No motivation in OB nurse

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I have been struggling about what to do next. I've been OB nurse for over six years. I loved it, but the last couple of years I don't have much motivation in learning or advancement in this area. I have been applying other specialty in the same hospital, but so far no luck. OB is such a specialized area and difficult to transfer to other unrelated unit. Most of the units I applied require adult acute care in either surgical or medical experiences. Unfortunately, OB is my only nursing experience. I just can't do any more OB, Postpartum, NICU, or related mom-baby. Is there anybody feeling the same?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Not sure if all you are doing is applying to posted positions, but if you are I would strongly recommend asking your house supervisor to be scoping out the landscape for you. I would also do some networking- offer to buy the manager of a unit you're interested in a cup of coffee and have an informal conversation about what you want to do and how to make yourself a good candidate. Good luck!

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Specializes in Tele, Postpartum.

Hey I know it's been nearly year but curious if you had any luck. I was a cardiac nurse for a little over a year (first job as a new grad) and just made the switch to Mom Baby. After now almost 3 months I realized it's not for me. Similar to you I don't really have much motivation in learning or advancement in this area. I actually find that the advancement seems limiting and only gets you even deeper in OB. What sucks that while I was in school I was convince OB was what I wanted, but now I find that this area just doesn't give me the "magic" everyone saids. I'm already over the newborns (realized I don't like them/have not really a passion for them.) I do like who I work with, but I find I'm just in a different area of my like than my other coworkers. I'm 24, single with no kids (don't want them anytime soon) while others are older with families. I find myself missing my cardiac/critical care skills/perpective and varity of patients. I have now found postpartum nit picky and service driven and too repititve. I do love the teaching accpect of postpartum and I find teaching is my passion, but no OB teaching. I realized I love general nursing and want to teach students basic nursing rather than having a specialty. I realized I rather be a jack of all trades nurse rather than a specilaty.

I hope this post gives you some solice. I have been feeling like I'm a broken/something's wrong for me for not liking OB. Glad to find other people had have the desire to learn more!

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Hi thank you for your reply, Sophie2318. I like to update my current situation. I am still at labor and delivery. It's almost 7 years. Here's what I think now. I thought I was missing all other skills and experience to be a good nurse because I only know L&D. Then I realized that it doesn't matter where you are, you are a specialized in that area. I asked myself, do I really want to be jack of all trades. The answer was "no". I still am interested in other area, such as diabetes or wound care, but if I leave L&D, I would definitely miss that closely working with doctors and my team. So, for now, I am OK to be L&D nurse. There are tons more things to learn.

I am sorry you are not enjoying OB, I guess your more specialized in postpartum unit. Have you tried L&D? It might be more exciting as it can be extremely acute and emergent. But, if you don't see yourself in this area, you might want to pursue your calling. Cardiac/Critical care sounds wonderful. I would like it too.

Thanks again for your reply and sorry for not in the same feeling as when I posted.

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