Conflicting advice on OB/GYN as new grad...

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Specializes in NICU & OB/GYN.

So, I have received conflicting advice over the last few years as a nursing student about what specialty to choose upon completion. First off let me say that I have normally hated being on a ward/floor for clinical rotations except when I had my maternity last year. For the first time it didn't feel like a hospital to me in that I finally found a rotation that wasn't so structured like the others. I enjoyed that we were fortunate enough to rotate through L&D/postpartum/triage & I shadowed NICU. I loved the variety each day.

Now...the conflicting advice I have been given has warned me about going into this area as I would be "limiting my scope of practice". Sure, I see what they mean in that I would not have the wide range of skills as say a medicine ward but I assume each and every unit has unique skills of their own and none are greater the other. Anywho..just would appreciate thoughts on this debate.

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Do what's in your heart. If you will be miserable in Med-surg, there's just no point in doing it.

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Specializes in L&D.

I think that you should do what you will enjoy, you will retain more information since you are enjoying your work. Speaking from experaince I was a nurse that graduated and went straight into ob, I have since moved to a high risk hospital from a low risk hospital. my advise would be to continue to learn, once you being to feel familiar with labor cross train in nicu or in a few year try high risk if you are not at a facility that provides and cares for mom's with complications during pregnacy. There are tons of options in ob even outside the hospital setting. Good luck in what ever you choose.:)

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Specializes in Maternal Child.

MY advice: go into L/D if you can get in!!

You will always have a job. . .and it is great experience.

Go into what you love.

Good luck. :)

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Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.

I agree with the others, do what you will enjoy. However, have somewhat of an open mind. These jobs are pretty hard to come by right now as a new grad. Good luck, I hope you get what you want.

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Specializes in NICU & OB/GYN.

Thanks everyone for your encouragement:redbeathe! It's nice to hear this after so many of my advisors and CEF's have stressed the med-surg route, but I understand that they are simply trying to fill the areas that are most needing to be filled. I also realize how lucky I must be as I read alot of posts on this site describing difficulty with getting jobs. Where I am and most of Canada right now there's more jobs than nurses and they are now taking new grads in mostly all the specialty areas, including ICU's. Not sure how I feel about that as I want to get some bearing under my footing first:).

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I wouldn't mind moving to Canada... are they open to accepting American nurses?

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Specializes in NICU & OB/GYN.
I wouldn't mind moving to Canada... are they open to accepting American nurses?

C'mon up! I am not sure the process works but I know I have come across quite a few american nurses during my clinical rotations in school. Actually, my neighbor at our family cottage is US resident and lives in florida to avoid the cold winters but comes back each spring to work here. Not sure if salary is comparable down there..here in Manitoba starting wage is $33/hr and can go upwards to around $45. Cost of living is great here too...a little steep in the Western half though or in toronto. Each province is regulated by a nursing union. We are registered through them and they ensure we are licenced according. I am sure they could get you more details on how to do this if you're really interested. Definately check it out!

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

Thanks for the info... I'll keep it in mind.

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C'mon up! I am not sure the process works but I know I have come across quite a few american nurses during my clinical rotations in school. Actually, my neighbor at our family cottage is US resident and lives in florida to avoid the cold winters but comes back each spring to work here. Not sure if salary is comparable down there..here in Manitoba starting wage is $33/hr and can go upwards to around $45. Cost of living is great here too...a little steep in the Western half though or in toronto. Each province is regulated by a nursing union. We are registered through them and they ensure we are licenced according. I am sure they could get you more details on how to do this if you're really interested. Definately check it out!

Just to clarify nurses are regulated by provincial colleges of nurses which are responsible for issuing your practice permit. Unions exist to bargain for your wages and benefits. Unions have nothing to do with registration and licensing issues.

What you've said about employment may be true in your province BUT AB, BC, and Ont have hiring freezes. New grads are leaving these provinces and looking for work. Roughly 60% of ABs new grads did not find positions last year and this year's crop aren't having much luck at home either.

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Specializes in NICU & OB/GYN.

my bad...sorry I still am trying to wrap my mind to the process little confusing to a new student so thanks for the clarification. Too bad about the pther provinces...well if those new grads don't mind minus 50 in the winter months they should c'mon over.:p I'l just keep my fingers crossed that the only freeze we get is our climate.

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I'm with you, I really want to do Mother/Baby, of course everyone says go the med-surg route but if you're lucky enough to get into it out of school, definetely do it because I know I will. People make it seem like having a specialty is a bad thing, if it's all you want to do then limiting your scope wouldn't really matter to you. Some people do the same nursing job for years.

Like someone else said, OB is not really that limited if you're allowed to cross-train and float to L&D, Antepartum, NICU, triage ect.

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