Is it a good idea to take a position as a new grad working nights in a birthing center? I just graduated and have limited nursing experience. I've never worked nights before and don't know what to expect as far as nights in a birthing unit (PP, L&D, and Nursery). I'm a night owl, so I'm not overly concerned about the hours. I'm mainly worried about less staff and less support at night and not being effective in an emergent situation. I interviewed, it went really well, and I'm in the final stages of possibly getting the position. But I'm nervous about nights. I just checked and saw a brand new posting for a day position in the same unit. Should I go back and tell them I prefer days? I know it's difficult for new grads to get day shift, but should I try? Has anyone started as a new grad in OB on nights, and if so, was it difficult, frightening, etc? (The training is also on nights).
Well, I debated to the point of making myself sick for days!! I then thought I need to just DECIDE! So I chose OB and have refused to let myself go back and rethink it at all. So, right or wrong, I'm specializing in OB right out of school! I'm both excited and really, really scared/worried! I don't start for a couple weeks yet and go from looking forward to it, to dreading it and wanting to quit nursing before even trying it out! It just seems so overwhelming! But I'm going to get in there, ask lots of questions, keep studying and do my best. It's intimidating to read some of the OB posts on this site... it's like they are speaking another language at times. I hope I can do this!
Well, I debated to the point of making myself sick for days!! I then thought I need to just DECIDE! So I chose OB and have refused to let myself go back and rethink it at all. So, right or wrong, I'm specializing in OB right out of school! I'm both excited and really, really scared/worried! I don't start for a couple weeks yet and go from looking forward to it, to dreading it and wanting to quit nursing before even trying it out! It just seems so overwhelming! But I'm going to get in there, ask lots of questions, keep studying and do my best. It's intimidating to read some of the OB posts on this site... it's like they are speaking another language at times. I hope I can do this!
There are plenty of brilliant OB nurses out there who started in OB from the beginning. I value my med/surg experience and feel my learning curve is a little less steep, but if I had the opportunity to go into OB straight out of school I would have taken it in a heartbeat. I was miserable in my previous position and Im so much happier now that I finally have the opportunity to work in OB. OB is a totally different animal than any other area of nursing, so I feel kind of like I just graduated all over again, only this time Im excited and happy and WANT to learn everything there is to know about my job versus being in survival mode like I was in med/surg. Good luck to you, I was secretly hoping you chose OB if that is where your heart is! Who is to say you would have this opportunity later if you turned it down now....I got stuck in my position for nearly 3 years and had given up on ever getting into OB...its easy to get kind of trapped in med/surg sometimes.
I never worked on a day on the Med/Surg floor -yuck. I had a great preceptorship into L&D right out of nursing school and never regretted my decision. I currently work in community health but value my L&D experience.
belle005
46 Posts
Well, I debated to the point of making myself sick for days!! I then thought I need to just DECIDE! So I chose OB and have refused to let myself go back and rethink it at all. So, right or wrong, I'm specializing in OB right out of school! I'm both excited and really, really scared/worried! I don't start for a couple weeks yet and go from looking forward to it, to dreading it and wanting to quit nursing before even trying it out! It just seems so overwhelming! But I'm going to get in there, ask lots of questions, keep studying and do my best. It's intimidating to read some of the OB posts on this site... it's like they are speaking another language at times. I hope I can do this!