Any Homecare to OB nurses out there??

[mom2-3]

Just wanted to get some insight/input from anybody out there who cares to weigh in. I am a former L&D nurse and for the past 6 years have been working in homecare on and off as a case manager, always full time. This job can be pretty stressful and overwhelming with paperwork, patients and family matters. I do love the flexibility that comes with the job though as I am a Mom2-4 now, unlike my user name! I also like the freedom of being out in the community and not trapped in the hospital for 8 or 12 hours. I find myself however missing L&D so much and longing to be in the delivery room, and helping a woman become a mother and bring her new baby safely and peacefully into the world....ugh....what do I do!?!?

I am thinking that if I worked a job part time night in L&D, I would make a little short of what I am making now full time in homecare. I just do not know what to do! Any ideas....

[lamazeteacher]

I worked nights in OB, and taught childbirth preparation classes at that facility. I loved teaching them, and did it for 35 years, until the generation gap became very wide.

You may want to consider that. The American Society for Psychoprophylaxis in Obstetrics (ASPO/Lamaze) gives the highest level of training for intructors. It takes about a year, with assignments.

Best regards,

Lois

[rn4babies63]

I had worked OB full-time for 5 years then left the hospital to do a home visitation program for first-time mothers. I did that for 6 years but had to leave for better pay and job stability. I had worked casual on the OB unit at my hospital but still missed doing it more often. My home health job (other than pay) had all the perks anyone could want. (NO holidays, weekends, scedule flexibility, good benefits, etc). However, although I was working with pregnant mothers, babies and children, I still missed L&D. I went back to the hospital full-time. I am overall happy with my decision. Back to nights, weekends and holidays but my son is grown now so I have more flexibilty. You have to weigh the pro's and con's of going back to the hospital. We're lucky that most of our nurses are good about trading schedules with each other so they can attend their children's school functions, etc. I don't regret my decision. I think I'll always have OB in my blood!