Advice--even though I already know the answer.

[MeganRN]

I am an RN with a BSN that went straight from nursing school into L&D. I really liked it a lot. It is all I ever wanted to do in nursing school. Well, following my second year of L&D, we had a change in management, a lot of people quit and we had 2 nurses on our shift working a hospital that did 120 deliveries a month. The night I quit I had 5 patients, a preterm bleeder, a preterm preeclamptic, a twin preeclamptic on MgSO4, a cervidil induction--for the next day, and a laboring patient. I couldn't adequately care for all of these patients and didn't feel like it was fair for me to be jeopardizing my license after only having it for 2 years. We only had one nurse on a C/S and a delivery. Anyway, I got very burned out very quickly in the last 3 months I worked. Because of our short staffing all the full time people (me) were required to work doubles, sometimes 7 days a week, and take 360 hours of call a month. I was 13 weeks pregnant with my second child and bleeding off and on and my son was only 14 months old. To make a long story short, the night I had 5 patients I quit right there on the spot and ever since then I have regretted it. I currently work in pediatrics and it just isn't doing anything for me. I love the kids, but I work nights and they are mostly asleep so I don't even get to enjoy them. I miss the women, I miss the pain, the fear, the joy, the excitement, everything. But hospitals in this city are very short staffed in L&D and I am afraid what burned me out in the first place will only burn me out again. And plus because I work pediatric oncology I have what is considered an "honorable" profession and family members (lots of them RNs) aren't very supportive of my wanting to switch. They keep saying "remember how miserable you were?" But I'm miserable now not doing something I love. I mean, yes I was tired of the understaffing, but I never was unhappy that a patient was there. I was only miserable because of the management and coworkers constantly quitting and calling in sick. What do you all think? Thanks, Megan.

[MercyAngels]

Good grief!!! That was definitely dangerous staffing!! It sounds like your heart has already made the decision..maybe you could start back part-time (if that's fnancially possible). As far as your family goes, all of nursing is "honorable"!! We're there when people are born, when they die, and everything in between! I wish you the best!!

[MercyAngels]

Good grief!! That's seriously short staffed!! That's dangerous! I don't blame you for not wanting to jeopardize your license. It's sounds like your heart's already decided, but your concerns about short-staffing are legit! Maybe you could start out part-time (if that's financially possible), or perhaps there's a CNM/birthing center in your area?? IMO, all nursing is an "honorable" profession, whether you're helping someone be born, die with dignity, or any of the stages in between. Hang in there, and good luck to you!!