OB nursing...I just don't get it.

Rick68fl · Feb 18, 2012

When you say "I don't get it," do you mean you don't get why anyone would want to be an OB nurse or you don't understand the subject matter?

My first tip is that you will not pass nursing school if you don't pass OB, so its time to start studying! Read the text book, look up any terms you don't understand and just keep trying.

In school there were plenty of subjects that didn't really interest me. I found those were the ones I had to work the hardest on. When I was done they still didn't interest me, but at least I had learned enough about them to pass.

Personally, I don't like kids and I don't like pregnant people. I think everyone should be automatically sterilized at birth. (Not really, but you get the idea). I dreaded OB for my entire first year of nursing school.

When it finally came time for me to take it, I absolutely LOVED it! If it wasn't for the pesky fact that I am a guy, I would so want to be an OB nurse. I was actually sad when that semester was over because I realized I probably wouldn't ever be able to be involved in childbirth again.

So, my advice to you is to give it everything you have. Learn the material and pass the course. What you do after that is entirely up to you.

i<3u · Feb 18, 2012

When you say "I don't get it," do you mean you don't get why anyone would want to be an OB nurse or you don't understand the subject matter?My first tip is that you will not pass nursing school if you don't pass OB, so its time to start studying! Read the text book, look up any terms you don't understand and just keep trying.In school there were plenty of subjects that didn't really interest me. I found those were the ones I had to work the hardest on. When I was done they still didn't interest me, but at least I had learned enough about them to pass.Personally, I don't like kids and I don't like pregnant people. I think everyone should be automatically sterilized at birth. (Not really, but you get the idea). I dreaded OB for my entire first year of nursing school.When it finally came time for me to take it, I absolutely LOVED it! If it wasn't for the pesky fact that I am a guy, I would so want to be an OB nurse. I was actually sad when that semester was over because I realized I probably wouldn't ever be able to be involved in childbirth again.So, my advice to you is to give it everything you have. Learn the material and pass the course. What you do after that is entirely up to you.

It's the subject matter. I guess part of it is because I've never had any children...I don't know. The other part is probably because I'm so concerned/frustrated with it not being interesting that when I'm studying the material, I'm not as motivated to TRULY understand the material and put everything together (in comparison to Med Surg). I usually have no issue as far as studying and understanding information goes, but this must be a subject that I'll have to work on a little more. Thank you so much! I truly appreciate your advice.

Despareux · Feb 18, 2012

It's really hard to study for a subject for which you have zero interest. I felt the same way about OB and mental health. I went into to OB with a rather cocky attitude. I thought that since I have been pregnant many times and have three kids, I probably know quite a bit. My cockiness was put in check real quick. So yeah, your interest in just about any subject matter will help determine how easy it is to retain the information. I had to literally search for information in both, OB and MH, to pick my interest and to help get me motivated to learn the material.

allnurses Guide · Feb 18, 2012

I know what you mean.

I hate hate hate women's health, ob, and peds.

But you have to pass it.

Trust me, if you hate it, you don't want to take it twice!

I failed it, prolonged my torture and I still want to vomit when I think about ob.

Stay strong.

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 18, 2012

In nursing school, I HATED OB. Literally hated it. I would study, memorize the information, and feed it all back on an exam. I graduated with that hatred still there.

I finally figured out that I didn't hate OB, but was absolutely scared to death of it.

When I applied for a position in a hospital months and months after graduation, the only spot left was OB. I cringed at the thought, but took the position anyway.

I was very fortunate to have a preceptor (OB-GYN) who took me under his wing and taught me things that made a lot of sense.

The rest of the story is hx as I went on to become an OB-GYN Nurse Practitioner.

From day one, I thought it was boring and just…I don't know…all over the place.

Agree, it is all over the place. It's a breed apart from other specialty areas.

Hang in there, OP. You may never develop a love for OB. Right now, studying OB is fragmented for you........ "all over the place". It's like baking. You have a recipe to follow (your book and clinicals)....... have flour here, sugar there, a pinch of this and that (chapter after chapter of course material), and pretty soon, as you mix the ingredients (information) together........ you have a delicious cake (successfully passed the OB course).

obprof · Feb 18, 2012

As a former OB clinical instructor, I would recommend getting an OB book from ATI or another "quick study" like that to help you pass the class. It condenses the information so it is easier to learn. OB instructors know that not everyone likes OB and to be honest, it is an area where there are too many nurses interested in it (ie not enough OB jobs for all of the nurses who want to work in it), so we are not trying to make every student be an OB nurse.

I truly hope you can pass the class!!! :yeah:

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2012

It's the subject matter. I guess part of it is because I've never had any children...I don't know. The other part is probably because I'm so concerned/frustrated with it not being interesting that when I'm studying the material I'm not as motivated to TRULY understand the material and put everything together (in comparison to Med Surg). I usually have no issue as far as studying and understanding information goes, but this must be a subject that I'll have to work on a little more. Thank you so much! I truly appreciate your advice.[/quote']
I haven't read all of the responses but I want to address your feelings. Like I tell my teenagers. There are somethings in life you just have to do.......whether you like it or not, whether you are interested or not, whether you want to or not.....you still have to do them with the same intensity and drive you have towards the subjects you love. There are those tough courses that have NOTHING to do whatsoever with what you want to do with your life but they are placed there to see how bad you want to reach your goals. That is life and a part of succeeding in life is that you buck up do what you have to do and move on.
No whining allowed.
I HATED psyche in school. HATED IT!!!! Did I learn it? Yes. Did I like it? NO! Have I used a smallportion over the years? Yes. Will I ever work a psyche unit? NEVER! But I respect those that do.
Acknowlege that you hate it but that you have to learn it. Accept it and move on. Good Luck in school!

merlee · Feb 19, 2012

No matter where you think you'll end up, or what you think you like at first, all the body systems are inter-related. Inevitably, you go into ICU and you end up with a 5-month pregnant lady post- MVA. Or worse, one who has a stroke during delivery.

Work the ER, you will see some of everything.

Plan on the OR? Ya just never know what may come through.

Wait until you see your first birth, or help with a newborn. Don't let anything be a total positive or negative.

Best wishes!!!

sapphire18 · Feb 19, 2012

This is kind of off-topic, but I passed out several times during my L&D clinical- and lecture! It grossed me out so much. I would get woozy even just from studying. But I got through it! So you can too!

LobotRN, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2012

Don't feel bad. As others have stated, get through it. BUT also know the material...When I took the NCLEX, it was 75 Qs, majority mother baby and psych...what the heck?.....the two I had the least interest in! And don't feel bad about not feelin the loooooove for OB.....I do med surge and loooooove that!

Plus, as has been stated, you might care for a pregnant woman in ICU post MVA. AND realize that although people with psych issues only make up 1-2% of the population, 90% of that population have acute care episodes 2 or more times per year. You will see psych issues on med surg. At the least 75 % of my patients are on some sort of antidepressant if not antispychotic. Most are well controlled, some not, and some flip out in the acute care setting post surgery.....

Good times, good times....

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Feb 19, 2012

During clinical, just before baby crowned, and just as the OBGYN doing the episiotomy turned around paused and then said, "you don't look so good" I passed out.

That's all I remember.

I still hate OB.