Student interested in OB nursing...Question for those experienced nurses...

[SmetRN2008]

Hello, I'm a nursing student in my 3rd semester of a 4 semester program. We haven't had an OB rotation yet (4th semester) but I'm really interested in that area and am thinking of applying for a job in OB when I graduate. I was just curious, for all of the experience OB nurses here, what is a typical day like for you? (i know it varies, but what kind of things do you do most days) and what do you like most about your job? What do you like least? And last question...what made you want to be an OB nurse?

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I wanted to be an OB nurse because I like new life (spring is my favorite season), and I like being able to share a very momentous occasion with families. I also wanted to be able to help grieving families c the loss of their precious babies, and give them hope that things DO get better, though not forgotten.

What do I do most days (well, nights)? Assess moms (c/section and lady partsls) -- the regular med-surg assessment plus their uterus, bleeding, breasts/breastfeeding, perineum, emotions, bowel/bladder, and emotional state. How often depends on how recently they have delivered. I assess their babies -- feeding and output, VS, fontanels, reflexes, cardiopulmonary stuff, jaundice. Babies are assessed q 8hrs unless specified more frequently. I do lots of teaching with moms and families on what to expect in caring for themselves and their babies. I keep my eyes open for cues that bonding isn't going well, or for any complications with mom or baby. I demonstrate baby care and encourage mom/family to join in. I try to encourage mom and baby to stay together as much as possible, as far as the health of both will allow. We keep high-risk pregnancies on our floor too -- assessing their nutritional, emotional/spiritual, and physical well-being, as well as the well-being of their babies. We do fetal monitoring as ordered and anytime we get suspicious that all is not going as it should be. We can have those ladies over to Labor & Delivery pretty much as fast as you can blink.

What do I like about my job? Being there for grieving families. Holding hands and praying with them if they want. Letting them know that the baby they lost is precious and beautiful. Reassuring high-risk moms that we are going to do everything we possibly can to ensure that they and their baby/babies come out healthy on the other side. Helping new moms/dads learn to calm their fussy babies. Pointing out things about their babies that are unique. Seeing a dad hold his baby for the first time. Watching daddies change poo diapers. Bathing babies and getting peed on in the process :). Helping a screaming, withdrawing drug baby settle down and sleep. That is only a small part of what I love. I could go a lot longer.

What do I not like? Sometimes I have 5 mother-baby couplets, which equals to 10 patients, and that is too much to give everybody the attention they deserve. Patients -- of all shapes, colors and socioeconomic status -- that feel that they are entitled to more than their share of anything (that is not unique to OB). When things go bad they can go very bad very quickly. That's all I can think of right now.

OB isn't for everybody, but if it's for you, you'll know pretty much day 1 of clinical. At least I did.