Not a good nurse - uneasy about babies

SandyB · Mar 8, 2003

Go for it! I changed my first diaper w/my schoolmates help in nursing school.! I'm an only child too and never wanted kids...and still don't want em and now happily unable to!

In nursing school I was in the room for a birth...but I got dizzy and leaned on a wall and closed my eyes...ICK!

I work psych and I've worked tele...no babies anywhere nearby...works for me!

Liking kids has nothing to do with being a good nurse....just go for it.

And close your eyes when you have to!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2003

I hated it too. Just something you have to life through. You'll do fine. Just remember your final goal and keep thinking of that.

litepath · Mar 8, 2003

~~Definitely go for it~~~

But I say get the therapy now or in school, and tell your instructors. If your instructors see you as some kind of problem because you seek help then they are not in tune. My guess is that they will see you as strong to seek help in this problem area. many of us need to do therapy and I think it's society at large not the medical profession that has labeled it so wrongly. It is a right to privacy and you may choose to keep it that way. But I say speak your truths~~Being male, I was deftly fearful over the OB thing until I proved to myself that I could provide the good care in that environment too. When i finally got to the birthing centers and the birth Mom's invited me to stay for their births, I felt releived that I had caused them to feel comfortable enough with me. Over on the Ppartum side, After dallying around and not being assertive about getting these women to let me check their pads, I found a gal right before the end of the shift that had said she was fine, was actually laying in a pool. After that, I stoppped taking their word for it, checked their pads regularly and as I was standing outside the door charting, actually heard one of the Moms' exclaim to her S/O that she'd better get up and change her pad before "that Man" came back in. I was pleased!

renerian, BSN, RN · Mar 8, 2003

I have two bio children and three stepchildren. If I worked with kids I would have no patience by the time I got home. I think everyone has something that pulls them towards the type of client they want to work with. Sure I did a peds rotation, I hated it. Not for me. I have been a nurse for 18 years. No one has ever told me not to be an RN before. Tell her to butt out LOL. No offense.

renerian

Teshiee · Mar 8, 2003

I love your blunt honesty. I don't know why everyone thinks every woman wants to be pregnant and have children!!!! I have one son and don't regret not wanting anymore, in fact if I could re-do my life I would have been on birth control big time. I love my son and very glad he is here. I use to like OB when I was in nursing school when I got out oh helllllll no!!!! It is not for me. I do love babies but when they start talking and walking I can't deal. That is why I love NICU. It is refreshing to here someone not relishing the birthing experience although for some its a "beautiful thing", I just move along. Just look at it as a rotation of must do and you will never have to do it again. I know some of us felt that way with med surg. I wish you well just hang in there. :-)

sixes · Mar 8, 2003

At least you know what you like and don't like. I am the natural mother of 4 and legal guardian of 3 all but one are boys. I wouldn't have the patients to work with children all day and come home to my wonderful family and I Love children. My pit fall while I was in school was the pysch rotation. 6 weeks of H***. By the time I was done I was afraid they would admit me. HaHa. I made it through and so will you. Learn to count to 10 ansd take deep breaths.

Good Luck

Katnip, RN · Mar 8, 2003

We had a student in our ob class who would get queasy and faint even during the lectures. She only managed to make it through one birth. She's going to be an outstanding critical care nurse. We all have our dislikes. I didn't like OB either, so you aren't alone.

FullMoonMadness · Mar 8, 2003

Just because you don't want to work OB,this does not mean you will not be a good nurse. Everyone has their niche,and many of us didnt find it right away. At least you know what you don't like from the go.If you really want to be a nurse,go for it. And if you feel like you need therapy for whatever issues you may be facing,go for that to. Your medical records are confidential and this wouldnt play into your being a nurse at all. If it makes you feel any better, I know several who have had, or are in therapy now. Good luck.

RN-PA, RN · Mar 8, 2003

I don't have any children and am not particularly comfortable with babies and young kids, and my first clinical rotation was newborn nursery! :eek: I can still remember my fear and stress over bathing a day-old infant and I was scared to death of dropping her or letting her get cold. And auscultating her heart rate-- YIKES-- I couldn't count that fast!

I would recommend you getting some counseling for your feelings, however, justjenn, not only to help you get through your OB and Peds clinicals, but also so you can maintain friendships with your friends who are pregnant or new Moms. Just my 2 cents. (I had counseling during nursing school to help me learn to cope better with stress and self-confidence problems.)

justjenn · Mar 8, 2003

A big THANKS to everyone for your replies. One of my biggest problems is that I am blunt. I posted this thread because I wanted to be honest with myself and all of you.

There are many, many wonderful & caring nurse's/soon-to-be/and other medical profe. and I rely on your good advice. So I left myself open to what you had to say.

I will study hard, ask questions, be controlled, and compassionate in every form of my classes. My mind is set, my path is cut & I am going down the road. And I will be stopping off to ask for help from all of you when I need it.

Thanks everyone.:kiss

Jenn

dianthe1013 · Mar 8, 2003

Originally posted by justjenn
...I literally ran passed the area where you see the infants and went to her room. I was there less than 5 minutes & turned white. Said my goodbyes, had this ringing in my ears & passed out in the hallway outside her room...

I'm glad that everyone has encouraged you to follow your dreams. Don't ever listen to anyone who does the opposite.

That said, the above snip honestly sounds less like "discomfort" and more like fear. That kind of gives me pause, and pushes me to agree with the posters who suggested therapy. And fab4fan is right; you don't have to declare your treatment to your school unless it is related to drug/alcohol abuse or mental illness. This is neither.

Donna :)

louloubell1 · Mar 8, 2003

If we all had to like every area of nursing to be good nurses....well, we would just all suck. Everybody has different interests and different areas that just make them sick. For me, I love the cardiovascular stuff. What would I hate? Well, even though I'm a mom and I love babies, I would hate OB nursing ( to put it the way a friend of mine put it, "Everything is just too damn special and precious there.") I hated doing my OB rotation during school, but you just realize that you have to do it and then you just do it. Good luck to you!