Obstetrician-gynecologist: description of the profession, job responsibilities

An obstetrician is a specialist who monitors the state of health of a woman during pregnancy and is involved in taking birth. In medicine, this profession is divided into two types: obstetrician with secondary specialized education and obstetrician-gynecologist with higher education. Obstetrician duties include caring for newborns and providing patients with moral support. The obstetrician-gynecologist performs surgical operations, controls the process of childbirth, and stitches the woman in labor.

History of the profession

In ancient writings, scientists found mention of the processes of birth of children, as well as the actions of doctors during the adoption of childbirth. Until the XIII century, this process was not studied in detail by medical professionals. Only Hippocrates was the first to study in detail this process, devoting him a whole section in his book.

Over time, obstetrics has hardly been studied. In the Middle Ages, when almost all areas of science were subordinate to the church, any attempts to treat people ended in failure. Ancient healers were burned at the stake, calling them servants of the devil. Midwives who acted ineptly acted as assistants for the adoption of childbirth, which led to various injuries and even to the death of the mother and baby.

For many years, the role of obstetrician was performed by women, however, in ancient Greece, men also accepted childbirth. The first books describing the profession of an obstetrician-gynecologist were published in the 16th century, when this specialty in Europe was recognized as an important and necessary industry. At that time, the first textbooks were created with drawings. It was at this time that the profession of an obstetrician became a separate component of medicine and later began to actively develop. In modern times, labor has been fully studied, medicine has achieved considerable success in this industry.

The latest technology and the knowledge of doctors have made childbirth as safe as possible for a woman in labor and for newborns. The profession of obstetrician-gynecologist has become demanded and very respected in society, as these specialists help a new person to appear, and also significantly ease the torment of a pregnant woman during childbirth.

Profession Description

The work of an obstetrician-gynecologist is considered one of the most difficult in medicine. Despite the limited range of activities, the doctor is constantly faced with potentially dangerous processes. Specialists in this field can choose two directions for work:

1. Obstetrician (paramedical). To work in this position you need to unlearn at a medical college. The obstetrician's duties include the psychological and physical preparation of the pregnant woman for childbirth. Also, the health care provider must take the newborn baby, while the doctor does other work during the delivery.
2. An obstetrician-gynecologist is a specialist with a higher medical education. This specialist is required to know not only the physiology of the woman and the fetus, but also all the possible pathologies and complications that arise during the bearing of the child, as well as during the birth. The specialist monitors the health status of the woman carrying the baby, monitors the development of the fetus. The range of duties of a medical worker includes the provision of timely and qualified assistance during toxicosis of the expectant mother, delivery management, and procedures to successfully complete the birth of a baby. If necessary, the obstetrician-gynecologist performs surgical operations.

Training

In order to become a specialist in the field of obstetrics, an applicant must choose one of the specializations:

• obstetrics and gynecology;
• obstetrics (secondary specialized education);
• medical business.

All these specialties will allow you to successfully get into the hospital, where subsequently students will participate in the emergence of a new life.

School choice

In order to master your favorite specialization, you must choose one of the universities or colleges. The most famous in our country are:

• Northeast University named after Amosov;
• Roslavl Medical College;
• State Medical Institute in Moscow;
• Kabardino-Balkarian University named after Berbekov;
• College of Medicine No. 2 of the Moscow Department of Health.

In each region of the Russian Federation there are higher or secondary educational institutions in which you can find the corresponding faculty.

