Ob/gyn vs peds

[msrxchef]

My school is not offering both ob/gyn and peds, so we have to chose one to take for next semester (I'm in an ADN program). I wanted to ask allnurses which one I should select...and which one I should take should I want to pass the NCLEX. This makes me really nervous if I can even pass the NCLEX if I'm not taking a needed class other nursing students take.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

This sounds strange. Most boards of nursing require nursing schools to offer both OB nursing and pediatric nursing in the curriculum in order for graduates to be eligible to take the state boards (a.k.a. NCLEX). Students typically take both, not one or the other.

[mrsboots87]

Are you sure they aren't offering the class all together or maybe just not offering clinical in both? I'm pretty sure all BON have a peds and OB requirement and would go as far as to say they likely also require clinical in both but I could be wrong. If your state doesn't require both you will have a hell of a time trying to endorse your license to another state later if you wanted to.

Id ask the instructor and clarify. I doubt they would just skip lecturing about one of those two completely as they are both vastly different from med/surg.

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I agree with TheCommuter. We are required to have a course in both OB/Maternity and Peds, not one or the other.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

This is strange. You wouldn't b eligible for licensure in most (if not all) states if you don't take both. You should call the school and the board of nursing to clarify.

Maybe, you take one this semester and the other the following semester.

[msrxchef]

So I double checked with my faculty instructor and it looks like we have to pick between ob/gyn and peds for clinicals only. We are getting lectured in both areas however for clinicals we have to pick one to do for an entire semester. Is this OK? I know at some schools they do 7 week ob/gyn then switch to 7 weeks of peds.

[klone, MSN, RN]

This sounds strange. Most boards of nursing require nursing schools to offer both OB nursing and pediatric nursing in the curriculum in order for graduates to be eligible to take the state boards (a.k.a. NCLEX). Students typically take both, not one or the other.

I didn't have a peds rotation (the ONE hospital in our community did not have a pediatric department) aside from a day spent at an elementary school shadowing the nurse there.

The didactic portion had an entire class in maternal/child health, but it was primarily OB and newborns, with very little peds.

[RunBabyRN]

You might want to check with the accrediting body for your school. That seems strange, even if it only applies to clinicals.

If you are forced to choose, I would say it depends on what kind of nursing you want to get into. You will have questions on both on the NCLEX. One will not help more than the other. Both are fair game.

[msrxchef]

We are accredited by ACEN I even checked the ACEN website Also the board of nursing in our state has approved our program

[elkpark]

I agree that seems v. strange. I wonder if the school was completely honest and upfront with the ACEN and BON about students having either peds or OB clinical but not both? In every state I've been in, clinical hours in both areas was a requirement for licensure.

[rubato, ASN, RN]

As long as you are covering both in your lecture, you should be fine for NCLEX. As far as which clinical to pick, I feel that I had more learning and hands on care in peds. OB was a lot of standing around, waiting. I only saw one baby delivered, only did a couple of dilation checks and we were just kind of in the way of the nurses. In peds, I learned how to deal with children, and more importantly, parents. I saw a lot of interesting things.

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

Ours is combined. Most of your NCLEX questions will come from your lecture so I would think you would be covered there. I would pick whatever you are most interested in to get the clinical experience.