I only want to be a PP or L&D nurse.....

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I'm struggling with life decisions right now. I've got a decent job in the healthcare field that I am extremely bored with and am a mom to a beautiful 19month old. We want to have another, but all that aside......I am most likely going to start an ADN program (can't do the fast track BSN, b/c I still have to work) in Jan and will be done Dec '12. I toyed w/ the idea w/ nursing school before, but decided I really didn't know if I wanted to do it. Then got pg, so definitely didn't do it. After having my daughter, I am obsessed :D w/ pregnant women, breastfeeding, labor stories, newborn care and all things mom/baby. I am quite familiar w/ what nurses do as I work very closely with them, so nursing is not going to be a surprise to me. I have a ton of documentation, red tape, politics in my job as well. :) Anyway, what is holding me back is that when I get done w/ school I may not be lucky enough to get a PP or L&D job. I would love to start off in PP and then possibly do L&D. Also, being away from my family and the stress of nursing school. But, I just feel that I want to be that nurse who helps a new mom or 2nd, 3rd, 4th time mom out in the hospital. My friend just had a baby and I saw the picture of her nurses gloved hand holding her baby for her first picture. I told my husband, see, that could be my hand. I could be the one holding that newborn so the parent can take their childs first picture....;)

I don't really know what I'm asking, but something along the lines of ...... did you only want to work in OB, did you have to do something first to gain experience, should I really postpone having number 2 and sacrifice 2 years of my daughters life so I can have what I want (i feel selfish), ........ I struggle being a working mom and missing out, but I worry I will regret not doing this down the road. Is it crazy of me to focus on career first instead of postponing school until the kids are older? I worry I am already in a job that I am not thrilled with and I don't want to go back to school and end up in a position that I'm not thrilled with. I really just want to work mom/baby. Does someone have a crystal ball???? Anyone??? ;)

Ok, I'm rambling, but just figured a lot of you are moms and may have been in my shoes at one point in your life :-)

Thanks!

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In this economy and extreme lack of jobs for new nursing grads, having to possibly work in another area of nursing might be a necessity out of school. I have a friend who wanted L & D but there was nothing available except med/surg to start out with. Maybe its different in your region though. Good luck!

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I think that is what I'm scared of. I've heard it is really hard for new grads (or anyone). I live in Houston, so there are a ton of hospitals, but still it isn't easy these days. I guess if this is really what I want, then I would make that sacrifice and do what I can for experience. But, I feel like I wouldn't be a good nurse in another field b/c my heart wouldn't be in it.

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Specializes in GI.

Once you start nursing school you may be surprised that you like something else. When I started I thought I would hate working with elderly patients, but turns out I actually like them! But as the PP said, you may not necessarily get your dream job from the get-go, once you gain some experience though, you may have some options and leverage. Good luck!

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If your heart truly lies in caring only for L&D/postpartum mothers and infants, have you considered training as a doula? http://www.dona.org/develop/birth_cert.php You would be able to provide support and care to the laboring mother, meeting the needs of both she and her baby.

I'm not saying this to discourage you from going to nursing school, please don't misunderstand. However, sometimes L&D and postpartum positions are among the hardest to get, and if you don't feel that you could do some time in med/surg nursing before you could transfer into your chosen field, then perhaps finding another way to be of service to the patient population that you feel called to serve might be a good start for you until you work out the nuts and bolts of going to nursing school in your head.

Whatever you do, I wish you luck!

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What's wrong with being a little selfish? It's YOUR life. You can't always live your life for others.

If this is want you want, you go for it, no matter what the sacrifice. Your child will be happy for you, and proud that you accomplished this.

I would postpone having the 2nd. My hubby and I are going to be waiting for another 6 years before we have our 1st child. We have education and career goals we want to accomplish before having children.

I'd love to start off in Oncology. But if I have to work in less than desirable areas to get to Oncology, then I'll do it.

I also agree that you will probably surprise yourself and start to like other areas.

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I'm not a nurse yet, but I was in your exact situation. Don't feel selfish for having your own dreams. You will be a happier person and better mommy if you do things for yourself too. I'd flirted with the idea of going to nursing school for years, with the intention of then working in L&D. What time you decide to go back to school is really such a personal choice. I know some moms who went back when their kids were babies(under three) and were happy to get it out of the way while the kids were young. I know others who waited until all their kids were in grade school or even longer before going. It depends on what works best for your family. Though, I can't imagine having a newborn in nursing school!

I think if being a L&D nurse is what you REALLY want. Then you should go for it! I am, I know I will most definitely have to work in other areas first. You may not be as interested or feel as excited working in other fields but you would gain invaluable experience. And the eventual pay off of landing that dream job in OB would mean that much more. If it is what you really want, then let nothing get in your way. Life is too short!

Good luck!

