med surg to ob nursing

[sunneeRN]

Hi everyone! OK I've been a women's health/oncology nurse for 2 years now. I love the people I work with, and I love most of the patients, but I've always, ALWAYS wanted to be an OB nurse. I work in a women's hospital, so transferring would be very easy for me to do. However, something is holding me back and I'm not sure what it is. I don't know if I'm afraid to lose med/surg skills or what, but I'm having a hard time deciding what to do.

Here is my question. When you decided to become an OB/Gyn nurse, did you feel like you were losing skills? I know I would have to learn an entire new area of nursing (which I would love) with an entire new area of skills to learn, but something in me wants to always keep up on whats new in the med/surg world. maybe i'm just afraid of specializing? I'd really love your input. There is a position open now in high risk antepartum. Should I go for it?! thanks!

[htrn]

I say go for it. OB is very interesting, challenging and rewarding. There will be alot to learn, but it sounds like you are up to it. You may be able to float or be scheduled one or two days a month on MS to keep up your skills. If you are not already F/T, maybe you could pick up some hours working PRN for an agency in M/S.

I myself am going the opposite direction - from OB to ER/MS with some OB. I am scared to death but very excited.

Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Med-surg nurses tend to make excellent OB nurses. I agree, go for it. We would welcome you!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

I work in a rural hospital - I work med/surg, OB and ER.

You can do it. And many of the skills of med/surg go into OB. You have to do full assessments. You take vital signs. You start IV's and have to mix meds. Etc.

Good luck.:balloons:

steph

[magz53]

Years ago a nurse could not specialize in OB or anything else unless she/he had at least a year's med-surg experience. I still think that is a good plan.

To have understanding of the pathophysiology of so many of the conditions that women have in addition to their pregnancies can be nothing but a plus. You will continue to see many of the problems you have dealt with....diabetes, hypertension, bleeding disorders, hemorrhages, asthma etc. etc. Things are never dull even when expected to be "normal". Emergencies happen in seconds and experienced nurses in Ob never let their guard down for they have seen what can happen.

Having come from 10 years of med-surg, I feel I could go back with some refreshing of skills. The main problem I see would be learning all of the drugs that change so quickly.