What is the best and worst aspect of being a labor and delivery nurse?
Asked by Nurse Autumn Intactivist NFP
I am a nursing student, and I am most interested in working in labor and delivery. I was just wondering what what the best and worst part of that unit is and if the burnout rate is high. I imagine the hardest part would be letting a baby go home with obviously unfit parents, and stillbirths. How often does this happen? How are you typically treated by patients? Do you HAVE to assist in circumcisions? In general could you just tell me anything you think would be helpful

Best Answer:
my mother is a labor and delivery nurse who also teaches pre and neonatel nursing. she says the worst is having a baby you can't help, and seeing a mom with an unsupportive dad or family. She says she enjoys the high stress situations (she's good at handling those) and she enjoys babys. Lots of times the families are very kind and grateful. They'll even bring her food and flowers and stuff. But being a nursing instructer, she says a lot of nursing students can't handle the stress and just want to go into it because they like babies. Most of the time, the babies are fine and she finds it very rewarding.