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I felt the same way, which is what first interested me in nursing. Just graduated in May, and like someone else mentioned, I was surprised that I actually enjoyed many other areas than I thought I would be. Still would love to work OB, but for now, I know I have to put in my dues probably doing something that wouldn't be my first choice, but that's ok. It all turns out to be experience in the end. I am planning on taking some certification classes to help the job search, and maybe eventually NRP (neonatal resuscitation) which is required in L&D. I think too, in the end, it will make me a better nurse having that experience, and then going to L&D, because like one of my instructors said, you don't know what you don't know when you're a new grad!

And just my :twocents:, I went through the same thing with having a young child and going back to NS, and everyday I wanted to give up, I kept reminding myself that although it may feel like I'm taking from him right now, but that I am doing it for him and his future as well :) It will all pay off, and in the end, I felt like I would be able to have more time off to be able to spend with him, rather than working a FT Mon-Fri job. And nursing gives you the flexibility to work even less days, but still make decent $, so for me, I felt like it would benefit our family and we would be able to spend more time together. Good luck to you!

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I do postpartum nursing, and I love it. Our hospital is large enough that L&D and postpartum are two separate units. Initially I wanted to do L&D, but there were no openings at the time. Ended up in PP and have never looked back.

You could train as a doula in the short term (although you'd probably want to look into the income range and possibilities before committing to this), and start working on baby #2 much sooner. If you worked as a doula until your kids were in school all day, you'd be less troubled by guilt feelings and have a better schedule to work with. Not to mention, you'll have tons of experience in the birthing world, and you'll have lots of personal connections with various hospitals when it comes time to job hunt as a new grad.

One of the advantages to that plan is that 5-6 years from now, the employment situation should be better. Nurses who deferred retirement can only do that for so long. The economy (one hopes!) should have improved by then or at least stabilized enough for facilities to return to hiring new grads. And there may well be another nursing shortage because of all the potential students who decided to look elsewhere for a career.

This is just a suggestion. Whatever happens, you'll find a way to make things work.

Let us know what you decide.

Best wishes. :up:

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Thank you so much for all the replies. You have no idea how much I'm driving my family and friends crazy. :D They will probably be more relieved then I will be when I finally make a decision ;).

Scrubmouse-I agree, there are a few other fields I could see myself enjoying but maybe not be as passionate about as PP and L&D.

cholecatrn- I have thought about being a doula and think it would be a good option as well as a LC. However, I am the "breadwinner" (I am not really bringing in a lot of bread!!) and need a job that will have insurance/reliable paycheck. My husband may never have a "normal" job with benefits. So, I've somewhat ruled that out.

happy2learn-thanks for your reply. I appreciate it......I think Mom's have a hard time doing things for themselves and I need to remind myself to take care of me!

MommaEmmy-This is the first time I felt like I wanted a specific career. The job I am in now is a paycheck. Very relaxed, flexible, decent pay, using my degree, etc, but I'm bored and I have surprised myself with actually having a specific goal. I just wish I did it before number 1, but I really didn't know I wanted to do this until I became a mom. If I do it now, my work will pay for some of it, my daughter is home with my husband, I can still work, but if I wait I worry it will just be so much harder managing work, 2 kids, life, husband, etc. 2 years and I'm done seems not too bad until I think of the days that I will barely see my daughter and I just cringe. :o I don't see myself doing it if I wait. I'm not young, but I'm not old (35), so biological clock is ticking and I just don't know if I can do school 5 years from now.

Again, thanks! I love hashing this out with people and it really helps put somethings into perspective.

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Thank you so much for all the replies. You have no idea how much I'm driving my family and friends crazy. :D They will probably be more relieved then I will be when I finally make a decision ;).

cholecatrn- I have thought about being a doula and think it would be a good option as well as a LC. However, I am the "breadwinner" (I am not really bringing in a lot of bread!!) and need a job that will have insurance/reliable paycheck. My husband may never have a "normal" job with benefits. So, I've somewhat ruled that out.

Again, thanks! I love hashing this out with people and it really helps put somethings into perspective.

This sounds like me. I used to be the "breadwinner." Now I'm not. :lol2: Not much bread coming in here, that's for sure! My husband wants to be a Certified Master Chef, and the road to making good money in that field and getting that title is a long, somewhat expensive one. He may never have benefits as well, and definitely not a normal job.

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You guys are great!!!

redalert-you are right about any experience being invaluable! Have you found work yet? My coworker tells me the same thing and reminds me this is also for my family. Good luck to you as a new nurse!

rn/writer-I'm so happy to hear how much you love PP. I like your ideas. I still haven't gotten into RN school, but am anticipating I will and will find out in Oct. So, your idea could be a back up if I don't get in or if I freak out and don't do school :D Gosh, I sure do hope the job market is better before 5-6 years down the road!! Crossing my fingers. I am lucky in that I can work at my job as a RN once I finish (dialysis), but I've been a RD in dialysis for 13 years and am getting very burnt out. But, I could do it for experience. :)

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