Nursing Student... wants to be an OB nurse :)

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 29, 2005

I entered OB right out of nursing school; I got lucky. I applied to work in the float pool at the hospital where I did my clinical work. The OB manager saw my application/resume and decided to call and see if OB was an area of "interest to me". "INTEREST"???? It was my DREAM! Working in OB was the reason I WENT to nursing school.

Anyhow, the interview went well and I got the job. Now, it's been nearly 8 years in OB/GYN/Newborn nursing. No regrets. No med-surg first experience (although everyone told me I was making a huge mistake). No looking back.

I say go for your dream of working in OB. Find out if any of the OB departments in the hospitals near you hire new grads, or have residencies (larger hospitals often do), and look into it. Time to start looking is NOW---dont' wait til you graduate. I had my job 2 months before I even graduated.

I won't lie; it won't be at all easy. But no area of nursing is easy that first year or two out of school. But do not let naysayers say you can't do OB right out of school. Plenty of us did and are good OB nurses to boot!

GOOD LUCK!

k_cole21 · Apr 29, 2005

I too was lucky enough to get an OB position right out of school. I find it very rewarding and have absolutely no regrets. Many students that I run in to now tell me how they are discouraged from going directly to OB instead of getting some med-surg experience. I personaly think med-surg is a waste of time if your passion is OB. Go for what your passion is! You'll be happier in the long run!

Pride of July28 · Apr 29, 2005

Hi everyone. I'm an RN student with 7 1/2 months to go till graduation. I've been interested in becoming an OB nurse for awhile now. I absolutely LOVED my OB clinical and got an A in the lecture. Did any of you used to work a different specialty or med surg...and like OB better? I'm sure it's very rewarding. Any advice for me when I come out of nursing school? Some people say it's best to get a few med surg years in before going to specialty...what do you think about that? I was also thinking maybe working OB and picking up one day a week in med-surg to "keep my feet wet". I guess it's all just ideas I'm having now...who knows what I'll actually do. Any advice would be appreciated :)

Hello I am still a student myself but one of my classmates has already interviewed and accepted a postpartum nurse job at a very good hospital here in NYC. She impressed on the interviewer that she, like the other responder, had no real interest in med surg and was looking for a particular job. Now, I'm not saying that approach will work for everyone but . .. .give it a go. I attended a job fair earlier in the week and a lot of people were saying "yeah I wanna work mother/baby" but the recruiters gave them the brush off, pushed med surg and they bit. .. I say this to say-- the better the reason and presentation you can make for your reasoning to go into the department- probably the better your chances. Get your interviewing down and that, coupled with hospital policies and needs, etc. . .gives you a good chance. Just a theory.

Good luck and best wishes

BETSRN · Apr 30, 2005

Hi everyone. I'm an RN student with 7 1/2 months to go till graduation. I've been interested in becoming an OB nurse for awhile now. I absolutely LOVED my OB clinical and got an A in the lecture. Did any of you used to work a different specialty or med surg...and like OB better? I'm sure it's very rewarding. Any advice for me when I come out of nursing school? Some people say it's best to get a few med surg years in before going to specialty...what do you think about that? I was also thinking maybe working OB and picking up one day a week in med-surg to "keep my feet wet". I guess it's all just ideas I'm having now...who knows what I'll actually do. Any advice would be appreciated :)

There is MORE than enough to learn in OB without keepig your foot in med-surg.

Personally, I think anyone should work med-surg BEFORE moving to a specialty, but there are others who would disagree with me. You get some good solid skills that can be used in any specialty.

If you are interested in OB then you will have to find a unit that hires new grads. Many will start you in mother/baby. Everyone has to start out somewhere.

Is there any way you can get a tech job in OB? That definitely gets you a foot in the door for after graduation and you benefit from having a good feel for OB. You may find you are not interested in it once you delve deeper. Even being a unit secretary on an OB floor would give you some added experience, not to mention you would get to know the nurses, docs and nurse managers in that area. Over the years, several of our unit secretaries have been in nursing school. It has been great to follow their progress in school and then see them graduate.

Basic med-surg experience will NEVER be a bad idea. Med-surg is a highly specialized area now, as well. You will learn skills there that will always be valuable to you.

Best of luck to you!

allnurses Guide · Apr 30, 2005

I entered OB right out of nursing school; I got lucky. I applied to work in the float pool at the hospital where I did my clinical work. The OB manager saw my application/resume and decided to call and see if OB was an area of "interest to me". "INTEREST"???? It was my DREAM! Working in OB was the reason I WENT to nursing school.
Anyhow, the interview went well and I got the job. Now, it's been nearly 8 years in OB/GYN/Newborn nursing. No regrets. No med-surg first experience (although everyone told me I was making a huge mistake). No looking back.
I say go for your dream of working in OB. Find out if any of the OB departments in the hospitals near you hire new grads, or have residencies (larger hospitals often do), and look into it. Time to start looking is NOW---dont' wait til you graduate. I had my job 2 months before I even graduated.
I won't lie; it won't be at all easy. But no area of nursing is easy that first year or two out of school. But do not let naysayers say you can't do OB right out of school. Plenty of us did and are good OB nurses to boot!
GOOD LUCK!

