My mixed profession of being a nurse-midwife led me to specializing MCN after refusing to practice in the emergency department of the hospital. After rotating in the OB ward and DR, I was able to appreciate that this practice in nursing entails extra care as there are two clients involved all at the same time. We need to care for the mother and equally look after the child. It is a humbling experience to exercise a level of professional diligence in nursing two different individuals with diverse health needs.
Maternal and child nursing may be a challenging area of practice and to encourage students to consider this interest would led me to doing these:
- Emphasize the important roles of nurses in caring for the pregnant mother both well and ill in the entire continuum of pregnancy
- Highlight the wonderful experience of being able to witness the first episodes of life in the extra uterine environment
- Underscore the responsibilities and unique functions of nurses in the milestones of human reproduction and development