and never could get oriented in Peds. So I stayed on Med/surg until I got totally burned out. Floated down to OB one night and was recruited by the manager. FOUND MY HOME. So to answer your question it wasn't a calling for me but it is where I belong. I absolutly LOVE my job. I love being able to help create families. Seeing a baby being born is still one of the most amazing things (no matter how many I have seen) There are the sad moments in OB but you get through them.

I would NOT want to work anywhere else. (possibly a little stint in NICU, I love babies.)

[KRVRN]

Heck, I wanted to work ER before and all through nursing school. Then I did a semester clinical in the ER with a preceptor and decided I didn't like it. I had just done my peds and OB clinicals the semester before and found that I really missed it. I thought I wanted to do L/D. I interviewed for it at one hospital, but didn't get the job. Then I saw an ad in the NEWSPAPER of all places about a preceptorship starting up in the NICU at a different hospital. Got the job, love it, can't imagine doing anything else.

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

Originally posted by ohfeelyafundi
Ohfeelyafundi!

BTW - I just LOVE your name!!

Heather

[NurseAngie]

Originally posted by sbic56
OB is definitely a "calling" type of specialty. The only other specialty I felt I really belonged in was Psych...I think it is very closely related to OB in alot of ways. I really don't want to take care of "sick" people. Don't alot of OB nurses feel this way?

I also love OB and Psych! I think Psych is relevant in ALL nursing. OB is definitely one area in which 'holistic care' is important. I think both of my loves mesh well together!

I would say it is a calling because I never had an interest in nursing before I developed a passion for OB.

~Ang

[MelissaCT]

When I was a nursing student, I felt that labor and delivery nursing was my calling, with the intent to be a midwife after working for 5 years or so.

NOW: (I posted this in the new grad thread too):

It is very very stressful and overwhelming!!
Some days I think, "am I cut out for nursing?" and other days I think, "I'm cut out for nursing, but maybe in a less critical/stressful area!"

But I don't think I would be happy doing anything else.

The nurses on my floor say most new grads, and even nurses who are new to L&D but not new grads, feel this way. Do you agree? I hope I'm cut out for this, but I'm still on orientation and very worried about finishing up and being on my own.