Banker to nurse - Would you make the switch

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Considering switching careers to nursing from banking. I'm particularly interested in Women's Health - L&D, surgery. I'd like to work part time (24 hours), so that I can be home with kids the other days. I want to hear from folks who have made career changes, as well as from nurses specifically working in Women's Health. What would you advise?

Specializes in L&D.

Call the hospitals in your area and see if they would be willing to let you shadow to see if the career is for you. I have had several people shadow me mostly high school students but it can be done. It isn't about peeing or pooing as all patients in all units do that. L&D nursing is an extremely stressful, high pressure environment. Family members tell me all the time how great my job is because I get to play with babies all day. This is far from the truth. I never play with the babies. We deliver and then move them out. This is why shadowing would show you what being an L&D nurse is an does why I think it is a good idea for all potential nurses. Trust me I love my job, but it is not easy and extremely challenging especially for the first few years. I'm not saying you're one of those people that doesn't get it or that would say "I just want to play with babies" but this is what many people think about this area of nursing and I just want to make sure you have a good understanding of what the career entails before you jump in and make a major career move.

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Specializes in Pedi.
How are you able to shadow a nurse? I figured HIPPA would prevent doing anything like that.

Also, what are the things that cause people to "change their mind" about L&D / OB? I know there will be lots of blood, poop and pee ... what else is a negative?

I wouldn't say there's any more blood, poop or pee in L&D than elsewhere. Probably less. Sure most women will have a bowel movement while giving birth but you're not elbow deep in feces all day every day. And, as someone else said, all patients, regardless of unit, pee and poop. You will probably place a lot of Foleys in L&D, as most women who've had an epidural will need one but pee is rather benign. Most of us pee many times a day.

The other negatives I could think of (I don't work L&D)- OB has the highest liability of any specialty. Babies can die during delivery. Mothers can die during delivery. You might have to deliver a stillborn baby or a 23 weeker who's unlikely to survive. It's not always a happy place.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

I am PT and work two, 12hr shifts a week. Most L&D/mom-baby jobs in my area are 12hr shifts. I work on a LDRP unit that also has a SCN (Level II nursery) that I am cross trained to as well. I was hired onto my unit as a relatively new RN. I too was a career changer. I don't ever regret changing careers to nursing!

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I agree with the shadowing suggestion. Before going to nursing school, I wanted to be a L&D nurse, but after doing the Maternity/Newborn clinical I changed my mind. Now I work in geriatrics and can't think of doing anything else. Who knew?

Same here. I don't work in geriatrics but I wanted to be a L&D nurse and went in with a friend when she gave birth. Changed my mind quickly. I highly recommend shadowing. I did however liked working mom and baby when I was traveling. Didn't play with babies all day but did a LOT of educating which I did enjoy. Even if you have given birth that's a different perspective versus actually being a L&D nurse.

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Specializes in Family practice, emergency.

I do not regret my career change to nursing, and you have a good customer service background which will serve you well in L & D. Just FYI, though, if you have family: You may spend your first few years on night shift, depending on the market where you live. Also, many hospitals want full time, especially in areas like L & D, OR, ED, unless you have a lot of experience. Third, part time benefits are not as good and you may pay more for insurance if going part time (at my facility, part timers pay double). Otherwise, if you shadow and still want to go for it, do it! I recommend an accelerated program. Theoretically you could be done in two years if you have a bachelors.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I agree with bebbercorn. I'm a career changer and work 3 12-hour shifts at a hospital in a mother/baby unit. I would never go back to a M-F job because I love having 4-5 days off in a row without taking a PTO. At my hospital, we do self scheduling.

I will be honest, when I landed my first job as an RN, I got a reality check to the real world of nursing. Nursing school doesn't do justice so you don't know how hard it can be until you experience it for yourself. At one point I thought I made a mistake, but I stuck it out and now enjoying my career. Customer service skills are very important in this career. Nurses who've been in this career for more than 20 years can tell you the difference, especially on the shift to a more customer service focus these days.

Getting a part time position maybe difficult, but good luck with your pursuit.

Sent via iPink's phone using allnurses

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Specializes in Home Health, Geriatrics, Women's Health, Addiction.

Right now a hospital in my city is recruiting for a part time day L & D RN which would be two twelves a week, 16 hours of on call a month and every third weekend. So a little more than part time but still way less if you were full time. It just depends on what's available in the area where you plan to work. Not often but sometimes they throw new grads a bone. I know first hand. :)

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Sounds like my life. Worked in banking/finance for many years. Took a few years off as a stay home mom. Always had an interest in healthcare professions. Did a 1 year accelerated post baccalaureate degree, earned BSN in one year, + 7 months for pre-recs. then nclex and found a job on L&D. Love it. I had no problem finding an Ld job out of nursing school.

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If you are doing this to work shorter hours, or bc L&D seems like the fun, easier side of nursing, you may want to reconsider. You work long hours, and it's exhausting and stressful! If you work nights, you are always tired. It's great though. So much more rewarding than finance.

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If you are doing this to work shorter hours, or bc L&D seems like the fun, easier side of nursing, you may want to reconsider. You work long hours, and it's exhausting and stressful! If you work nights, you are always tired. It's great though. So much more rewarding than finance.

I appreciate your candidness! I expect it will be exhausting and stressful, but also exhilarating at times. Tell me how it has worked with your family. I have a 7 and 10 year old.

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I appreciate your candidnes! I expect it will be exhausting and stressful, but also exhilarating at times. Tell me how it has worked with your family. I have a 7 and 10 year old.

i work 3 nights per week. For the most part, it has worked well with my family. My kids are8,11,13. My husband gets them on the bus in the morning. I get home right around the time they leave. I sleep 6-7 hours, then kids come home. I can do homework, activities, dinner. Then hubby home and I'm off to work. Honestly, it's good for the kids, but I find it stressful on my marriage to always be on opposite schedules. I worked days for a year, and that was difficult in terms of arranging child care. If you have a degree in another field, do an accelerated bsn. Should take 1-2 years. I wish I did it 20 years sooner!

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i work 3 nights per week. For the most part, it has worked well with my family. My kids are8,11,13. My husband gets them on the bus in the morning. I get home right around the time they leave. I sleep 6-7 hours, then kids come home. I can do homework, activities, dinner. Then hubby home and I'm off to work. Honestly, it's good for the kids, but I find it stressful on my marriage to always be on opposite schedules. I worked days for a year, and that was difficult in terms of arranging child care. If you have a degree in another field, do an accelerated bsn. Should take 1-2 years. I wish I did it 20 years sooner!

I have a B.S. degree in Animal Science, so I'm working towards a BSN.

I expect I'll have to work the night shift for some time, before I could go to day shift. How difficult is it for your body to adjust to working the night hours, then switching to a "regular" schedule on your days off? This is possibly what I'm MOST concerned about. I've never been a night owl :(

I keep telling myself I can't make a decision solely on that negative aspect ... the love of the job could very well outweigh that negative. (and I just MIGHT get lucky enough to not have to work nights!) My family is VERY IMPORTANT to me, and I don't want to be so tired on my days off that I'm a grump and a bear of a person to be around! I've stayed with the job that I have for so long because it works with my family, but it's not quite as mentally stimulating and as active as I would prefer.

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