med surg to ob please

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I am an RN and I just completed one long year on crazy med/surg floor. Is l&d and mother baby less stressful? Please tell me it is. I would like to make a move there. Mother baby is why I became a nurse, but felt it would be benefitial to do the med/surg thing first. I am tired of the stress.

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I don't think it's less stressful, just a different kind of stress. L&D is more intense than mother baby but I think that because with L&D you can't physically see your 2nd pt (the baby) and the fetal monitoring strip is how you have to assess the baby and to me that was more stressful.

I think the most important thing is to work in the area of nursing that you love. Anything is more stressful if you don't enjoy what you are doing.

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Specializes in OB.

L&D is NOT les stressful, simply a different kind of stress. It may sound great to have "only two patients" but those two (plus the ones you can't see - the babies) can keep you running all night long. When things happen in L&D it's generally a "right now" kind of situation and demands one-on-one attention. This is not said to discourage you - sometimes we cope better with one kind of stress than another.

Postpartum can be a little more paced, which you may find more to your liking.

getting your year of med-surg will stand you in good stead, as pregnant patients can certainly have other issues going on as well.

Good luck with your switch.

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Specializes in peds and med/surg.
L&D is NOT les stressful, simply a different kind of stress. It may sound great to have "only two patients" but those two (plus the ones you can't see - the babies) can keep you running all night long. When things happen in L&D it's generally a "right now" kind of situation and demands one-on-one attention. This is not said to discourage you - sometimes we cope better with one kind of stress than another.

Postpartum can be a little more paced, which you may find more to your liking.

getting your year of med-surg will stand you in good stead, as pregnant patients can certainly have other issues going on as well.

Good luck with your switch.

Ok, I have a question similar to this. I have wanted to be a l&d nurse for as long as I can remember. (my mom says about 4). Anyway, there were no positions available when I graduated, and I just couldn't NOT work, so I took one is PEDS. I absolutely could not do med-surg, older adults just aren't for me, and where I live, med-surg is mainly ppl from nursing homes etc. How will PEDS help me, if at all? I've heard from many that everyone should get a years med surg, but I couldn't, I didn't want to hate going to work everyday and I know that is what would happen. Peds, while children has most of the same dx, with it's own challenges, and I so hope it will help me.

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I say just go for it. I went in to L&D straight out of nursing school. It's not necessary to have med-surg under your belt first. It helps but is not necessary.

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Where???? Hospitals where I am won't hire new graduate even with 20 YEARS lpn experience. Want someone who can critically think??

I believe after 20 years I can.

Do you know where I can find cross train ob position??

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