5 Tell-Tale Signs that Show you’re working in a Maternity Ward The decision to become a midwife is often associated with curiosity to know more about pregnancy and childbirth. Students who have a deep desire to help others and become a part of their happiness study nursing to become a midwife. However, being a labor room nurse is not an easy task, as it is associated with a heavy workload, postnatal care, a lack of staff, and more. At the end of the day, a midwife can be emotionally, physically, and mentally drained of all her energy. Maternity nurses need to stay on their feet during their 12-hour shifts, as they don’t know which mother may go into labor and require her help. They don’t have the time to sit and relax while on the job. Apart from these signs, below are other signals that show you’re working in a maternity ward. While at Work, You Become a Part of Someone’s Happiness The nursing job comes with a lot of responsibilities, however, it is one of the most wonderful jobs a person can do. Every time you show up at the hospital, you are bound to become a part and reason for someone’s happiness. However, the situation can sometimes really become overwhelming for a nurse. In one room, a mother may be crying tears of happiness after seeing her healthy baby for the first time and in another room, a mother may be crying tears of sorrow for the loss of her baby. Happy or sad, you always become a part of a patient’s emotional journey. Related: The Top 5 Ethical Concerns of a Registered Nurse The Shift can sometimes extend to 15-hours Being a maternity nurse, it means you need to stay along with your patient when she is in labor, which can extend unreasonably longer than you have expected. Between medicating your patients, helping them while they are in labor, teaching new moms how to breastfeed, and feeding the new babies, there are a lot of things a nurse is required to take care of. So, if your duty extends beyond your working hours on a regular basis, it symbolizes that you are working as a maternity nurse. Everyone Underestimates Your Three Days a Week Job People often think that working three days a week is not a big deal, and is one of the easiest jobs in the world. But, they are unaware of a lot of things that go on in the background. They don’t know that a nurse is required to stay on her feet throughout his or her 12-hour shift, and have to work extra time on almost every shift. At one moment you need to help the new mom to breastfeed her baby and at the next moment, you are helping a mother deliver her child. If you are juggling tasks during your 12-hours shift, you are definitely a maternity nurse.
Related: Cover Letter Tips Blood, Butts, Boobs, and Babies – You Have Seen it All You know you are working as a maternity nurse when all you are surrounded by are babies, blood, butts, and boobs. There may be certain cases, when the mother may accidently poop while delivering the baby, but if you don’t make a big deal out of it, you have definitely become a maternity nurse. You clean up everything – blood, poop, and other messes – to prevent the patient from feeling embarrassed during childbirth. What stories can you share with other nurses about your experiences working as a maternity nurse? Related: International Nurses Association - What's Your Superpower? T-shirt Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter