Question about med surg to OB

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I am not in nursing just yet I will (crosses finges) be starting in Oct. of this year. So, many if not all of my questions may seem pre mature to many of you Rn's that have been in the field for a while so please just bare with me.

I have read through so many threads on this board and I keep hearing that it is common for a Hospital to put you in med sug first before you are able to get into OB Is this true? Will it be impossible for me to get an OB job after school? :o and do oyu have to have some volunteer expeirience to be placed in OB? I read a lot of people volunteering as doula's etc.?I am what many call a "birth junkie" and I know it's the place for me. I'm scared now to think I may be put somewhere else-Although it is still owrth it to me and It will still be my first choice, it is dissapointing.

Thank you-this has been an awsome site to read on until the wee hours of the morning lol-I know now I'm more interested than ever!

~Tiffany

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Specializes in OB.

In our hospital it used to be a practice to have 5 years med/surg experience before allowing anyone to work in any speciliaty area. A few years ago that changed and we started orienting new grads to our post partum unit..some did well,some not... what they all missed out on was gaining experience assessing patients with other issues. As we all know sometimes our patients have more then just having babies going on! they sometimes fail to see the "BIG PICTURE" We continue in our hospital not to orient new grads to L&D..whatever happens with you, be open to learning everything you can and don't give up on your dream of being an L&D nurse. however be open to other ideas in school you may surprise yourself what areas of nursing your interested in!

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I am a new nurse myself. I couldn't even get into the hosptial in med/surg at first. I worked in a neuro clinic for 5-6 months. Then moved and got into med/surg in Arizona but it is sort of a speciality also since it is Neuro Med/Surg. It has a lot of challenges but a nurse I worked with years ago told me that Neuro was a great place to learn as a new grad since those patients have so much going on. I would have to agree. I think it depends on where you live and what your prior experience was. Sometimes LPN's with experience may be able to go into L&D right out of school. I too have heard of many going into a specialty area right out of school. Some are successful and some are not. I personally would prefer to do med/surg first since you really do not learn it all in nursing school. The true learning DOES begin once you graduate. I am learning a lot and am in a very supportive environment which I think makes for a much better learning environment. I feel very lucky to be where I am. Someday I may branch out...but I also have an interest in home health and you definitely need experience before you can do independent practice like home health. Keep an open mind....nursing is great for the variety and opportunities it presents. Good luck!!!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Cardiac, ICU.

Nowadays, you can start in any unit you want to, even the ICU if the hospital will orient you and most will.

It always helps to work as a CNA or extern in the area you want beforehand, so you will have an edge on the other applicants.

Good Luck.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You can do anything you put your mind to, and work hard enough to make happen! Good luck.

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