"don't get stuck in women's health"

ERNurse752, RN · Apr 15, 2005

I'm not in women's health/OB/etc, but you should do what you want. I don't forsee OB nurses not having jobs anytime soon.

I think it would be much worse to get stuck somewhere you don't want to be and miss out on a good opportunity to check out an area you're interested in.

Good luck! :)

JenTheRN · Apr 15, 2005

I love working in women's health. Women make up 50% of the population...women will ALWAYS be having babies. If women's health is what you want to go into, go for it! I know that working in L&D has brought me so much joy and rewards I never thought I could get "at work".

camay1221_RN · Apr 15, 2005

I would like honest feedback from those of you who are currently in L&D. I will graduate May 2006 with ADN and am open to lots of areas, but would love to do L&D.
I just was offered an internship position as a nurse tech doing postpartum checks/care for moms and babies for this summer. I'm very excited about this opportunity and think it will help me see if L&D is where I want to go.
Upon telling a friend (who is a nurse) about this, she told me her advice was not to get stuck in women's services, but to get broad experience so that when pt stats go down, I will always have a job, and so that management knows that they can pull me anywhere.
It got me thinking about both sides of things. WHat are your thoughts?

If you know L&D is what you want to do, then it doesn't sound like you will be stuck in anything. As long as women are having babies, you will always have a job. Also, your experience in L&D will be broad, as there are no two pregnancies alike, and there are always those high risk women out there whose conditions can cover a gamut of systems. Ex. diabetes, hypertension, clotting disorders, just to name a few. Not only are you dealing with the pt and her condition, you are also dealing with the effect it has on the fetus, so you have two lives to consider. IMO, L&D is just one of many facets of critical care, just a different pt population.

Most important, if the externship will make you happy, then by all means, DO IT!

Good Luck to you with your decision!

Fiona59 · Apr 15, 2005

Womens health is more than postpartum and L&D. Gyne is a surgical ward, plain and simple. If it involves surgery of the reproductive organs or the bladder, thats where women wind up.

So, yup the birth rate might go down, but there are always going to be repairs, sterilizations, terminations, and hysterectomies.....

allnurses Guide · Apr 16, 2005

I agree with all of the above! To the op - your friend's advice was not correct.

Do the internship - you'll learn alot and find out if you truly love it or not.

steph

Jolie, BSN · Apr 16, 2005

Would your friend prefer that you "got stuck" in some other area of nursing that holds no interest for you?

I've got to say this is the worst advice I've ever heard!

Take the job and enjoy it!

snwflknurse · Apr 16, 2005

I did take the position. I just wanted to see what you all thought. Thanks everyone! I kinda thought it was weird advice, but wanted to ask those of you who are in L&D your thoughts. I've never heard anyone in L&D say that they wish they hadn't chosen that area!

BETSRN · Apr 17, 2005

I would like honest feedback from those of you who are currently in L&D. I will graduate May 2006 with ADN and am open to lots of areas, but would love to do L&D.
I just was offered an internship position as a nurse tech doing postpartum checks/care for moms and babies for this summer. I'm very excited about this opportunity and think it will help me see if L&D is where I want to go.
Upon telling a friend (who is a nurse) about this, she told me her advice was not to get stuck in women's services, but to get broad experience so that when pt stats go down, I will always have a job, and so that management knows that they can pull me anywhere.
It got me thinking about both sides of things. WHat are your thoughts?

Go for the women's health thing. It's a wonderful field.

SmilingBluEyes · Apr 17, 2005

NO regrets "getting stuck" in Women's care/services. I do L and D, PP, GYN surgical and newborn care. It's far from boring or less then stimulating. There is a lot to learn, and I keep learning how little I know after 8 years at it.

babynurse93 · Apr 26, 2005

I would like honest feedback from those of you who are currently in L&D. I will graduate May 2006 with ADN and am open to lots of areas, but would love to do L&D.
I just was offered an internship position as a nurse tech doing postpartum checks/care for moms and babies for this summer. I'm very excited about this opportunity and think it will help me see if L&D is where I want to go.
Upon telling a friend (who is a nurse) about this, she told me her advice was not to get stuck in women's services, but to get broad experience so that when pt stats go down, I will always have a job, and so that management knows that they can pull me anywhere.
It got me thinking about both sides of things. WHat are your thoughts?

I think OB is great!!! I have been an OB Nurse Educator, and my best advice, to make L & D a little easier, is to get at least a year of med/surg experience under your belt. Most, not all, of the new grads I have oriented or worked with have struggled a little at first. My hosptial now does not allow new grads in L & D. Our new grads are required to get at least one year of postpartum experience first. The best experience is on a med/surg floor for one year, for the good range of experience it can offer. I hope this helps.

nursescar · Apr 27, 2005

NO regrets "getting stuck" in Women's care/services. I do L and D, PP, GYN surgical and newborn care. It's far from boring or less then stimulating. There is a lot to learn, and I keep learning how little I know after 8 years at it.

Women are whole people---there is so much to learn--in so many ways. Take the job

where you have a passion and the rest will fall into place.....