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Is there anything of importance that you think I should know before going into the field? Any advice?
I'm a high school student interested in being an obstetrician! I love being able to make people's lives brighten and to me that brightness for any expecting mother is being able to have their baby and hold him/her for the first time. I have a few distant family members in the field and hearing about what they do interested me! #obstetrician #doctor #obgyn #midwiving #midwive #nurse #nursing #medicine #healthcare
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Ashley Anders
Labor and Delivery/Postpartum/Stable Newborn/Gynecology Registered Nurse
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Ashley’s Answer
Jazmine,
I love to hear how excited you are about potentially becoming an Obstetrician. Such a rewarding career I am sure. I have been a Labor and Delivery nurse for around 5 years now so I speak from the knowledge of working closely with several obstetricians in the last couple years and the knowledge that I have regarding Women's Health nursing. I feel like it is important to note that while most days on the Labor and Delivery ward are the "happiest day of someone's life" it can also be "the worst day of someone's life" with the loss of a child. Sometimes from the outside looking in that can be overlooked. With that being said, I have always looked at the career path I choose as if no matter the situation, best or worst day, my education, certifications, and empathy make me the best person to be with that patient on either day. Like other posters recommended I would definitely suggest shadowing a local OB/GYN in your area to give you a better picture of the educational, schedule, mental and physical demands that the career would demand of you. Good luck on your journey into Obstetrics!
Shadow a local OB/GYN
Look at education requirements becoming an OB/GYN
I love to hear how excited you are about potentially becoming an Obstetrician. Such a rewarding career I am sure. I have been a Labor and Delivery nurse for around 5 years now so I speak from the knowledge of working closely with several obstetricians in the last couple years and the knowledge that I have regarding Women's Health nursing. I feel like it is important to note that while most days on the Labor and Delivery ward are the "happiest day of someone's life" it can also be "the worst day of someone's life" with the loss of a child. Sometimes from the outside looking in that can be overlooked. With that being said, I have always looked at the career path I choose as if no matter the situation, best or worst day, my education, certifications, and empathy make me the best person to be with that patient on either day. Like other posters recommended I would definitely suggest shadowing a local OB/GYN in your area to give you a better picture of the educational, schedule, mental and physical demands that the career would demand of you. Good luck on your journey into Obstetrics!
Ashley recommends the following next steps:
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Richard’s Answer
In the US, to apply to medical school, you need a bachelor's degree. Any 4-year university should suffice.
Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
Along with getting good grades, which is a given, is there anything else that might be important for this student to know about the field?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
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Rachel’s Answer
OB Gyn is a great field requiring a medical doctorate. This means that you will have to complete college with a bachelor’s degree as well as all of the Pre-med requirements (1 year biology, 1 year inorganic chemistry, 1 year organic chemistry + labs, physics, calculus, and biochemistry). GPA should probably be 3.5 or better (preferably >3.8). You will also have to score well on the MCAT. Once accepted to medical school, as long as you pass your classes and perform reasonably well during your four years of medical training, you can apply for an obstetrics and gynecology 4 year residency. Following that, you can apply for a 1-4 year fellowship if you choose.
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Estelle’s Answer
Practicing obstetrics is very fun and challenging. Remember that it can be very stressful as well. Two lives are involved in every delivery, mother and child. If you are interested in practicing obstetrics, shadow an obstetrician in your area so that you are familiar with the demanding hours. This will show you a realistic picture of the field along with the excitement. Good luck!
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sylvia’s Answer
You need to be passionate and to love what you do, for me being a nurse means helping people at their worst, to be able to make a difference in peoples lives mean everything to me, it’s what drives me, what keeps me going and makes me get out of bed everyday. I love to touch peoples hearts and make a difference. If you go into a profession for the wrong reason, you will hate your job and you will be miserable. Not only will affect your life but will also affect everyone around you . You must love and enjoy what you do and that is what makes a difference at the end.