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

What does it really take to show up for life’s most vulnerable moments — every single day — for 27 years?

Labor & Delivery Nurse Nika Claes Terjesen shares the raw, unfiltered truth about her nearly three decades on the frontlines of birth. From 5:20 AM wake-ups to advocating for mothers and babies in high-stakes situations, Nika unpacks the emotional, physical, and professional demands of a career built on human connection.

In this moving episode of Work That’s Worth It, she reveals:

💠Why labor & delivery nursing is like “never turning your back on the ocean”
💠 How her team of 150 nurses supports one another through life and loss
💠 What most people don’t realize about financial stability, union protections, and work-life boundaries in nursing
💠 Why genuine purpose — not productivity — keeps her going after 27 years

If you’re craving a career that’s rooted in meaning, connection, and real impact, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to the full episode: 🔗 https://georgienthoven.com/podcast-it...

00:00 – Why “zoning out” isn’t an option in nursing
03:00 – Finding her calling during a high school hospital visit
06:30 – What nursing school doesn’t prepare you for
08:10 – How to get into a BSN program
10:45 – Union protections and financial stability in SF
12:30 – Advocating for mothers and babies in life-or-death moments
14:20 – Processing grief and trauma with work retreats
18:00 – Technology in obstetrics + new FDA-approved innovations
21:00 – Paid vacations, boundaries, and avoiding burnout
26:00 – Why nursing still feels like the right calling after 27 years

🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS
💡 California Nurses Association (CNA) – https://www.nationalnursesunited.org
💡 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) – https://cpr.heart.org
💡 Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) – https://www.aap.org

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