2 answers
Valeria
Student
Anaheim, California
1
Question
Asked
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What is the hardest thing about being a labor and delivery nurse or or any nurse in general.
Ive always had this career in the back of my head but never really thought about it until I started reasearching more about it. I have always liked the idea with working with babies even tho that is not what nurses do all the time but just the idea of being around them sometimes sounds like the ideal job. Helping mothers too who are in labor or just helping people in general.
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2 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1093
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Valeria,
If you want to help people, nursing is one of the best choices you can make! And if you want to work with children, there is a wide range of options.
If you want to work with children you can be a labor and delivery nurse or nurse midwife:
https://nursejournal.org/careers/labor-and-delivery-nurse/
Or a neonatal nurse:
https://nursejournal.org/careers/neonatal-nurse/how-to-become/
Or a pediatric nurse:
https://nursejournal.org/careers/pediatric-nurse/how-to-become
Or a pediatric oncology nurse:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-is-pediatric-oncology-nurse
Or a PICU:
https://nursejournal.org/careers/pediatric-icu-nurse/how-to-become/
I am sure I am forgetting some, but you can see the scope of options and specializations out there.
I would think the hardest part about being a nurse is seeing the suffering, illness and also death. You'll need to learn to separate the job and your life, to empathize without letting it affect you personally. The good thing about being a labor and delivery nurse is that the outcome is mostly happy news. You'll be a part of one of the most important moments in a person's/family's life.
I hope this helps, and good luck on your journey.
KP
If you want to help people, nursing is one of the best choices you can make! And if you want to work with children, there is a wide range of options.
If you want to work with children you can be a labor and delivery nurse or nurse midwife:
https://nursejournal.org/careers/labor-and-delivery-nurse/
Or a neonatal nurse:
https://nursejournal.org/careers/neonatal-nurse/how-to-become/
Or a pediatric nurse:
https://nursejournal.org/careers/pediatric-nurse/how-to-become
Or a pediatric oncology nurse:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/what-is-pediatric-oncology-nurse
Or a PICU:
https://nursejournal.org/careers/pediatric-icu-nurse/how-to-become/
I am sure I am forgetting some, but you can see the scope of options and specializations out there.
I would think the hardest part about being a nurse is seeing the suffering, illness and also death. You'll need to learn to separate the job and your life, to empathize without letting it affect you personally. The good thing about being a labor and delivery nurse is that the outcome is mostly happy news. You'll be a part of one of the most important moments in a person's/family's life.
I hope this helps, and good luck on your journey.
KP
Cinthya Ceretti, RN, MSN
Registered Nurse
40
Answers
California, California
Updated
Cinthya’s Answer
Hello Valeria,
I agree with both Karin and James. And despite nursing having these challenges it is super fulfilling and rewarding. It truly is a calling, a passion to be a caregiver. To be so selfless and give, yet expect nothing in return. This is one of the reasons why there is burn out and so much emotional and mental stress. As a nurse, you have to be able to do a lot of self-care and make sure that you take your time off to recoup.
Another one of these challenges that we like to think is perfect, is the work environment. Sometimes the hardest challenges are your coworkers and management. Sometimes the people you work with can be the problem. And a lot of this refers to the requirements that management and the industry in general has placed a nursing. as the industry requires more and more of nurses, such as documentation requirements and other regulations, it becomes more and more challenging for nurses to complete all of their duties without being physically and mentally exhausted.
Among these challenges is the difficulty of staffing. A lot of times there will be staffing, shortages, making it difficult and challenging for nurses to complete their task without the correct supplies or manpower needed. With this being said, as a nurse, you have to be able to withstand physically demanding shifts, be in good physical health, and be able to eat nutritious food to get you through your day.
Best of luck on your journey.
I agree with both Karin and James. And despite nursing having these challenges it is super fulfilling and rewarding. It truly is a calling, a passion to be a caregiver. To be so selfless and give, yet expect nothing in return. This is one of the reasons why there is burn out and so much emotional and mental stress. As a nurse, you have to be able to do a lot of self-care and make sure that you take your time off to recoup.
Another one of these challenges that we like to think is perfect, is the work environment. Sometimes the hardest challenges are your coworkers and management. Sometimes the people you work with can be the problem. And a lot of this refers to the requirements that management and the industry in general has placed a nursing. as the industry requires more and more of nurses, such as documentation requirements and other regulations, it becomes more and more challenging for nurses to complete all of their duties without being physically and mentally exhausted.
Among these challenges is the difficulty of staffing. A lot of times there will be staffing, shortages, making it difficult and challenging for nurses to complete their task without the correct supplies or manpower needed. With this being said, as a nurse, you have to be able to withstand physically demanding shifts, be in good physical health, and be able to eat nutritious food to get you through your day.
Best of luck on your journey.