Obstetrics as an RPN, likely?

Fiona59 · Mar 19, 2015

PNs work mainly postpartum in my province. We are educated in L&D but the only PNs I know who have worked in the area are usually in very small, northern hospitals

Breastfeeding education is often paid for by the hospital.

Toronto? From what other posters have said over the years, no, you don't have much of a chance

loriangel14, RN · Mar 20, 2015

RPNs work in L&D at my hospital but we are small and outside of Toronto. I don't know how lucky you would be getting into L&D right in the city.

Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2015

I think it really depends on the hospital. Some hospitals use RPNs to their full potential, others don't.

ash1111 · Mar 20, 2015

Thank you for your responses. I was more interested in the prenatal aspect, taking care of/educating pregnant women, maybe working in a fertility clinic, or postpartum care, and not in L&D itself. is that called something else or is that within the obstetrics field? Is it a different certification?

ash1111 · Mar 20, 2015

I'm just wondering because my first clinical is in ltc, which I don't mind right now but I'm wondering how and if I can do other things. I'm feeling ltc will be too physically demanding for me in the long run and I do want to start a family eventually and not be burnt out.

loriangel14, RN · Mar 20, 2015

You wouldn't need a special certification to work in those areas.Nursing in general can be physically demanding. You will likely not get into the area you want right out of school so be prepared to work in another area. Do you have physical limitations that will be an issue? Burn out can occur in any area.

xokw, BSN, RN · Mar 20, 2015

Thank you for your responses. I was more interested in the prenatal aspect, taking care of/educating pregnant women, maybe working in a fertility clinic, or postpartum care, and not in L&D itself. is that called something else or is that within the obstetrics field? Is it a different certification?

What do you mean by certification? Are you talking about getting a certificate through a college after you graduate? You don't need extra education to work in these areas, although you may find yourself limited in obstetrics as an RPN. This area is opening up more to RPNs, but is still largely dominated by RNs.

Fiona59 · Mar 21, 2015

Thank you for your responses. I was more interested in the prenatal aspect, taking care of/educating pregnant women, maybe working in a fertility clinic, or postpartum care, and not in L&D itself. is that called something else or is that within the obstetrics field? Is it a different certification?

I think I'm reading this as you want to work in Women's Health because you think it will be physically less demanding.

Hate to tell you that you are wrong.

Postpartum care involves looking after 5 Mums and babes. Limited teaching time, and often your beds will change twice in one shift so you are looking at 10 Mums and babes. The amount of paperwork in my province is huge

Fertility Clinics require you to be physically fit They are clinic jobs and hard to get and usually require 3-5 years Women's Health experience, so senior staff get those jobs. Lots of emotional stress on the unit, is what I've heard in my hospital.

Pre-natal care is done by doctors and NPs. Education classes are sort of seasonal, in the evening and taught by experienced L&D nurses and have various specialists conduct the topics on specifics

The service in Canada is usually referred to as Women's Health and is broken down into L&D, Post-Partum and Anti-Partum. The nurses only nurses that cross over in my hospital are the ante and post partum staff depending on the patient census.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2015

You're taking care of two patients at all times essentially: mom and baby, so it's demanding.

If you are planning to stay in Toronto, be prepared to accept any position you can find after graduation, even if that means LTC. Jobs are highly competitive in the GTA.

ash1111 · Mar 21, 2015

fiona59- Hi there, no that's not the only reason. I have genuine interest in the field. If it is just as physically demanding I'm willing to work with that as I am actually interested in the field. I guess the best I can do is at least try, who knows maybe I will get lucky.

It sounds extremely difficult from what you telling me but this is what I want so I guess I'll have to figure something out. But thank you for your honesty, at least now I can prepare.

ash1111 · Mar 21, 2015

Joanna73- Thank you, this helps me prepare if I can't get into the field i want, maybe I'll look outside of toronto if that's an option for me when the time comes.