New Grad Starting in OB**** (Advice from all)

mamamerlee, LPN · Mar 27, 2010

You are extremely lucky to have been given a job in this tight market. And OB is where many people long to work - It is mainly happy work, with mainly healthy women. Cross-training is very important, and will give you better insight into the entire process.

My very first job was NICU - not necessarily physical, but VERY stressful emotionally.

Generally not as physical as a med-surg unit; they are usually smaller units, not as much walking. USUALLY.

Take full advantage of every minute of your orientation.

BEST WISHES!!!

guiltysins · Mar 27, 2010

I hope in two years I'm as lucky as you. I would LOVE for my first job to be in postpartum.

baylor06 · Mar 28, 2010

I started out just as you did, and after some med surg mixed in with some telemetry, I am now the happiest ED nurse ever! Good luck and congrats!

LoveANurse09 · Mar 28, 2010

Far from your first choice?!? Wow ,you dont know how jealous I am:crying2:! Interested in cardiac and we can switch?

lion09 · Mar 28, 2010

OB is an area that is not as common as other areas to have an open new grad positions. You said that OB is not your ideal department and I was just curious as to why the hospital gave you an OB position as oppost to an ER or med-surg position which is far more common for a new grad? Normally OB positions goes to people who love OB and fight hard to get into OB. What city do you live in? I'd love to be in your shoes.

wife&mommyRN · Mar 28, 2010

Thanks everyone for all of the replies!!!! I had a really horrible OB clinical experience and I have had my guard up about OB ever since then. I actually work on an OB floor and I love my job! My goal was to start off on a M/S floor to gain experience. I love OB, but I am affraid that I will be limited in what I am able to do in nursing because this is such a unique specialty. I interviewed for M/S and right after OB offered me a job & I took it. I also got the job for M/S, but I am a firm believer in keeping my word, so OB it is. I wanted M/S, but I think God has something better planned for me and I am going to embrace it.

A Little Advice...

Reading allnurses.com helped me a lot in being realistic that the job market is very tight and I needed to be very flexible. I embraced M/S throughout nursing school, and thats how I got recruiters attention @ career fairs bc I wasn't affraid to start off on M/S and do the work no one else wanted to do. It limits your competition also, because all of your fellow classmates want ICU, peds, and OB. Realistically those are difficult areas for a new grad to enter. So when I entered into my ABSN program I began applying for hospital jobs before I even started, just to get in. Just so happened I landed one in my final semester and they were so impressed with my dedication to the job that they want me to come work for them after graduation, I was completely shocked, I was not expecting them to offer me a job @ all so quickly. I have been extremely focused during nursing school, not focused on the cliques, partying, and gossiping. But, rather networking with the right people and obtaining and securing a job. Jobs are out there, but don't start looking for jobs and trying to network @ the same time as everyone else bc you limit your options. I am the only person in my program with a job let alone 3 job offers, not saying that there won't be others like me eventually. I know everyone hates the term, "I'm not here to make friends", but truthfully I wasn't. I have made 1 true friend who I know we will be friends years from now, and I have my job. I am happy with my experience and I wouldn't change anything else. The advice on this site has been priceless and I credit God and this site to my success and sanity.

Best of Luck to Everyone!!!

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 28, 2010

I started out right in OB 13 years ago upon graduation. Like any area of nursing, the learning curve is very steep. Make the most of your orientation and ask any and all questions that come up. NEVER EVER pretend to know what you don't. Step up to the plate and volunteer to take care of patients in situations that are unfamiliar. And don't let them push you out of orientation too fast. It takes no less than 6 months' full-time work to really learn what you need to be able to function on your own in any specialty, and OB is definitely not an exception. And even after that, don't be afraid to ask colleagues to back you up if you are uncertain in any situation. Even after 13 years, I am always collaborating with my coworkers to make sure I am doing the right things; I have no problem realizing my limitations and going to people with more experience for second opinions and answers. The learning never ends.

Get your manager to place you in any classes you can attend, also. Make sure you get beginning, intermediate and advanced Fetal Heart Monitoring courses as you go. Also, Become a member of AWHONN as soon as you can. The resources and information you gain from this professional organization are invaluable. See http://www.awhonn.org for information and membership application.

Enjoy yourself. Welcome to OB nursing. It is amazingly rewarding, frustrating and challenging, all at once. I hope you love this job and your position and wish you the best of luck. Realize, you never, ever will stop learning and keep your mind open! Good luck.

NC-RN2011 · Jun 28, 2011

I too am a new grad and was offered a job on the OB/Antepartum unit at a major hospital. I was not even expecting it. I was hired on the spot one evening while doing my precepting in the Labor and Delivery unit. I was so thankful to have a job as many of my classmates had just started applying for positions. I fortunately have 8 years experience working in an OB/GYN office . I'm very excited !!!!