OB clinic nursing?

[Freespirit2020]

Hello nurses!

I graduated nursing school with my BSN in December 2019, and starting working at my university's hospital in March 2020. I've known for years I'm interested in OB nursing, and applied to the Mother/Baby unit I interned on. Unfortunately there were not enough lines open for it to work out for me, so I accepted a position on the gyn/onc and postpartum floor. Initially, figured I would have the best of both worlds: still get my foot in the door of OB nursing and continue working on Med/Surg skills. 

 7 months later, found it wasn't for me. I tried pretty much everything to stay until 1 year (extended orientation, asking for help, coming early, etc) but it really took a toll on my mental health. It had gotten so bad that I needed to be hospitalized.

Thankfully, I'm in a much better place mentally and am ready to start looking for nursing jobs again. I've decided it be best to start working part-time and see how it goes. I've been looking at some jobs at OB/GYN clinics, as well as part-time hospital jobs (rare but still out there). Although I do have some concerns/questions:

1. Will my gap in employment hurt my chances for job opportunities. I haven't worked since October 2020

2. How hands on is a nursing position typically at a clinic? One thing that was nice about a hospital was practicing a lot of hands on skills such as IV meds

3. If I do eventually want to return to the bedside, is there much chance that I could obtain a job?

Thanks in advance!

[Nunya, BSN]

Hi, just saw this.  I worked an OB Clinic years ago and did very little hands-on as far as skills.  If a woman had a problem like needing an IV she usually went to L&D to get treated.  So you'd need to ask at an interview what kind of things they do.  I was actually the part-time charge nurse (did peds clinic too) so I mostly did paperwork, occasionally chaperoned, did intake (VS etc), some repeat pregnancy tests, a little teaching.  Your work gap might hurt but if asked just say it wasn't a good fit (I'm assuming the onco part was the reason so if so say that) and say with holidays coming up you figured you'd just wait. And then quickly say something on the order of "but I totally understand I'll be working holidays and weekends here!" if you're interviewing for a hospital job or a clinic job that's open weekends.  My last job they mentioned that I "understood that, right?'' and I laughed and said "oh yes, don't worry" and they liked that.  Evidently many people coming in didn't realize that...? You CAN be totally honest about your hospitalization but that comes with its own problems.  But just so you know, if you get hired and asked on a medical form you'll have to disclose, otherwise you can be fired for false info.  But you'll never know until you try! I think you can get a job, it just might not be in the area you want, so I would look at other jobs.  Plus, the more you interview the better you'll get at it.  Good luck!

[Freespirit2020]

Hi Nunya,

Thanks for your honest feedback! Yes, the main reason things didn't work on the old unit was the gyn/onc side. I'll definitely make sure to ask clinics the skills nurses do. It sounds that if I do work at a clinic, the chances of making it back to bedside nursing would be slim.. working in another specialty I think is something to be more open to, as much as I'd love to work OB, especially since I have less than a year of nursing experience. It's hard though to know what else I'd like that could help with OB ? Your work response about the work gap is helpful. I'm moving early in April, so I want to balance adjusting to that but not at the expense of increasing my gap of employment. I'm going to hope for the best.