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 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 :-)
Yes ma'am, you sound just like me (minus having children)! I am currently in nursing school and will not settle for a job besides the one that I want after graduation. Yes, I've had numerous people tell me that I should start on a medical floor first because otherwise I'll lose my skills. Working in OB you learn new skills you wouldn't learn on a medical floor so there's pros and cons either way. You're going to hear this a LOT from many people (including nursing professors). It gets very old very quickly and somewhat discouraging. I am becoming a nurse because I have a passion to teach new mothers how to care for their babies, to be a compassionate coach for someone who may not have a significant other to help them through one of the most trying yet most rewarding days of their life. Settling for something less (for me) is not an option. So yeah, I get it :)
My only advice for you is to start looking for a job at your local hospital as a tech (after you get your CNA certification), specifically in postpartum. It's not a guarantee that you'll be hired when you graduate nursing school but many units would rather hire their techs after they graduate than someone brand new out of the hospital. Techs know the framework of the unit and, in my opinion, appreciate their techs once they become nurses that much more because they've been there. Becoming a tech will help solidify your decision of going to nursing school and give you that edge after graduating that another new grad may not have.
Thanks again everyone. Still undecided on what I will do as I still have a couple of months to decide. I'm still doing everything I need to do as if I was going to start nursing school in January. I am in Pharmacology, have to do CPR, and a couple other odds and ends. I really appreciate everyones input. :)
robin1717-good luck finding a L&D position. I hope it works out soon for you! Looks like you have great experience already.
LoveANurse09-good luck on getting into the nurse midwife program. Congrats on your baby girl. I can't do a BSN right now, b/c I would have to quit my job for all the programs in my area. I can't do that, b/c my husband is the stay at home parent and I carry the insurance! Plus, my work will pay for a majority of my schooling. I have my BS in Dietetics already and am hoping that helps in the job search a bit!
dawn.b-wow, congrats!!!! Glad to hear you have enjoyed the entire experience. Good luck finishing in December.
MamaRose-Glad to hear I'm not alone :) I would like to know what you end up doing!!! It is such a hard decision for me as a Mom. I feel like I'm going to miss out on so much, but at the same time I feel like in the long run this is also benefiting her and the family. I don't know!!! Such a tough decision for me.
AllThingsPink-I love your positivity and eager attitude! Good luck to you and congrats on already being in nursing school!
like several of you, i have a degree in something completely unrelated to the medical field. it was after my very unexpected pregnancy that i fell in love with everything ob, pp, baby, breastfeeding, mommy, baby, etc. i had my daughter before i completed my BS and i had already decided that as soon as i was done with my BS i would apply for nursing school.
i researched the best options for nursing school in my community and set to work making it happen. i got a non-clinical job that works with all units, at the local hospital. i will be applying for nursing school in december and the hospital i work for pays 100% of your tuition. working with all units, i have the chance to interact with moms and newborns. in fact today i discharged a set of twins! whenever i find out that i have to go up to the ob floor, my heart jumps with excitement. having some experience with other units, right now my heart is still hoping for ld/pp. however, i recognize that once in school and in clinical rotations, i may find other units that i like just as well or even more. i am not ruling anything out, but i recognize i may have to gain experience in other places before ending up where i think i want to be.
also, working at the hospital has solidified my decision in working in the medical field. i love, love, love going to work everyday.. even though my position is not my ideal position. i love the environment and helping pts with their healing journey.
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....
AllThingsPink
65 Posts
Yes ma'am, you sound just like me (minus having children)! I am currently in nursing school and will not settle for a job besides the one that I want after graduation. Yes, I've had numerous people tell me that I should start on a medical floor first because otherwise I'll lose my skills. Working in OB you learn new skills you wouldn't learn on a medical floor so there's pros and cons either way. You're going to hear this a LOT from many people (including nursing professors). It gets very old very quickly and somewhat discouraging. I am becoming a nurse because I have a passion to teach new mothers how to care for their babies, to be a compassionate coach for someone who may not have a significant other to help them through one of the most trying yet most rewarding days of their life. Settling for something less (for me) is not an option. So yeah, I get it :)
My only advice for you is to start looking for a job at your local hospital as a tech (after you get your CNA certification), specifically in postpartum. It's not a guarantee that you'll be hired when you graduate nursing school but many units would rather hire their techs after they graduate than someone brand new out of the hospital. Techs know the framework of the unit and, in my opinion, appreciate their techs once they become nurses that much more because they've been there. Becoming a tech will help solidify your decision of going to nursing school and give you that edge after graduating that another new grad may not have.
Good luck to you!! :)