A Change of Mind

I have an OR nurse friend that was pretty influential to me before I started nursing school.  She would tell me her opinions of what area of specialty she likes and dislikes (among much other advice).  I would absorb just about anything and everything she had to say because she’s been a nurse for over 20 years so she must be highly wise. 

She would ask me what areas I’d like to focus on after I graduate and I would tell her I didn’t know.  She would ask what areas other ladies in my class are interested in and a few of them would talk about OB, while others talked about different areas.  My friend would interrupt saying things like, “Don’t go into OB nursing, it’s for the prissy girls.” Or “All women students want to be OB nurses, don’t be like them.” 

After hearing this from my most wise nursing friend before I even started nursing classes I began to develop a stigma towards OB nursing.  I began to avoid that area like it was the plague.  Every time my OB interested friends would talk about babies and women I would turn up my nose at them.  I was determined to love any other area of interest than OB.

However little did anyone know that deep down in my heart I had a sliver of interest in OB nursing.  Of course it all started around the same time as when I was having children of my own and watching episodes of The Baby Story and tearing up like a babbling fool, but I wasn’t going to admit that to anyone.

Last Tuesday I had a clinical day in the OB department and I prayed the Lord would make a way for me to witness a birth, and guess what??  I got to see a c-section, that took entirely too long because of complications from the mama but after the final cut was made and the splurge of bag of waters came out the little baby that emerged was so incredibly amazing I could stop what happened next.

I felt like the Grinch on Christmas morning when his heart began to grow a few sizes larger, I wondered what was happening to me.  The baby was brought to the warmer and Apgar tests were beginning and I was just looking in awe.  A few moments later as I motioned the dad to come hold his newborn child, I grabbed his camera from his breast pocket and I started snapping pictures for him(he was fine with this).  Low and behold my cheeks were dripping with fresh fallen tears.  I think in the flash of a moment my mind changed from being against OB to being for OB. 

There is just something so very wonderful and amazing when a beautiful, perfect, innocent, lovely brand new baby is born.  I could not deny this was one of the most amazing miracles to witness. 

Now I can talk to my wise OR nurse friend and let her know that for once in my three semesters of nursing school, I think I’ve found my specialty.