Obstetrics and gynecology (often abbreviated OB/GYN in the U.S. and Canada and O&G elsewhere) form a single medical speciality and have a combined postgraduate training program. This is quite arduous: in Australia, for example, it is among the longest, six years, matched only by neurosurgery. In the United States, OB/GYN specialist has trained for four years in residency following four years of medical school. Some generalists can work as obstetricians, mainly in rural areas. All gynaecologists, therefore, are trained obstetricians, and vice versa. However, some doctors drop their obstetric practice, especially as they get older. This is often due to the double burden of very late hours and, depending on the country, high rates of litigation.

In the last few years, medical malpractice suits and skyrocketing insurance premiums have forced many American obstetricians and gynaecologists to leave or limit their practice. Medical students are increasingly choosing not to specialize in obstetrics (see Bower 2003). This all adds up to fewer obstetricians in some states and fewer health care options for women, though it has led to higher average salaries, as an article by Medical Economics points out. ^* A number of people have expressed confusion about the education and qualifications one must possess in order to become an obstetrician/gynecologist or how to become an Ob/Gyn. This brief summary written by a practicing Ob/Gyn in the United States is an effort to clarify this issue and to provide insight into the training and lifestyle of ob/gyns.

More on [ Obstetrics and gynecology ]

Nursing / Midwifery News From Medical News Today

India To Provide Incentives For Medical Professionals To Work In Rural, Underserved Areas
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700
In an effort to encourage medical professionals to provide services to low-income rural populations in India, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced an initiative that will significantly raise the salary of "doctors, specialists and para-medical staff" who elect to work in "rural, particularly far-flung and inaccessible areas," the Hindu reports.
Doctors And Nurses Facing Tough Choices
Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:00:00 -0700
Doctors and nurses consider job security and the differences between primary care and specialties when choosing their career paths.The Business Courier of Cincinnati reports on an increase in nursing: "The recession has people craving a safe harbor, and nursing is probably the closest thing to it.
Washington State Nurse-Midwife Receives The Hattie Award, American College Of Nurse-Midwives' Highest Honor
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:00:00 -0700
Katherine Camacho Carr, CNM, PhD, a certified nurse-midwife, professor and assistant dean of graduate studies at the Seattle University College of Nursing, is the recipient of the 2009 Hattie Hemschemeyer Award from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM.) The "Hattie" is ACNM's most prestigious award and was presented to Carr at ACNM's 54th Annual Meeting in Seattle.

Journal of Research in Nursing current issue

A commission into nursing; an insular exercise or a welcome opportunity?
Bishop, V. Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0000

A decade of improvement for cardiac patients in England
Quinn, T. Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0000

Cardiac rehabilitation research: new perspectives for a new century
Clarke, S. P Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0000


Evidence-Based Nursing current issue

[Purpose and procedure] Purpose and procedure
Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0000

[EBN notebook] A beginner's guide to probability
Thompson, C. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0000

[EBN notebook] A spotter's guide to study designs
Glasziou, P., Heneghan, C. Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0000


Research in Nursing & Health

Pediatric nurses' thinking in response to vignettes on administering analgesics
Catherine Van Hulle Vincent, Erica J. Gaddy Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:03:00 -0000
Pediatric nurses are not administering available and recommended analgesics to hospitalized children after surgery. This descriptive study was conducted to examine 30 pediatric nurses' thinking - in response to case study vignettes - about pain assessment and morphine administration for children experiencing postoperative pain. Nurses considered numerous factors when assessing and managing children's pain, including pain level, vital signs, and facial expression. Nurses frequently relied, however, on behavioral and physiological manifestations, as opposed to self-report, when choosing whether to administer morphine. Nurses demonstrated misconceptions about pharmacokinetics and unwarranted concerns about the adverse effects of morphine. These findings partly explain why children continue to report high levels of pain after surgery and why nurses may not administer adequate analgesics to relieve children's pain. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health
Effects of coping skills training in school-age children with type 1 diabetes
Margaret Grey, Robin Whittemore, Sarah Jaser, Jodie Ambrosino, Evie Lindemann, Lauren Liberti, Veronika Northrup, James Dziura Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:42:00 -0000
Children with type 1 diabetes are at risk for negative psychosocial and physiological outcomes, particularly as they enter adolescence. The purpose of this randomized trial (n = 82) was to determine the effects, mediators, and moderators of a coping skills training intervention (n = 53) for school-aged children compared to general diabetes education (n = 29). Both groups improved over time, reporting lower impact of diabetes, better coping with diabetes, better diabetes self-efficacy, fewer depressive symptoms, and less parental control. Treatment modality (pump vs. injections) moderated intervention efficacy on select outcomes. Findings suggest that group-based interventions may be beneficial for this age group. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health
Research on the care environment: Celebrating signs of success, posing questions to advance future investigations
Bonnie Mowinski Jennings Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:42:00 -0000
No Abstract.

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