Need some encouragement!!!

mediatix8 · Feb 23, 2006

If you have a patient that's going downhill, you don't have to worry about panicking and doing the wrong thing. If you're at all unsure about anything, you involve all of the other nurses on the floor and it's a team effort. If someone is actively dying, you call a code and then everyone rushes to the room- an ICU nurse comes, ER doctor, pharmacist, nurses from other floors. You just stand there and answer any questions they might have. The only thing you really have to do is attatch them to the debifillator and/or do CPR until these people come, and even then you still have all your fellow nurses on the floor helping you.

They have insurance for nurses in case they are sued. I know that it is extremely cheap... like $100 a year or less? I don't know too much about it though, maybe someone else can fill you in. Most people just sue the hospital, not the nurse individually. It's the millions they are looking for, not the nurse's $5,000 buick.

SuperFlyRN · Feb 23, 2006

I agree w/Mediatrix8, I have never seen the team effort like in OB/L&D. There are the odd times we are so overwhelmingly busy but our rooms are equiped with Code Blue alarms that when pulled alarm the unit, switchboard and the message is transferred to the appropriate personal. But the teamwork is above and beyond. I was so nervous/scared when I Xtrained to L&D but I learned very quickly how you are never alone. It helps being on a xtrained unit because you have the availability of all the nurses on the floor, not just designated L&D staff. What I have learned is if your gut is telling you something, go with your gut. I have had many a doctor assess a patient and check the strip and I have pointed out my concerns and it is brushed off-I persist until I am satisfied.

You will do wonderful. You can ease into it. I did PP for a few years and while I did PP I shadowed the L&D in my spare time (oxymoron!) starting IV's, Foley's, putting mom's on the FHM, scanning, transitioning babies, etc it was wonderful for 'easing' into it!

If that is what you truly wish to do, absolutely go for it-you will have plenty of support from your co-workers if not your dh:(

I entered nursing later after being a Pharmacist for a while and I was determined I was going to do Obstetrics, no matter what.

Selke · Feb 23, 2006

Hello All! Right now I am going to start pre-req classes. I really want to work in OB-GYN after I graduate. (However I am open to all areas) My husband worries for me because of everything... He thinks it may be too tough for me. He is worried if someone dies, lawsuits, if there is complications and If I panic and do the wrong thing. I worry about these things too but I know I will be able to overcome it. This is a job that I have a passion for. I love my husband but right now I really don't want to hear from him... if you ladies know what I mean. Can anyone please talk about some bad experiences and how you overcame them? Also how are the job openings? Pretty frequent? What are the hours, pay, etc? Any information will be helpful at this point! Thanks so much!

I wonder why your husband is trying to undermine your confidence? Does he do this in general? This can be a form of controlling you and a red flag to me ... just had to bring this up.

OB is a team effort as everyone else has said. One measure of a great place to work is how well staff help each other out despite if they like each other or not! But don't get caught up focussing on what negative events MIGHT happen -- in health care, what can go wrong will go wrong eventually. If you don't want risk in your job, don't go into a clinical field! Many people out there in the world don't want this kind of risk, and so don't go into health care -- that's OK! You learn how to do the job in professional nursing school. You learn how to handle things when they don't go as they should when you start work and during your first one or two years as an RN. You learn with experience and learn what to do. This is true in any health care discipline, not just OB.

If you want to do OB, I suggest you start taking doula training courses and volunteering at a local women's health clinic, become a peer counselor at Planned Parenthood, become a childbirth or sex ed educator at a local community clinic, school for teen moms, &c. Learn Spanish! There's lots of opportunities out there to start getting in the OB field while waiting to get into nursing school. I've heard there's a degree you can get as a health educator, too, if you think clinical work isn't right for you. And public health ...

There are plenty of staff nursing jobs out there ... the shortage isn't in advanced practice nursing, but "regular old bedside nursing."

Good luck!

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 23, 2006

I wonder why your husband is trying to undermine your confidence? Does he do this in general? This can be a form of controlling you and a red flag to me ... just had to bring this up.
OB is a team effort as everyone else has said. One measure of a great place to work is how well staff help each other out despite if they like each other or not! But don't get caught up focussing on what negative events MIGHT happen -- in health care, what can go wrong will go wrong eventually. If you don't want risk in your job, don't go into a clinical field! Many people out there in the world don't want this kind of risk, and so don't go into health care -- that's OK! You learn how to do the job in professional nursing school. You learn how to handle things when they don't go as they should when you start work and during your first one or two years as an RN. You learn with experience and learn what to do. This is true in any health care discipline, not just OB.
If you want to do OB, I suggest you start taking doula training courses and volunteering at a local women's health clinic, become a peer counselor at Planned Parenthood, become a childbirth or sex ed educator at a local community clinic, school for teen moms, &c. Learn Spanish! There's lots of opportunities out there to start getting in the OB field while waiting to get into nursing school. I've heard there's a degree you can get as a health educator, too, if you think clinical work isn't right for you. And public health ...
There are plenty of staff nursing jobs out there ... the shortage isn't in advanced practice nursing, but "regular old bedside nursing."
Good luck!

Boy this is GREAT advice------yes do what you can prior to school to get educated as suggested above. And yes, lawsuits are a reality in ANY area of nursing. The best ways to protect yourself are to be well-educated, current in your speciality and never, ever pretending to know what you do not. And yes, also, OB tends to be a team player game. If you can't be part of a team and really be unafraid to ask others to help you when you need it, you will have a hard time. I somehow think you are not that type. I think you will do fine.

Spanish, always useful. I find I am using mine more and more all the time----that was a great piece of advice!

SO go for it-----I have done this nearly 9 years and love it----no regrets and (so far) never been in a position where I was fearful of being sued.

klleo27 · Feb 23, 2006

Thank you for your encourging words! I feel so much better to know that your not always alone and you will have the help you need in case of an emergency. I am sure I will get more of a feel for it when I do my clinicals. My husband is just a worry wart, and he will support any thing I decide to do... sometimes I just rush into things and not look into the whole picture! I am so greatful for this form, there is endless topics and helpful information!

God Bless! Kelly