When did you know?

I knew before I ever went to nursing school. I used to watch those L&D reality shows on Discovery health and TLC incessantly! I drove everyone crazy (my children included). I was in an unhappy career as a restaurant manager and I just knew that if I could work in L&D that I would be very happy. And it turns out, I was right. You have to keep things in perspective while in school so that you don't absolutely HATE everything else you have to learn and a lot of times all that med-surg stuff is very helpful because momma's get sick too. I had a patient with an amniotic fluid embolism recently and I used every critical care skill I had ever learned. Working in L&D is more than I could have ever imagined. A perfect match in my case. Good luck!

I'm coming from a restaurant management background, too! I started pre-reqs 5 years ago when I was pregnant w/my first son after becoming fascinated w/pregnancy and a woman's body. Put it on hold, though so hubby & I could open our own place. I'm finding similarities between a busy restaurant and the clinical floor--prioritizing, thinking on your feet, and keeping a running list in your head of who needs what and when. I'm addicted to L&D programs, too...

I call those shows pregancy Media (along with those creepy ann geddes photos but that's a whole other thing all together)

oops wasn't done yet....anyway yes I'm addicted to those shows (not pregnant and don't want to be right now though :)) . I would love to crosstrain in LD (I work NICU). It really is facinating and for the most part maternal newborn seem like pretty happy places to work...job satisfaction among nurses seem very high, even on stressful days.

I am still a student, but my passion for everything related to pregnancy and birth came from years of fertility treatment. When you are trying so hard to have a baby you become obsessed with every aspect of the process. So, I became a doula and childbirth educator and now I am in nursing school and plan to be a labor and delivery nurse and possibly someday a midwife.

When I have my first baby------years before graduating school. I knew then, when I saw how awesome they could be......I had a preemie w/a birth defect. I saw the good, bad and BEST of nursing right then and there and knew I wanted to be one----one of the best.

I always thought that L&D was something that I wanted to do...even before nursing school. Then I went through the nursing program...we only had 5 days in L&D and Postpartum and the nurses really just wanted the students to stay out of their way. NOt much of a learning experience as far as I was concerned.

I actually found many things interesting in nursing school. I ended up working in an ICU after graduation. Did that for 8 months and I was miserable. My orientation went well and all my coworkers kept telling me how great I was doing, but my heart was just not in it. I found my self surfing the web for job openings in L&D and I finally worked up the courage to go for it!! My ICU experience has been invaluable. And having my ACLS made it an easy transition for working in the PACU recovering c-sections...not to mention the Code Blue after an epidural insertion we had a few weeks ago!!1

I've been in L&D for a little over a year and I actually look forward to going to work most days!

Best wishes!

YES!!!! Nursing can be a lot like the restaurant biz! I felt that way in clinicals, especially med-surg. As a server you bring drinks, appetizers, meals, desserts, etc. As a nurse, you bring pills, bedpans, drinks, crackers, meals, and even dessert! I've often referred to nursing as glorified waitressing because sometimes it feels that way... especially med-surg.... not so much in L&D. I'm certainly not knocking med-surg because it is an area in nursing that requires special skill and certainly dedication since they are often loaded down with patients. Also, the patients can make you feel as if you are there to serve them sometimes. I mean... I always cringe when someone calls you to their room and says "can you bring me a coke?" I want to say... "What's the magic word?" This is the exception where I work as most of the mom's are very appreciative of everything we do for them. Good luck with everything!

I'm coming from a restaurant management background, too! I started pre-reqs 5 years ago when I was pregnant w/my first son after becoming fascinated w/pregnancy and a woman's body. Put it on hold, though so hubby & I could open our own place. I'm finding similarities between a busy restaurant and the clinical floor--prioritizing, thinking on your feet, and keeping a running list in your head of who needs what and when. I'm addicted to L&D programs, too...

YES!!!! Nursing can be a lot like the restaurant biz! I felt that way in clinicals, especially med-surg. As a server you bring drinks, appetizers, meals, desserts, etc. As a nurse, you bring pills, bedpans, drinks, crackers, meals, and even dessert! I've often referred to nursing as glorified waitressing because sometimes it feels that way... especially med-surg.... not so much in L&D. I'm certainly not knocking med-surg because it is an area in nursing that requires special skill and certainly dedication since they are often loaded down with patients. Also, the patients can make you feel as if you are there to serve them sometimes. I mean... I always cringe when someone calls you to their room and says "can you bring me a coke?" I want to say... "What's the magic word?" This is the exception where I work as most of the mom's are very appreciative of everything we do for them. Good luck with everything!

I'm coming from a restaurant management background, too! I started pre-reqs 5 years ago when I was pregnant w/my first son after becoming fascinated w/pregnancy and a woman's body. Put it on hold, though so hubby & I could open our own place. I'm finding similarities between a busy restaurant and the clinical floor--prioritizing, thinking on your feet, and keeping a running list in your head of who needs what and when. I'm addicted to L&D programs, too...