I'm a 2nd year nursing student counting the days till graduation (May 13th :balloons: )
I'm not sure what area of nursing I want to start out in. When I first started the program I really wanted to do Labor & Delivery. I have enjoyed all my rotations but L&D was the most fascinating.
I don't know if I need experience on a Med-Surg floor and then go into a specialized area or what?
My question to all of you is... "What made you decide to be a Labor & Delivery nurse?" And how did you pursue getting a job in this area of nursing?
I'm sure I can answer this one on my own, but since you pro's said it...If OB nursing is great 90% of the time, what is it about the other 10% that makes you go home to cry? Addicted babies? Moms that have no business being moms? Death of mom or baby?
I'm interested in OB also...thinking I can handle the stressors, but I'm not even a newbie yet.
BTW, it was a nurse in the Special Care nursery (different area, I know) that made me want to be a nurse. . .could not believe the level of care and concern I got from her - now I'm studying to duplicate it!!!
I think my own birthing experience lead me here well at least on my way here. my cousin had a premature delivery at 32. It was me, her and the RN. The RN was so calm and it was like she had done this a million times not only did she better explain the Labor to us she prepare us for the outcome. she never seemed worried. Years later it was my time to give birth it was a normal labor i was 40 weeks the labor progressed as expected. Just as it was time to push my daughter out i started freaking out like i wasnt ready, i cant do this, saying i wasnt having a baby, Guess who showed up the same nurse who helped deliver my cousins daughter. She was like an angel. i remembered her. She didnt remember me, but she smiled down at me and said " this is the moment you have been waiting for and you ARE ready." that day 9-10 in NY before the terror attack i gave birth to a 7lb 11oz baby girl. I never forgot the feeling the nurse gave me. L&D is where you help families begin.
We live in a culture where women are constantly sharing their 'horror' stories about birth. a pregnant woman is bombarded with these negative tales. I was lucky enough to have an amazing birth experience myself, I gave birth as a young teen and with the support of a group of strong women was able to have a drug free birth. I labored in the jacuzzi, squatted and pushed for 20 minutes. the point is that when I tell my birth story to other women it is a wonderful story of empowerment and beauty. I feel so lucky to have had such an amazing experience and I want to help other women have good births.
OB nursing sort of chose me. When my husband was transferred to a new town, I applied at the (only) hospital where the sole available position was OB--on nights, of course. I discovered I loved it and worked in the area including L&D, well baby nursery, antenatal, and post-partum from then on--for 35 years!
I, like OBNurse3, have always said I am a lucky person in that I can witness miracles everyday in my job! Even the saddest situations are rewarding. On any given day, I work in the happiest place in the hospital or the very saddest. But none the less rewarding!
Specializes in OB Labor & Delivery/PP/Nursery/Hospice.
OB nursing chose me too.
My mom was an OB nurse for her entire life. She worked double shifts, in TWO different hospitals in Cleveland. She used to come home and sleep on the couch while I played in the living room. I remember how exhausted she used to seem....but now I GET IT!!!!!
My step father is an OB doc. Delivered babies for 35 years. That's a LOT of sleepless nights in a solo practice.
I grew up at a dinnertable filled with conversation about placentas and inductions. It's in my blood.....I wouldn't be settled anywhere else in the hospital. I would be wondering what was going on "up there" all the time. It's my spot.
i'm a pre-nursing student not yet a ob nurse. there are several reasons why i'm wanting to be a ob nurse. see almost a year ago my sister had a baby and i was able to be in the room with her to see her deliver.
i thought that was so beautiful to watch a new life come in to this world. at first i thought i would get grossed out by it but i didn't. it was so awesome to be part of that. and because of seeing my nephew being born i was inspired to go back to school to become a ob nurse. so that is why i want to be a ob nurse.:)
Hi everyone.
LuvMyGamecocks
184 Posts
I'm sure I can answer this one on my own, but since you pro's said it...If OB nursing is great 90% of the time, what is it about the other 10% that makes you go home to cry? Addicted babies? Moms that have no business being moms? Death of mom or baby?
I'm interested in OB also...thinking I can handle the stressors, but I'm not even a newbie yet.
BTW, it was a nurse in the Special Care nursery (different area, I know) that made me want to be a nurse. . .could not believe the level of care and concern I got from her - now I'm studying to duplicate it!!!