From critical care to Mother/Baby Unit?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonary Nurse, Telemetry.

Hello! I was wondering if anyone has made the leap from critical care to Mother/Baby Unit! 

Originally as a new grad I wanted to work in the Mother Baby Unit or Pediatrics. When I graduated from nursing school though, jobs were scarce and I took the first job I could get (Telemetry). Later on, I went to the CCU which is where I've been ever since. 

9 years of CCU and I am BURNT. OUT. I've seen so much death and sadness and it has just changed me. My anxiety is so high at all times- I'm emotionally and mentally drained after working. There's pretty much no joy in my job right now. 

After having some time to reflect, I've considered just taking the leap to Mother Baby Unit. I'm a Mom, I love being a Mom, I love babies (and kids of course!), I love teaching! I feel like I'd be a great fit but worry about struggling with having more than 2 patients. 

Has anyone made this transition successfully? Are you happy? 

Thanks!! ?

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Specializes in OB.

I never worked true critical care, but I did go from an incredibly heavy surgical unit (floor and step-down) to Mother/Baby.  My anxiety was super high at that job, and I could tell the physical toll it was already taking on my body after 2 short years--we cared for a lot of ortho patients, as well as vascular patients post-amputation, so the amount of lugging and tugging fairly immobile patients up in bed was high.  My goal was always to become a CNM, so it was a move towards the specialty I was truly interested in, and yes, I was significantly happier.  The pace was still very busy (my hospital did about 5000 births/year) but I wasn't worried constantly that my patients would drop dead.  There is obviously a learning curve, but when you're moving to something more enjoyable, it's usually much easier to deal with that curve!

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Many years ago, I transferred from Peds ICU to L&D/MotherBaby/Nursery and have been there ever since. For the most part, the patients are fairly healthy, but having experience in other areas will help you when you do get a pt that is "sicker" than the rest. I've met a lot of RNs who started in Mother/Baby as new grads, and they're very uncomfortable when we have the occasional drain, NGtube, central line, etc. It's always helpful to have someone on the unit that has additional experience outside of Mother/Baby. 

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