Do you like your job?

CrazyBlondesRock · Jan 28, 2005

When I worked labor and delivery I didn't spend much time with the newborn. We were supposed to take the newborns to the newborn nursery for admission about 1 hour after delivery. As you can imagine the parents usually spent that hour admiring and showing their baby off. However, in the hospital where I did my senior practicum the L+D nurses did bed-side admissions and also worked pp and well-baby nursery, so they got to do a lot more with the infants.

I have to admit as a L+D nurse, after the baby was out and transitioned and I said HI! I was ready for the next laboring mom. You could work in the well-baby nursery or NICU if you are really interested in babies.

BETSRN · Jan 30, 2005

I was just wondering how you like your job..right now I'm debating on labor & delivery nursing or psychology. I was also wondering how much you actually get to work with the newborns, or some jobs that would allow you to work directly with the newborns. Thank you!

Nursing and psychology are two totally different disciplines. Are you aware that there is very little you can do with a degree in Psychology unless you have at least a Master's degree? There isn't much to do with babies in the field, anyway.

There is a lot of nursing one has to accomplish before one gets to "work with the babies", as you put it.

I am assuming from the post that maybe you are in high school and looking into careers? Good for you!

I would suggest that you call up the maternity nurse managers from a few of your local hospitals and ask about shadowing a nursery nurse (or another nurse within that department). They could answer your questions and give you a little betterpicture of what the various jobs entail.

Just remember, nursing is NOT glamorous; very rewarding to those of us who love it, but NOT galmorous, romantic or glitzy. It is NOt wnat is presented on television. Good luck in your career search!

chel2thec · Jan 31, 2005

Yes, I am in high school, actually. Many of my family members are nurses, so I know it's not what they show on tv..and I also know psychology and nursing are majorly different, which is why I'm trying to figure out earlier since the two things require different colleges. But, thank you for your help!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2005

Yes, I am in high school, actually. Many of my family members are nurses, so I know it's not what they show on tv..and I also know psychology and nursing are majorly different, which is why I'm trying to figure out earlier since the two things require different colleges. But, thank you for your help!

You could always go to nursing school and then work as an L&D or a psych nurse. I know many people who got Bachelor's degrees in psych - and none of them have been able to find psych-related jobs until they've gotten their Master's degrees. They also had a lot of trouble getting accepted into a Master's program, as there is a lot of competition. Some wish they'd have gone to nursing school instead, because then they'd have been able to go straight into a psych job. As a nurse, you could work in both in-patient untis and out-patient programs as well, with all kinds of populations. Plus, you'd go through nursing school and would be able to see exactly what area interests you most. You'll do both OB and psych rotations in school, plus many more that might capture your heart!

Good luck!

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Feb 5, 2005

Psychology is very interesting and so is every aspect of nursing. If you are looking for what will be the best direction for jobs in the next 20 years, anything geriatrics. Behavior specialists will be needed as will activities specialists with behavior or psych training. Nurse practitioners and Physicians assistants with geratric behavior training is also a different direction to consider. Most dementia patients go through an acute behavior stage and this is what stresses the families the most. The families want Mom/Dad/Aunt/Uncle etc to be happy again and to stop hitting/pinching/swearing/biting/kicking/and spitting on those that love them.

As far as babies go, if you want that direction then go into labor and delivery and move up the ladder to taking care of the babies eventually. If you want a connection with children then child psychology is an awesome direction; we need specialists that really do care about kids and are able to empathize with their problems.

Rose B · Feb 6, 2005

If you are looking for L&D and working with newborns, a small hospital is the route to go. I work in a facility where we do it all, Labor, Delivery, Recovery, and Post-partum. Because we are small we don't always have patients but then we float to Med/Surg, but we are getting busier. Good luck in choosing your specialty and in choosing nursing. You have a great chance at having a secure job future!