What influenced you to be an ob?

webbiedebbie · Apr 8, 2004

Hi Emily and welcome!

I worked as a unit clerk in the OB unit at a hospital. After my 3 children were in school, I decided to go back to school myself. I went to a Community College and got my ADN (associates degree in nursing). Because I had worked the OB unit before, the manager hired me after interviewing me just before I graduated. I was trained right away in L&D and loved it! I think what helped was that I was already familiar with the policies, department, doctors, and the staff working there. Plus, I already knew where everything was because I used to help the nurses stock the rooms, etc.

Good luck with your decision and your future!

all4babies · Apr 10, 2004

My story is similar - second career thing. Just love it. Worked as a nurse tech (gopher) while in nursing school. I was "unit specific" to ob in a busy hospital. I learned so much doing that - the pay was poor but the experience invaluable. As a side note, I went back to school to be a nurse but thought my specialty would be on the cancer unit. When I went through the l&d clinicals at school, it just clicked and I couldn't get enough of it. Still love it - most days.

You must make up your mind that you really want this badly to go through the school and don't give up. Keep in mind the end result! Go for it!! The payoff is great in alot of different ways.

camay1221_RN · Apr 10, 2004

I was in nursing school when I got pregnant with my first child, and had to be hospitalized at 25 weeks for bleeding, cause unknown. I was on the Antepartum unit at the hospital, and the care I received was phenomenal! I went on to have my son, not without problems, but during my LDRP, I had the most wonderful experience, and I knew from then on, that this was the kind of nursing I wanted to do and this was the place I wanted to do it in.

Unfortunately, I am no longer working there, for a multitude of reasons, but if I were to have another child, that is the first and only place I would want to be!

Shed13911 · Apr 11, 2004

I went into OB because the small hospital in the town I worked for did not have a pedi ward. They were mixed in with the adults. I thought, OK I'll try OB. I loved it!! I went on for 10 years and ended up delivering over 100 babies without having a doctor there. That was because the doctors lived on the outskirts of town. I would not have traded that time in my carreer for anything!! I absolutely loved it and would still be there today if I had not moved to a larger city. I chose not to work OB in the big city since they seemed to be less personel and run through like cattle. I think it takes a special type of nurse to work in OB. It is a very special time of a parents life and should be a wonderful experience!!

BabyRN2Be · Apr 14, 2004

Emily,

I'm the same as you. I've always been fascinated by pregnancy and childbirth. Even though my mom didn't want me to be a nurse, when I went for my B.S. I always had L&D in the back of my mind. I majored in Speech-Language Pathology, and I had it in my mind that when I did my Masters thesis, I was going to try to tie in something related to L&D - I couldn't think of anything.

Hopefully, if all goes well (i.e. - I'll have the money) I'll start classes this fall for nursing. I'm with you, my first love is L&D, but NICU nursing is appealing as well.

I'm currently working as a labor doula, and I love that.

niki1983 · Apr 24, 2004

I am also in school for nursing. I am at the end of my first year (one year to go!). I am 21 years old and eversince I can remember I have wanted to be a L&D nurse ( I would also consider NICU). I also have four children. When I had my first the nurses treated me pretty bad (I think because of my age - 15). That was one reason I wanted to go into the field - to make a difference. With my second, a nurse delivered my baby because the dr. didn't make it (and labor was induced!). All the nurses I had for babie 2-4 were great. I want to strive to be just like them. I think it was a combonation of a bad, and several good expeirences that ultimently determined my final descion.