How to Become an OB/GYN Nurse
What Does OB/GYN Mean?
OB/GYN is an acronym that stands for obstetrics/gynecology. In this field, doctors work to take care of the female reproductive system in addition to women who are pregnant. Of course, doctors are not the only ones within this field; OB/GYN nurses do a lot to assist doctors with their job duties. These nurses are responsible for taking care of women of all ages. They conduct gynecological exams, write prescriptions, and take samples for exams, all under supervision of the primary doctor. Sometimes, these nurses will specialize in labor and will only work with patients who are expecting a baby. This is because obstetrics and gynecology is such a broad field and there are different avenues that a nurse can take.
Relative Guidelines
Becoming an OB/GYN nurse is relatively the same as becoming any other type of nurse, except these nurses specialize in obstetrics and gynecology instead of general nursing.
- Completing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in nursing.
- Take and pass the NCLEX-RN exam which is required to practice nursing.
- Complete a residency within the field.
- Nurses must be in the field for around 2 years before being able to take an additional exam that enable them to be certified to be an OB/GYN nurse. Additional courses are sometimes taken to prepare them for the exam.
- If they choose to specialize in a certain type of obstetrics gynecology, then more certifications are needed to be passed.
Necessary Skills
When considering a career as an OB/GYN nurse, it is important to understand what types of skills are needed for the job. Having patience and a caring attitude are two of the most important personality traits that a nurse needs to have. They need to be able to keep their patients feeling comfortable, especially since most women are uncomfortable going to the “female doctor” in the first place. These nurses also need to handle stress well; in emergency situations such as pregnancy, it is important to stay calm and keep the mother calm as well. The ability to work long hours is also an important trait to have.
OB/GYN nurses have a lot of job responsibilities, but find themselves in a very rewarding career that they enjoy. The path to becoming a nurse in this field is similar to becoming a general RN, except they specialize in gynecology. It involves many years in a nursing program, followed by residency, and then taking certification exams.