S1E32: 27 Years as a Labor & Delivery Nurse: What It Really Takes

Work That's Worth It

What does it really take to spend 27 years caring for people during their most vulnerable moments - and still wake up excited for work? Nika Claes Terjesen, a native San Franciscan and labor & delivery nurse, shares the unvarnished truth about nursing: the 5:20 AM wake-ups, the life-and-death responsibility, and why you literally can't have an off day when babies' lives are in your hands.

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In this honest conversation, she reveals what nursing school won't tell you, how nurses survive financially in expensive cities like San Francisco, and why her profession has something most corporate jobs lack - genuine support systems and true work-life boundaries.

Nika explains why nursing offers both deep meaning and financial stability, what it's like to be someone's advocate in their most sacred moments, and why after nearly three decades, she still feels privileged to touch so many lives.

Ever wondered what it takes to build a career around genuine human connection, this episode will show you what that looks like in practice.
Key Points:

• Nika comes from a family of nurses (mother, sister, aunt, niece) - nursing is "kind of like in our DNA."
• A high school field trip to a family birthplace sparked her calling to obstetrical nursing 27 years ago.
• Modern nursing requires a competitive Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program with hundreds applying for limited spots.
• Labor and delivery nursing is "like an ocean - you never turn your back on it" requiring constant alertness for life-and-death situations.
• Nurses serve as "eyes and ears" for doctors, interpreting fetal monitoring and advocating for babies during the most vulnerable moments.
• Teamwork is essential - 150 nurses work as a tight-knit family with buddy systems and emotional processing retreats.
• Continuous education is mandatory: 40 hours every two years plus Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Neonatal Resuscitation certifications.
• San Francisco offers competitive wages due to unionization, with 6-8 weeks paid vacation and true work-life separation.
• The emotional reward comes from "touching so many people's lives" during birth, though difficult cases like baby losses are "etched into who you are."
• Technology is rapidly evolving with innovations from unexpected sources like Cal Poly students developing FDA-approved obstetrical devices.

Resources:

• California Nurses Association (CNA)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)