trying to decide what nursing field to go into

NurseforPreggers · Sep 12, 2005

I am just starting college and am not actually in a nursing program yet. Right now I am trying to decide what nursing field to go into. I am either wanting to do pediactrics or OB. I am leaning towards OB. What are some of the responsibilities you have as an OB nurse. please help!

Leave your mind open. You will learn alot more about specific areas of nursing once you begin doing clinicals. That is the time in which most people find their passion. There was a post fairly recently about the responsibilities of an OB nurse, you can look through the posts and find it if you wish. Most of the stuff on the list may not make sense to you until you learn a little more background information first. Don't stress, you will have plenty of time to decide what is right for you when the time comes. :)

fourbirds4me · Sep 12, 2005

Responsibilities as an OB nurse? hmmmm

To promote a healthy inutero environment so that the fetus stays well oxygenated and distress free while assuring the mother recieves all interventions (or as few interventions) desired to ensure the desired birthing experience. While juggling physicians demands for delivery before dinner time.

LOL seriously...

Evaluate pt's for labor

check cervices

interpret fetal monitoring strips

assess vital signs

review history's

provide education concerning signs/symptoms of labor

provide labor support

provide education regarding stages of labor-- coping mechanisms

ensure physician knowledge of pt. status

assist with procedures needed

accept newborn

assign apgars

place fetal spiral electrodes

assist pt with personal needs

assist with breastfeeding and NB care

provide education regarding all interventions

use critical thinking skills to intervene in nonreassuring situations

sterile speculum exams

provide interventions to prevent seizures in the pre-eclamptic pt

after delivery... ensure bonding process with parents

identify and provide support for the unstable neonate

circulate, scrub, assist as necessary for c/s

document all of the above

and more... and more....

Much luck in all that you endeavor!

ArmyWife,RN · Sep 12, 2005

MaeMae,

As a recent graduate, I feel I can offer some advice to you.

I agree with the poster who said to elave your mind open. When I started nursing school, I thought I wanted to go to L&D. After my 1st year, I just couldn't wait to do my OB semester in the Spring of my 2nd year because I was still convinced that is where I wanted to be. After my OB semester, I applied to the ICU (and got hired). :lol2:

It isn't that I didn't like L&D or OB (I really liked post-partum more than L&D), I found that I liked ICU better.

So, again, keep your mind open.

Good Luck to you!

ArmyWife,RN

NurseforPreggers · Sep 12, 2005

A very good list, fourbirds4me!

MaeMae43 · Sep 12, 2005

Leave your mind open. You will learn alot more about specific areas of nursing once you begin doing clinicals. That is the time in which most people find their passion. There was a post fairly recently about the responsibilities of an OB nurse, you can look through the posts and find it if you wish. Most of the stuff on the list may not make sense to you until you learn a little more background information first. Don't stress, you will have plenty of time to decide what is right for you when the time comes. :)

To be able to do Ob or pediatrics exactly what kind of degree do I need? Do I just need a RN degree or do I need to go farther for a more specialized degree?

BabyRN2Be · Sep 12, 2005

Exactly what ArmyWife says. Keep your mind open. Really, you don't need to decide NOW. As you go through clinicals, you might fight a field of nursing that you never knew existed. I've been a doula for 8 years now and when I first thought about getting into nursing (actually, all my life but won't post the story now ) I assumed that I'd want to do L&D. Now that I've done some volunteer work in L&D, I've developed a strong interest in NICU nursing. Never would I have thought I'd be interested in critical care, much less deal with other than MOSTLY healthy newborns. I know that it's really not a total cross interest, but keep your mind open. I'm doing the same thing, and maybe something will come along that *I* never thought I'd be interested in.

I just suggest you keep an open mind through school. Honestly, you never know were you will eventually end up. My mom mostly did med-surg in IL when I was born. She eventually did geriatric work and ended her nursing career doing ortho work. She never dreamed of the road that nursing would eventually take her.

Nursing has changed soooo much since she went into it (back then, taking BLOOD PRESSURES was the doctor's domain - I'm currently doing CNA school and what am I learning? how to do BP's...). It changed a lot when she decided to get back into it in the 80's, and it has changed so much since then. Keep on your toes as nursing is in a constant evolution. You'll find your niche one day, but keep your eyes open.

Best of luck to you!!

Kat

MaeMae43 · Sep 12, 2005

Exactly what ArmyWife says. Keep your mind open. Really, you don't need to decide NOW. As you go through clinicals, you might fight a field of nursing that you never knew existed. I've been a doula for 8 years now and when I first thought about getting into nursing (actually, all my life but won't post the story now ) I assumed that I'd want to do L&D. Now that I've done some volunteer work in L&D, I've developed a strong interest in NICU nursing. Never would I have thought I'd be interested in critical care, much less deal with other than MOSTLY healthy newborns. I know that it's really not a total cross interest, but keep your mind open. I'm doing the same thing, and maybe something will come along that *I* never thought I'd be interested in.
I just suggest you keep an open mind through school. Honestly, you never know were you will eventually end up. My mom mostly did med-surg in IL when I was born. She eventually did geriatric work and ended her nursing career doing ortho work. She never dreamed of the road that nursing would eventually take her.
Nursing has changed soooo much since she went into it (back then, taking BLOOD PRESSURES was the doctor's domain - I'm currently doing CNA school and what am I learning? how to do BP's...). It changed a lot when she decided to get back into it in the 80's, and it has changed so much since then. Keep on your toes as nursing is in a constant evolution. You'll find your niche one day, but keep your eyes open.
Best of luck to you!!
Kat

Thanx I am getting reaty to do CNA, next semester I hope.You all are very encouraging. God Bless P.S Are you from IL?? I am from central IL.I am glad that God helps us in school, I have alrweady found that out.

MQ Edna · Sep 12, 2005

I am just starting college and am not actually in a nursing program yet. Right now I am trying to decide what nursing field to go into. I am either wanting to do pediactrics or OB. I am leaning towards OB. What are some of the responsibilities you have as an OB nurse. please help!

Pedi and OB are TOTALLY different worlds than you can even imagine before you go to nursing school....be open to anything, if you get yourself set on one field of nursing before you get into school, it may deter you from the other portions of school.....med/surg is the majority of nursing school not OB and Pedi. I never thought I would be working cardiac when I graduated, didn't even get introduced to it until my last two weeks of school when I did rotations there, I love it - very interesting. Pedi and OB really narrows your experience right out of school. Most places want you to have atleast a year of Med/surg, cardiac, or telemetry before going into any other aspect of nursing. I recommend one of these fields to gain your nursing skills and strengths, if you don't like OB or Pedi atleast you can go back to something else if you have experience