Why does everyone seem to want to work L&D?

Nurses General Nursing

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This is just one of those curiosity questions meant for general discussion.....

When I go through the posts for the day, I can always count on at least one mention, if not several, of OB/L&D. "How do I get a job there?" "What classes should I take?" "I'm 16 and I've wanted to work in OB since I was 4. What's the best way to get there?" I just wonder what it is about that particular specialty that is so attractive?

In the end I'm glad that most people are drawn to certain specialties--its on of the things that makes nursing really great! :)

Belch. Gross. I couldn't get out of my OB rotation fast enough. I also couldn't say "pushpushpushpushpushpushpush!" 6000 times a day and stay sane. :)

It is very popular, but I can't figure out why either.

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No desire to work in L&D... should have seen me in my clinicals for school trying to teach my young mom how to breast feed. My clinical instructor was kind enough to step out of the room before she started laughing :)

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Because only in L&D can you palpate another woman's fundus and not get arrested for it!

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Specializes in Cardiology and ER Nursing.

Yeah um, just say no to L&D.

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Specializes in Peds Medical Floor.

Ok I'm gonna go the opposite of everyone here and say I had no interest in L&D until I did my rotation and I LOVED it. I know there is more to the job than the 3 days I got in rotation (I wanted more lol). I love how it's mostly happy. Obviously there are sad stories and trashy people who have kids too, but I loved how happy most of the parents were.

Also I've worked LTC for 10 years and I'm tired of dealing with dementia and death. I want to work with the other spectrum of life. I can take saying, push push push 6000 times a day because it's different than repeating myself to a dementia pt 6000 times.

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I would rather shove sharp tacks through my nose than work L&D or Peds.

For the life of me, I don't understand it.

And now that my sister gave birth to a stillborn a week ago, I would never, ever want to go through that with someone, ever.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

I was a midwife in the UK-it was the most stressful jobs I ever did, and nothing and I repeat nothing prepares you for IUD.

Nothing prepares you for when a postpartum mother dies.

Nothing prepares you for a baby born not breathing and you cant resus.

I can nurse patients to a happy comfortable demise, support families with end of life decisions. The whole death thing has never bothered me.

I found it very difficult to overcome the desperate feelings of losing babies and mums.

I worked in a military/civilian hospital and the amount of young military couples who had IUD's and abnormalities was huge compared to civilian couples.

'Gulf War Syndrome"

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Specializes in insanity control.

It is the putting together of families. They may come in as a single person or a couple but they generally leave a family. No I am not talking about just the mom/dad, but the grandparents, aunts, uncles, the new brother/sister or anyone else. A baby is a life of dreams, hopes, and wishes. Sadly, not all have a happy ending. Then you celebrate the life that would have been. You support the family and sometimes just stand by silently as their world falls apart. It is the most joyfull place you can work but alson the saddest. It depends on your personallity.

I had a nurse manager tell me when I started OB that I would not make a good L&D nurse cause I was to abrupt or tactless. Over the years I use this to my advantage. Example - the grandmother who wants to answer all the questions for her daughter. I just say who is having this baby - I need to talk to her.

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I'm not so sure the perception that "everyone" seems to want to be an L & D nurse is actually accurate. Only one person in my entire class verbalized a desire to go into L & D, but that was 15 years ago, so I sure wouldn't be up on the current climate of new grads or students.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Urgent Care, Cardiac Ca.

Because as a field, it is where many nurses have the most personal experience! Plus, changing a poopy diaper vs a lactuose-rich poo-filled bed is a no brainer!

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Specializes in LDRP.

i would say almost half my class wants to work in L&D, the other half wants ED... good for them, i have a better chance of getting the ICU preceptorship I want, while they will all be fighting for the OB spots.

i dont hate L&D but it kinda freaks me out.. the pain in those women's faces and the blood curdling screams, ahh! also i dont have any kids yet so babies scare me a little. haha

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Ok I'm gonna go the opposite of everyone here and say I had no interest in L&D until I did my rotation and I LOVED it. I know there is more to the job than the 3 days I got in rotation (I wanted more lol). I love how it's mostly happy. Obviously there are sad stories and trashy people who have kids too, but I loved how happy most of the parents were.

Also I've worked LTC for 10 years and I'm tired of dealing with dementia and death. I want to work with the other spectrum of life. I can take saying, push push push 6000 times a day because it's different than repeating myself to a dementia pt 6000 times.

I could have said the same. I've been in LTC for 15 yrs and have had 5 babies with all different types of births and a lot of bad experiences. What intersts me in possibly doing this.........it is a totally different ball game.

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