Bad career move?

When you say OB nursing, are you referring to Labor and Delivery or to Postpartum/Mother Baby nursing? Two things about your post gave me pause: one, you said you're "no longer an adrenaline junkie," and two, part of what draws you to L&D is "spending one on one time with families teaching, etc." I'll be blunt here: if you're looking to avoid adrenaline and spend lots of quality time with teaching and one on one time with individual patients and families, L&D is the wrong place to be.

Yeah, it depends on the hospital where you work, however, for the most part, L&D is feast or famine. You're either sitting around twiddling your thumbs or your running your legs off. During those running your legs off times, you have a teeny bit of time to teach, but only the high points: realistic expectations with epidurals and other pain control, how to push out a baby, basic breastfeeding in in the delivery room if everyone is well enough and awake enough (and there's time). I do some teaching, yeah, but only in small snippets and not really in depth, because there isn't time and because nobody has the brain capacity to absorb in depth teaching when they're trying to get through childbirth. I don't think you'd be very happy in L&D given what you've described as what you're looking for.

If you enjoy teaching about baby care and stuff, and want a slower paced environment, postpartum/mother baby is a great place for all of that, and I think you'd be really happy there. I loved postpartum, and toy with the idea of going back there full time every now and then. I really enjoyed everything you talked about: teaching the new moms, working with families, even dealing with the sad stuff. It *is* a healthier population and while yeah it has it's challenges, it is a great place to work, IMO. So is L&D, don't get me wrong, it just sounds like postpartum/mother-baby is more of what you're looking for.

Either way, best of luck in whatever you decide. :) With your experience you can pretty much write your own ticket!

I forgot to address the age thing: I work with quite a few RNs who are new to OB and are in their mid to upper 40's and do quite well. I don't think your age will be a problem at all.

Thanks for the response! I'm definitely most interested in postpartum but I believe in my Hospital the pp nurses are crosstrained to L and D. I spoke with the manager today and she said if I took initiative and did the courses to get certified I would be a candidate when positions open up. I crave a slowe pace, and am glad my age won't be a factor. I'm excited to take courses again!

what course will you be taking? interested in hearing about a specialty course in L&D

I will be taking a series of courses that will give me a certificate in Obstetrical Nursing. Plan to take one every semester, I believe there are 6. One of the courses covers pain and labour