OB or OR?

[OKJen]

Hi All! This is my first posting since I have been lurking around this website for about a year. I have a dilemma. I am starting my last year of my BSN in the Fall and last year during clinicals I had the opportunity to take part of some surgeries. It was a lot of fun - loved the cameraderie and one of the circulating nurses took me under her wing. I truly enjoyed it. Then came my OB clinicals which I also enjoyed. This prompted me to get an externship in Women's Services where I float between antepartum, L&D and Mother Baby. All summer I have been working in this department and now I am not so sure about it. I am not excited to go into work and surgery has been on my mind. I am thinking about inquiring about making a switch to the Peds OR but a position has to be open in order to do this. I am very nervous about making this decision. What if this is a mistake and I find I should have stayed in OB? I feel like I need to find the area I am interested in so I can start in that specialty immedicately after school. BTW, I have a job in Women's Services if I stay in OB. I am also worried about the money in surgery. Is there an opportunity to work more than what is required (40 hours/week 7a-3p). Thanks so much for your help. This has been weighing on my mind!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Is there an opportunity to work more than what is required (40 hours/week 7a-3p).

In the very rural hospitals, maybe no. I know of one in WV where their employees are lucky to get 30 hours a week. This is in a town with about 9,000 people though.

Other than that, in a reasonable sized town, yes, there's typically plenty of room for overtime. For one, people hurt themselves, and two, co-workers will sometimes give away their calltime.

[tessa_RN]

I agree..Its all according to the hospital with the 40hrs a week..My hospital which is in a bigger area of WV gets 40 hrs and I even get some overtime. And I know of some other places that dont get that many. OB would have been my second choice to surgery. I loved my clinical helping delivering babies and c-sections..Ive done a few c-sections working in the OR. They have been emergency ones and we've had to go to OB to do it. Its a hard decision coming out of school and finding where you want to work..I would say do whatever feels right for you...Good luck with your decision!