I agree with Deb - go for it.

steph

oakleysmom · Apr 30, 2005

I'm a nursing student graduating in 3 weeks ( ) and have managed to land a position in L&D. I would recommend being open-minded about all the hospitals in your area-I know many other students who ruled out the hospital I am at because they preferred a county hospital. I agree that it is so important to start looking now and to jump on any scholarship/repayment programs that area hospitals may offer. Good luck!

TifRN2B · May 3, 2005

Thanks you guys for all your advice!

Tif

Mahogany · May 10, 2005

Hi everyone. I'm an RN student with 7 1/2 months to go till graduation. I've been interested in becoming an OB nurse for awhile now. I absolutely LOVED my OB clinical and got an A in the lecture. Did any of you used to work a different specialty or med surg...and like OB better? I'm sure it's very rewarding. Any advice for me when I come out of nursing school? Some people say it's best to get a few med surg years in before going to specialty...what do you think about that? I was also thinking maybe working OB and picking up one day a week in med-surg to "keep my feet wet". I guess it's all just ideas I'm having now...who knows what I'll actually do. Any advice would be appreciated :)

I have been an OB nurse for over 15 years, with no regrets. I completed my basic training then attended midwifery school immediately after. I am an excellent nurse with limited med-surg experience. If this area is where your passion lies, go for it. My advice to you, though, is carefully choose a mentor.

BENNETTRN · May 12, 2005

Hi everyone. I'm an RN student with 7 1/2 months to go till graduation. I've been interested in becoming an OB nurse for awhile now. I absolutely LOVED my OB clinical and got an A in the lecture. Did any of you used to work a different specialty or med surg...and like OB better? I'm sure it's very rewarding. Any advice for me when I come out of nursing school? Some people say it's best to get a few med surg years in before going to specialty...what do you think about that? I was also thinking maybe working OB and picking up one day a week in med-surg to "keep my feet wet". I guess it's all just ideas I'm having now...who knows what I'll actually do. Any advice would be appreciated :)

I graduated 1 1/2 yrs ago from nsg school. For as long I can remember I have had a passion for L&D, and a great interest in home health (the hx of it interests me, and the close 1:1 relationship and care you can provide your pt) so I knew I would eventually end up in one of these area's. After graduation much to the urging of everyone I bit the bullet and went to work on a MS/Tele unit for 4 mo's until I broke my wrist and arm, and didnt have PTO or ESL and had to resign, but was welcome back after recovery. I was browsing while quite bored the newpaper and found a home health case mgr med/surg position in my area with a wonderful co. (the first home health agency in hx) and really had to sell myself at the interview b/c they usually want at least 3-5yrs exp. Got the job and was determined to do well and prove myself. With all the paper work (now done on a laptop) and million other things to do I ended up working 6 days/wk approx 12-16hrs/day, I did well and was actually asked to orientate a new employee! but after 7 mo's of that you can imagine what a toll that took on every aspect of my life. I finally decided to try and find a job that was a passion. Called my old OB mgr and she gave me a chance straight into L&D. I LOVE IT, the shifts fly and I cant get enough, I ask a million questions, and read whatever I can and still love to watch anything on Discovery pertaining to L&D. I look back at the first 2 jobs and cant believe how happy I am right where Im at. I guess I took a little bit of everyones advice after graduation did M/S, did a area of interest to me, and then went to my favorite area of nsg all in a short time. I can tell you I sure dont recommend 3 jobs in 1 1/2 yrs, I felt like a failure leaving home health so soon, especially since my prior job was only for 4 mo's, even though with both jobs I obviously had good reason for leaving. My unit has approx 6 RN's who came to L&D right after graduation and they dont regret it, on the other hand the RN's with MS experience have such a wealth of knowledge, and I many times wish I could have stuck MS/tele out for 6 more mo's to say I did it, and also to gain some more of that valuable knowledge, b/c everyday in tele/ms was full of learning, and so many L&D pts have medical hx's that involve area's of MS eg. mom's w/pm's or DVT's etc. So you have to make the decision that works best for you. Sorry for the novel, just wanted to let you know theres grad's who travel all the possible roads. Best of luck to you, and remember if its your passion you will not think of it as a job, and will love every minute of it!