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

[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!

[FLOBRN]

Of course you can : ) All NICU nurses didn't have a baby in NICU. All ICU nurses have not been a patient there.

Agree completely with the study and evidence based practice comments. Join AWHONN and read, go to meetings, conventions etc. GO to the annual Mother Baby conf the Neonatal network hosts. It's going to be in LVegas in 2013.

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

One of our best pediatricians was unable to have children...I have never had a baby (yet) and have had patients come up to me months later and say "my friend is having a baby, I told her to request you as her nurse!" Oncologists haven't all had cancer...

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

I was unable to have my children "naturally" and had to have c-sections...doesn't mean I can't help a woman in labor! You will be fine! I'd be more concerned if you said "If I hate teaching can I still be a mother/baby" nurse...cause that job is largely teaching!