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.
@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.
And you may totally end up loving OR. I enjoy procedural nursing. Wasn’t sure I would, but I love it. Just know, it takes time to build those relationships. I left my unit after 5 years. I was super respected, but it took me a long time to get there. Definitely not just a year. Be patient with yourself and the job.
Jordan1927, unfortunately, you'll find that being an OR nurse is not always conducive to a good work/life balance. In addition to working full time hours, there is an almost always a call requirement in surgery, which depending on the size and staffing of the department, can be heavy. Over the years, I've often felt as if I were working a full time job and a part time one too and can't tell you all of the holidays, weekends, nights, and 2:00 AMs that I've been called in to the hospital.
Your heart is in maternity but you left PP for OR? That makes zero sense. PP is synonymous of maternity. I would have stayed at PP if I were you, but what's done is done.
No offense to these other commenters, but their opinions should not dissuade you from doing what you want. Staying in a job for ____ amount of time is really an old-school way of thinking after you have your first year in. Nursing provides so many opportunities. Do not stay miserable because other old nurses tell you "you have to do your time" or whatever BS. Life is too short for that. Do what you want.
LovingLife123
1,592 Posts
And you may totally end up loving OR. I enjoy procedural nursing. Wasn’t sure I would, but I love it. Just know, it takes time to build those relationships. I left my unit after 5 years. I was super respected, but it took me a long time to get there. Definitely not just a year. Be patient with yourself and the job.