OB RN nurse advice

HvnSntRN · Dec 5, 2006

I am currently in a nursing program to become a registered nurse. I was wondering what person has to do to work as an OB nurse? I have always wanted to work in the OB and I wasn't sure if you had to specialize or not. And if not what are the duties of an RN in an OB?

It really depends on the institution where you work. Some places have LDRP which means your patient Labours-Delivers-Recovers-Postpartum in the same room. Others, like the institution where I work, have separate LDR and Mother-Baby areas. We also have a High-Risk Antepartum unit and Gynaecology Post-Op unit. I've cross-trained for Antepartum, Gyne and Mother-Baby, and also floated to the stepdown area for the NICU. Last year I wrote (and passed!!:balloons:) the National Certification Exam in Perinatal Nursing, which covers everything from pre-conception, pregnancy, L&D, postpartum, NICU, breastfeeding and postpartum sexuality. (Needed a minimum of 6,000 hours of practice over 5 years to qualify.)

While we have a fair number of unique and recurring health related issues in Mother-Baby, much of our focus is on patient teaching, emotional support of the family through a major life event, and ensuring that breastfeeding is on its way to being established prior to discharge.

It is also a very interesting place to work with respect to the cultural practices that people bring to the birth experience. Our community is very ethnically diverse, so we see a wide variety of practices that have been passed down from generation to generation.

I've worked in Mother Baby for almost 9 years and I love it. Never before have I had a job where I didn't tire of it after a couple of years and get bored with the challenges that present themselves. I enjoy Mother Baby Nursing just as much now as I did when I started. It isn't for everyone, but it's where I feel I was meant to be.