Future Nurse Practitioner

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Hi Everyone, I'm currently working on a Geripsych unit and have been there for over a year now. I have my bachelors, plan on starting my nurse practitioner program but keep postponing because im so confused on what specialty to follow. I have always loved mother baby nursing care, grew up in a family with so many of them, have 3 little beautiful kids and always have this joy and love each time I see new babies. Maternity was my best course in school. I started gerispych as new nurse because it was really hard getting L and D as a new nurse. Now I have fallen in love with my geri population. I still have that passion for my initial goal of going to nursing school (Mother baby), but im so confused on which to advance in. Is there market for midwives, what is difference between L& D and maternity, Isnt it boring to just deliver the baby, and then not be able to see that family again ones they are discharged, how is a normal work day for a mother baby nurse. I need advice please.

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It's hard to comment on which specialty with so many unknowns. For example, what is the demand for midwifes in your area? Will you be at a disadvantage in hiring because you haven't worked L&D except in nursing school? Will you like working as a midwife? Or would working as an OB NP be a better fit? Or a pediatrics NP?

I would start by talking to NPs and midwives. Talk to NPs in your geri facility and ask them questions. Find two or three NPs and two-three midwives to shadow. This will also help you if you need to find preceptors and also to develop professional contacts for the future.

If you can't decide you could try to get an L&D job to see if you like it. Or you could get your Adult/Geriatric NP degree and down the road get a midwife post-masters certification if you change your mind.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Hello! I work on a post partum unit. My hospital is in a big city and attached to a university. The medical group employs midwives and i think they are quite busy. As a l&d nurse, you may get one or two patients at any given shift, based on their acuity (just basing it off of what I've seen, never done l&d). After delivery, you stay with them for two hours after recovery and then transfer them to post partum. As a post partum nurse, I may get four couplets a shift. My tasks include helping with breast feeding, administering meds, checking vitals , performing tests on babies at 24 hours, and much more. I'm planning to go back to school to be an FNP. Hope this answers your question! Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

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Thanks Kimberly. It sounds interesting. So you do not want to advance in the women's health or midwifery road right

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Your suggestion sounds interesting Mierkat. I pray I'm able to come up with a good decision so I can start. Like you adviced, I plan getting a part time or pool position in the maternity unit to see how it goes. Thanks for your advice

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Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

No, while I enjoy women's health I miss working with patients across the lifespan.

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I just graduated FNP program. Have you thought about Mental Health NP. big demand

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