just starting out

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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Hello! I am currently a sahm of 2 small children and help run our family business (restaurant). I have a BS in chemistry and high school teacher certification, but I realized I wanted to take a different path. I am now returning to school to become an RN. I love pregnancy, the birth process and babies and I want to specialize in labor/ delivery or nursery nursing. I would like to know if it is common for a person to realize what type of nursing they want to practice before receiving their RN and would like to know more about the 2 specialties, for example: the ups and downs of l/d or what a basic shift is like in l/d. I really want to pursue this career and any help or information anyone could provide would be great. Thank You. mj

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Nursery nursing: love babies, hate answering call lights, prefer peds to adult nursing, prefers nursing patients who can't talk back to you, like pt education as many moms need lots of help. Idea of a "bad day": only getting lunch break & "pee" breaks. More of a continuous flow, steady, predictable job: morning rounds then feedings then afternoon rounds, then feedings w/ some admissions & discharges thrown in.

L&D nursing: love adult patients, enjoys taking care of so-called "challenging" patients, as most moms are not at their best, loves pts families/visitors 'cuz everyone knows what is best for THEIR daughter/sister/etc., love long hard days where your skills & your professional attitude make a big difference, being an "adrenaline-junkie" helps, as you never really know what will happen next on the unit, ability to think fast on your feet, able to work well with sometimes-challenging MDs.

re: can a person know her specialty b/4 graduating? absolutely!

Three of my former L&D patients have now become L&D RNs on my unit! They are the greatest compliment I have ever received, as they chose their careers based on care they received from me.

Maybe ask the unit manager in a busy OB unit if you could do some volunteer work or maybe get permission to do some observations.

Good luck!

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