IDK, What I Want To Do With Nursing

[Jordan1927, ASN, BSN]

I've been a nurse for about a year and a half now. I started as a postpartum nurse for a year and am now in a training program for OR nursing. My true passion though is babies and I want to become a labor & delivery nurse, maybe a NICU nurse in the near future. Then I think I want to further my education, but I don't know in what so that I'll still be able to work mainly with babies and pregnant women.

My internet research yielded only 4 options basically: CNM, FNP, WHNP, or NNP. But I want to have a good work life balance, not having to commit all my time and life to only my career and miss out on living life. And I know these career paths will kind of demand majority of my time. I know this post is all over the place, but I'm so confused on what I should do. Any advice from this community would help. Thank you.

[jobellestarr]

If you know that your true passion is babies, why are you going to the OR? PP to L and D  or NICU would have been the most logical progression. I don’t think any of the advanced degrees require any more than any other specialty as far as not having a good work life balance. I guess if I were you, I’d rethink the OR training. Is this just an OR class or are you actually transferring to the OR? I might think about talking to the managers of L and D or NICU and if you could transfer there. 

[Jordan1927, ASN, BSN]

@jobellestarr I was a postpartum nurse for a year and realized I didn't like that part of the pregnancy process. But the hospital I work at, its hard to get into L&D on your own and I never had an opportunity to get in the know with someone. So I chose OR because, it interested me, and because it was my escape from postpartum. So now im trying to find a way into L&D. It wasnt the smartest decision, but I truly could not stay in postpartum any longer.

[RNperdiem, RN]

I heard postpartum is far better at long-term nursing survival compared to many other floors. For a new grad, you were lucky to start out there. What did you not like about it?

[jobellestarr]

Not to demean your decision but I’ve been a nurse for 40 years and have worked in all area. Can you be more specific about what you didn’t like about pp? I personally found it the least stressful area of nursing. 

[Jordan1927, ASN, BSN]

@RNperdiem and @jobellestarr no no, its not demeaning at all!! The hospital I work at has a large maternity ward and is very busy. Postpartum, in speaking about the actual workload and types of tasks done, was very easy and stress free. For me, it was leadership and the unfair nurse/patient ratio that drove me away from it. Also, because L&D is what I've always wanted to do, I like the action that comes with L&D, I love babies and eventually I want to be able to deliver them myself. So postpartum was like L&D adjacent to me and after a year I was miserable in my job. I hope this answers yalls questions.

[jobellestarr]

I see. Is the OR a class or did you actually transfer there? If it’s a class, maybe you could rethink this and go talk to the managers in L and D or NICU. It doesn’t always matter that you don’t have an in. ❤️

[Jordan1927, ASN, BSN]

@jobellestarr I transferred here. I'll be done with the training in February and then a full fledged OR nurse after that. But I have learned the name of one of the managers in L&D and I have put applications in so ill be making some calls soon. Im just trying to get my mind and resolve straight and know exactly what I want to do before I make anymore rash moves

[jobellestarr]

Good luck to you. 

[Jordan1927, ASN, BSN]

Thank you!

[LovingLife123]

To be absolutely honest, I would have stayed in PP.  You were only there for a year.  It takes a few years to be seen as a good, stable RN and that’s how you make those connections.  I noticed right around year 3-4 on my old unit, I was no longer seen as the new grad and I was considered an asset not liability.  I was friends with everyone in different disciplines.  I had floated enough that I was recognized by other units. Those things take time.

I hope you enjoy OR but it’s a completely different type of nursing.  Procedural nursing is so different from floor nursing. 
 

I couldn’t do labor and delivery.  I’d probably tell all those first time moms with their utterly ridiculous birth plans to have their babies at home.  ??  I have no tolerance for the “declining” of an IV or checks.  I’m glad there’s people that can deal with these lunatics.

[Jordan1927, ASN, BSN]

@LovingLife123 I appreciate your comment. At times I definitely feel like I made a mistake, but my dad always taught me not to cry over spilled milk. My heart is in maternity so Im gonna do my best to get back there soon. Im just a very new nurse who doesnt really know what she wants to do with her degree right now (travel? More school? Specialties?) and am making random decisions until I figure it out.