question for nurses

[Snow White]

I'm glad you asked that, I was curious too as to why so many chose not to go into OB when they had originally thought they'd like to? I'm with you, I was thinking it would be a more uplifting experience, I used to work for my OB/GYN and I really liked it, but that was just in the office, not at the hospital.

 

[brernurse]

Snow White and Mishetta,

It is not that I choose not to go into OB, but that job wasn't an option. Actually in our hospital OB jobs are hard to come by.
I happened into another position that I like. I really enjoy critical care nursing, I never looked back after that. I think most of us in nursing school think we will go into OB because it is very rewarding, but maybe the job wasn't open, and we choose something else. I hope this answers your question.

I'm excited for you, good luck!

 

[Fire14]

In my case for not liking OB it's just a case of I'm not a baby person. I guess I just think I'm gonna drop them on their head or something. I much prefer the Older population and them telling me stories of their time. This may well explain why I don't have kids other than my Husky too.

 

[jete]

Alot of the posters said that they thought they wanted OB, but when they started working somewhere else, they found out that they loved that area instead. Having only done maternity for 17 years, I can say that I can only remember a handful of nurses who actually left OB to go to med/surg (and those that did had originally come from med/surg). Maternity can be great and it seems like med/surg too

 

[wld]

I thought before I started nursing that I wanted to be a surgical or ob nurse. Keep your mind open during your rotations, you might be suprised. Didn't like my surgical rotation at all, not enough patient contact. Didn't like my ob rotation. We had 2 dead babies delivered and well....

I loved my oncology rotation the most and knew that is what I wanted to do. It's amazing the things you learn about life from these patients. I didn't like the babies dying, they never had a chance at life, but my cancer patients were amazing.

Right out of school I worked on a stepdown unit and loved that, even turned down the oncology job because the hours were better. I learned so much, and it was great, cardiac and renal being my favorite although I like CVA's too. During redesign of our hospital I ended up on an oncology floor with renal patients. And also worked a little hospice. Do to a great many life circumstances I went to infection control and employee health. I miss the direct patient care but the employees are now my patients and I can help more patients than ever in infection control. Guess I just love most of it.

As far as making a mistake... I always felt the minute I didn't think about it was the minute I will leave nursing. When I started Stepdown I told my nurse manager that and she said we all make mistakes, we just hope we don't kill anyone. A MD told me the same thing. We are just ever vigilant and know that what we do does make a difference and it does entail a great responsibility.
Nursing school will fly by and then the real fun (and I mean it) begins!!

 

[DisOrBust]

I am a L&D RN but have workd ER. ICU medsurg. L&D is probably the highest stress of them all as well as the most political It is not all great outcomes and when its bad its REALLY bad. Go thru your program and see all the areas before you decide to head in any one direction,

 

[Snow White]

I can't imagine how hard it would be to have a baby not make it, do they teach you the best ways to help a mom/dad emotionally through that? How awful!! Also, in hospice, are you allowed to pray with the patient and talk to them about God?

 

[wld]

The most important of the jobs in Hospice is support for both the family and patient. If prayer is something they would like yes, you are allowed to do that. Many of my hospice patients just want to talk about life and everyday things, to laugh, to love and not necessarily to talk about the end. We talk about whatever they want to talk about. Sometimes you are also their sounding board for things they don't want to say to their families. I was never told that I couldn't talk about certain things. I would imagine if you were "imposing" your views on them it may be a problem, but I am sure that is not what you meant. It is truely the most wonderful job I have ever had and I intend to go back to it one day.