How are OB Mds generally?

[JentheRN2007]

Hi, I currently work on a med-surg floor and am thinking of moving to OB. Out of curiosity I was wondering how most OB MDs are in your opinion...

Are most mild mannered, patient? (they seem so during office visits...I think)

Are they available most of the time? (like if they know their patient is in labor...they are close by... maybe even check on them :)?

Do they get angry if your measurement d/e is off?

The surgeons I work with are generally nice and approachable (which every MD should be) but they are in the room SO fast and out SO fast that I am often the one who ends up explaining everything the MD just said to them and what they need to do....not that I mind but just wish that they stepped back and realized they are still dealing with people that are sick, and just had surgery.....and are concerned about their recovery....

I guess it all depends on the person/MD eh?

[iteachob, MSN, RN]

It does depend on the person. I have worked in OB and NICU and am currently an OB nursing professor (I also teach a clinical group or two, not just lecture). Honestly, by and large, most of the OB/GYN's and neonatologists that I have worked with have been wonderful (and that's in 3 different states). The current "crop" are (with 1 curmudgeonly exception) kind, funny, and wonderful to my students. Two, in particular, are great teachers. One is the reason my younger son is actually here (I had some fertility issues at the ripe age of 41 and he never once told me I was too old, just kept working with me and my husband). Can you tell I like our OB docs? Certainly, there are times when even the best of them is in a bad mood, for whatever reason, but that is rare.

Having said all that, I don't have that much experience with other type of doctors, at least not on a doctor/nurse level. I have heard a few unpleasant "stories" though. I'm sure you find all kinds just about anywhere you go.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Probably it's the same as in any other group - you have some awesome ones and some ones you'd rather not work with, and some that are neither here nor there. :)

I have to say (I work at a teaching hospital) that most of our residents and attendings (OB, neo, and pedis) are great. I like working with them and learn a lot from them all.

[hoppermom3]

At our hospital (small rural critical access hospital) we have a Family Practice doc who delivers (and does his own C/S and BTLs) and a CNM who are both absolutely wonderful to work with. We are treated as team members and both are always willing to teach and share with us. We have an OB/GYN who delivers very few babies. He is nice too, but definitely different than the other providers.

[crysobrn]

I think it really depends on the doc and the situation. I don't find that many of our docs sit around the unit unless something is going on that we may need them for quickly. But they are close and can be called when they are needed.

[QTBabyNurse, BSN, RN]

i worked in a rural community hospital for quite awhile and the ob's were generally very nice...sometimes just sitting around the unit waiting if someone was around 8-9 cms...they would sit in our lounge and eat with us and joke around as well....now, i have to say that because they took their own "call" at night, if they happened to be up all night and then busy again the next day that their mood kind of soured, but that is understandable in those circumstances. but the majority of the time, they were great!

[mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP]

Having just done ER and OB - I don't have M/S docs to compare it too but so far I think the OB docs are great. We just have 2 main ones that do about 80% of all deliveries and then a few more than fill in the gaps. They are all nice, have great senses of humors and are really approachable for most situations.

Ours are pretty good about giving you some guidelines for calling - like I'm going to dinner on the south side of town and d/t traffic, call me when she is X cm or I'm in my office (right next door) call me when you start pushing. Ours don't show up to check on a patient unless you make a big deal about it but they'll call you many times a day to check on their patients and see what's up.

[joeb1, ASN, BSN, RN]

In my hospital, which is a small city hospital with private docs and not a teaching hospital, I have found the following to be true of our docs. The OB docs in general seem to be very easy going towards the staff, most not getting upset with dilation/effacement exams as long as they feel you are competent to begin with. Most wee very kind when I stated as a new nurse, teaching me what they want, patiently most of the time. Our neos are not always so great, and really do like to eat new nurses alive. But my background was peds so I worked with the same neos for a couple years, and once you are in with them, they are a piece of cake. I think the peds/neo guys seem alot more uptight, but they are used to rounding and getting out in 1-3hrs. (at our hospital, whch is only well-baby) The OBs are the ones who will be in 4 times a iht if they have to be, so they are used to sitting and talking and being cordial with us as they pass their time. That being said, they do like to get down to business when they can and don't hang around if they don't need to, as they all have office hours too. I have seen them call home and tell wives/husbands that they would nt be home and wil camp out in an empty suite if a patient may need them. Lastly, our midwife that we have is excellent, and sits at the bedside with nearly all of her patients from 8-9 cm on.