Too old for OB?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Nov 5, 2018

I have been a school nurse for many years. I worked for one year in OB and loved my job but I ran into a lady my mom knew and she offered me a school nurse job and they convinced me to apply for better hours. I got the job and immediately knew I didn't enjoy the job as much but we were getting ready to start our family and I thought it would be a better fit family wise. My youngest is now in high school and the others are on their own. I've been thinking I have another 15 years to work and seriously contemplating returning to the hospital for OB if I can find a job. I'm just ready for a change and the extra money would be nice. However, I know lots of people are trying to get away from the hospital and shift work at my age and not run back towards it. I'll be 50 soon. Everyone thinks I'm crazy. Should I just stay where I am and chalk it up to the grass is always greener or go for it?

So, you have 15 or so more years to work. Do you want to work somewhere that you are interested, challenged and stimulated? Or do you want to keep doing the same old thing because it's easy?

TinyDancer01 · Nov 6, 2018

You are absolutely right! In my mind, I feel as young as ever. My body reminds me I'm not. It just seems everyone my age is running away from the hospital and not back towards it so I was just hoping to hear that it is a job that an older nurse can do just as well as a new one! Thanks!

Just-floored · Nov 7, 2018

I'm almost 50 too and feel that some days I run circles around the younger nurses. Give it a shot, you won't know til you try.

bagladyrn, RN · Nov 12, 2018

I'm 64 and still working in OB. There are days when I feel the effects of age but then there are those days even on my days off.

The only concession I have made is that (as a travel nurse) I now tend to look for positions in community sized or smaller hospitals rather than the huge "assembly line " L&D units.

TinyDancer01 · Nov 19, 2018

Well I didn't get the job. I'm just thinking of applying for a different position in the same place and hope one will open up after a while. Thanks for the encouragement though!

LLLovely, BSN, RN · Nov 30, 2018

I would keep trying. I am an L&D nurse and just took a full time school nurse consultant job in August. I needed to have more time with my kids. I am pushing close to 50, but didn't start having kids until later than most, so mine are still in middle school and high school. I love the hours and it is still new to me, so there is a lot to learn. Diabetes, OMG!

Despite wanting to have nicer hours, I couldn't let go of my inpatient job. I still work there PRN, typically three shifts per month and have the option to pick up more hours during the summer if I want. Three shifts in a row was starting to take a toll on me, but if you split up shifts so that you limit yourself to two days in a row, I think you'd be fine.

If you want to do this, start with a smaller hospital in the summer and see how it goes. Is it possible to go to part time or float with your school nurse job? That would allow you to shift back and forth as you like or need to. Do keep in mind that starting on L&D, you will be a night shifter. That is the hardest thing these days for me and I used to be a real night owl.

Keep trying if you are really interested and good luck!

TinyDancer01 · Jan 23, 2019

Thanks for your encouragement! I applied again at a few different places and was called for an interview! What are some things I can ask about or look for on the unit that would indicate it's a good place to work? Any advice is appreciated!!

LLLovely, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2019

It can be so hard to tell from a visit/interview. I would ask about staffing ratios, like whether they follow AWHONN standards. I would ask how often they have requirements outside of your shifts like meetings, classes, online work, annual trainings, on call, etc. I would ask how shifts and on call are scheduled like first come, first serve, by seniority, on a rotating basis. I would ask about their relationship with the postpartum/Mom-Baby floor. I would ask about their relationships with physicians/practices, whether they teach there, whether they have Family Practice docs delivering, whether there is a midwife practice. If they teach there, I would ask how that modifies the RN role. I'd ask what the acuity is and if they have a lot of antepartum patients (not my scene at all).

As an example, I work at a place now that I really love, but they do a lot of teaching, so I mostly do not check patient's cervixes. I have to ask before I make any moves. It took me a while to get used to that as before I worked where I am now, I had worked at places with little to no teaching going on and I was very independent, physicians primarily just showed up to catch.

Overall, I have found that I can make just about any L&D job work except LDRP (hated it with a white hot passion), a hospital with no midwives, or a manager who doesn't support the nurses well. When you see people there, see if they look happy or if they look like they have been dragged a few miles by a horse. Look to see how clean the place is and whether stuff is just shoved in any available corner. All of that may not matter to you, but sometimes I think it is a very good indicator of the overall quality of a facility and what sort of support you can expect from upper management.

TinyDancer01 · Feb 4, 2019

I had a great interview and was offered the job! I start in 2 weeks! I’m so excited! Thanks for encouraging me not to give up!!

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · Feb 4, 2019

On 1/29/2019 at 9:43 PM, LLLovely said:
It can be so hard to tell from a visit/interview. I would ask about staffing ratios, like whether they follow AWHONN standards. I would ask how often they have requirements outside of your shifts like meetings, classes, online work, annual trainings, on call, etc. I would ask how shifts and on call are scheduled like first come, first serve, by seniority, on a rotating basis. I would ask about their relationship with the postpartum/Mom-Baby floor. I would ask about their relationships with physicians/practices, whether they teach there, whether they have Family Practice docs delivering, whether there is a midwife practice. If they teach there, I would ask how that modifies the RN role. I'd ask what the acuity is and if they have a lot of antepartum patients (not my scene at all).

As an example, I work at a place now that I really love, but they do a lot of teaching, so I mostly do not check patient's cervixes. I have to ask before I make any moves. It took me a while to get used to that as before I worked where I am now, I had worked at places with little to no teaching going on and I was very independent, physicians primarily just showed up to catch.

Overall, I have found that I can make just about any L&D job work except LDRP (hated it with a white hot passion), a hospital with no midwives, or a manager who doesn't support the nurses well. When you see people there, see if they look happy or if they look like they have been dragged a few miles by a horse. Look to see how clean the place is and whether stuff is just shoved in any available corner. All of that may not matter to you, but sometimes I think it is a very good indicator of the overall quality of a facility and what sort of support you can expect from upper management.

As a midwife, can I say I love your must-haves list? ?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 4, 2019

15 hours ago, TinyDancer01 said:
I had a great interview and was offered the job! I start in 2 weeks! I’m so excited! Thanks for encouraging me not to give up!!

Whoo hoo! Congratulations.