Can i be a mother/baby nurse if I have never had kids?

Register Today!

  1. This is a discussion on Can i be a mother/baby nurse if I have never had kids? in Ob/Gyn Nursing, part of Nursing Specialties ... This may seem like a silly question, but the reason I bring it up is because not only have i never...

    by Sep 20, '12
    This may seem like a silly question, but the reason I bring it up is because not only have i never had kids, I have no experience at all in mother/baby, only my clinical (im a nursing student finishing up my last year). In addition, im 21, short, skinny, and get that I look very young... some people go as far as to say i look like im 14 lol. I know appearance should have nothing to do with my ability to care for patients, and I dont think it will once I gain the experience i need to and become comfortable working as a nurse. I was just wondering if mothers would feel comfortable receiving care and newborn education from someone that looks so young and inexperience .... any youngsters in mother/baby that want to share their experience? maybe im just over analyzing this idk lol but I really want to work in maternity!
    Read Online


    Print and share with friends and family.
    Compliments of allnurses.com.
    http://allnurses.com/showthread.php?t=787544

    by studentnurse9806 Sep 20, '12 6:14 pm
    ©2013 allnurses.com INC. All Rights Reserved.
  2. 1,949 Views
    Click Tags to Find Similar Topics

  3. 14 Comments so far...

  4. Asst. Admin
    Sep 20, '12 by
    My former coworker worked as a mother/baby nurse on a postpartum unit without ever having had kids of her own. She is now a mom, but she did not have children during the time that she worked in postpartum.

    A person can be a competent postpartum nurse without ever having personally given birth. Nurses learn from evidence-based practice and work experience. 'Personal' experience is optional!
    turnforthenurseRN likes this.
  5. Sep 20, '12 by
    Quote from studentnurse9806
    This may seem like a silly question, but the reason I bring it up is because not only have i never had kids, I have no experience at all in mother/baby, only my clinical (im a nursing student finishing up my last year). In addition, im 21, short, skinny, and get that I look very young... some people go as far as to say i look like im 14 lol. I know appearance should have nothing to do with my ability to care for patients, and I dont think it will once I gain the experience i need to and become comfortable working as a nurse. I was just wondering if mothers would feel comfortable receiving care and newborn education from someone that looks so young and inexperience .... any youngsters in mother/baby that want to share their experience? maybe im just over analyzing this idk lol but I really want to work in maternity!
    Don't worry about that. Im a L&D RN, and I have no kids. It makes no difference. You don't have to have gone through cancer to be a good oconology nurse
    PinkNBlue, Casey, RN, rammstein, and 2 others like this.
  6. Sep 20, '12 by
    I would think that like TheCommuter says having kids would only enhance your practice, but you are well-trained for the job.
    If you are deeply drawn to the field, your practice will also be enhanced... go for it!
  7. Sep 20, '12 by
    Yes you can I currently work on a mother baby unit. I'm going into my 2nd year. I didn't have a child my first year of working there...if mother baby is where u wanna be go for it. I am 25 and I get the young look as well lol. But it's not bad when ur pts are sometimes young as well. You can do it...dont worry.
    PinkNBlue likes this.
  8. Sep 21, '12 by
    I have never had a heart attack but I am a good cardiac nurse. Oncology nurses without cancer can still empathize with cancer patients. The same reigns true with L&D.
    Rn.Jenn, sunnybabe, llg, and 2 others like this.
  9. Sep 21, '12 by
    Quote from eatmysoxRN
    I have never had a heart attack but I am a good cardiac nurse. Oncology nurses without cancer can still empathize with cancer patients. The same reigns true with L&D.
    Ummm looks like u only read the title.
  10. Sep 21, '12 by
    Quote from studentnurse9806

    Ummm looks like u only read the title.
    I read the post. I stick with what I initially wrote. I started as a charge nurse at 21 and got asked if I was younger. My point was that you don't have to have had certain experiences to work in a certain specialty. If you are able to provide knowledgeable teaching I do not see where you'd have an issue. Sorry if it sounded like I didn't read what you wrote. Good luck!
  11. Sep 24, '12 by
    I currently work on a mother/baby unit and I have no kids! Not having kids does not hinder my ability to provide care to my patients. I also get told I look young too!
  12. Sep 27, '12 by
    I too work on Mother Baby as it's always been a passion of mine and people ask me a lot if I have kids of my own... I do not so I say no and they're surprised, then say I'm going to be a great mom someday. Like some previous posters have mentioned, it's really not what you personally have gone through that makes you a good nurse, that can only enhance it down the road. It's all about how you carry yourself as well. If you're acting young and don't try to learn more about caring for an infant, then that may change their mind for having you as a nurse. GL!