Work

Many applicants ask the question: "What are the pros and cons of the profession of an obstetrician-gynecologist?" The work of a doctor in the hospital is very complicated. When choosing this direction of activity, it is necessary to remember that you have to work on a shift schedule day and night, sometimes you have to stay at work, because childbirth lasts for several hours. The duties of the obstetrician-gynecologist include:

1. Daily routine examination of pregnant and already given birth women. Checking the pressure, the presence of edema, temperature, weighing, measuring the abdomen, examining the uterus, checking its tone. Also, a specialist should check the fetal heart rate.
2. Doppler imaging.
3. Patient treatment according to the analysis.
4. Preparation for childbirth, which includes examining a woman, her psychological preparation.
5. Constant monitoring of the state of the woman in childbirth and the baby immediately before taking birth, monitoring the intensity of contractions and their frequency.
6. Acceptance of childbirth.
7. Check for placental integrity after delivery.
8. Surgery for complications of childbirth.
9. Performing a number of procedures during childbirth, for example, turning the fetus, using a technique for squeezing a baby.
10. Pressing the uterus to reduce it.
11. Suturing.
12. Prescribing drugs.

In addition to the listed duties, the doctor working in the department of the hospital performs other procedures and operations. A doctor of a high category is trusted for preterm and pathological births.

Job requirements

The main criterion for the successful work of an obstetrician-gynecologist in a maternity hospital is high stress resistance, because a woman in labor and her child experience severe torment and stress. The result of childbirth cannot be predicted in advance. It is important for a specialist to quickly and competently apply their skills, as the lives of his patients depend on this.

The doctor should also have the following characteristics:

• good physical shape and firmness of hands, because he needs to take the fragile body of a newborn;
• be confident in yourself, because the health of mother and baby depends on the correctness of his decision;
• The obstetrician-gynecologist must always be attentive during his work.

To successfully heal, a worker in a maternity hospital needs not only to have perfect knowledge of the female body, the skills to detect and treat dangerous diseases in a timely manner, but also be able to take birth. A doctor in a maternity ward needs to perform several other functions at once, embodying in his person an operating, ward and pediatric nurse, pediatrician and even a psychologist.

The duties of an obstetrician-gynecologist include working with modern medical equipment, and the specialist is also required to understand a large number of medicines. In addition, he often has to examine the patient’s body in case of complaints, and in urgent cases provide urgent medical care to save the mother and baby.

What diseases does a gynecologist treat?

The duties of an obstetrician-gynecologist include the treatment of women with the following problems:

• ovarian cyst;
• salpingitis;
• uterine fibroids;
• genital infections, such as chlamydia or mycoplasmosis;
• endometriosis.

The profession of an obstetrician-gynecologist includes the control of organs such as the fallopian tubes, uterus, appendages of the ovaries, labia, ovaries, and also the vagina.

The doctor conducts a series of examinations in order to identify problems in time and decide on the treatment of the patient, namely:

1. Diagnosis of the thyroid gland.
2. Blood chemistry.
3. Immunological and genetic examination.
4. Tests for infections in the body.
5. General collection of blood and urine for the analysis of patient health.
6. Examination of the body of the expectant mother on a hormonal background.
7. Tests that detect the presence of antibodies in human blood fight disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
8. Carrying out computer diagnostics (MRI).

When to visit an obstetrician-gynecologist

It is no secret that ladies periodically need to visit a specialist in the field of women's health. Consider a number of factors for which you should immediately make an appointment with the clinic:

1. Menstruation is absent for more than three consecutive months in the absence of sexual intercourse with a man.
2. Excessive blood discharge during menstruation or if menstruation lasts more than 10 days.
3. The menstrual cycle is delayed during normal sexual activity.
4. The period of menstruation is accompanied by severe pain in the abdomen.
5. Roughness or scuffing appeared in the intimate area.

The role of the doctor in child planning

The profession of a doctor obstetrician-gynecologist involves preparing the mother's body for conception, treating infertility and much more. After the young family decided to have a baby, it is necessary to prepare the conditions for the normal conception and development of the baby in the womb. The specialist needs to write out a direction for a future woman in labor for a visit to several specialists to assess the general state of health, and both young parents must pass a series of tests, including blood and urine collection, and be examined by a general practitioner. A woman who dreams about a child needs to check the condition of her teeth, larynx and vision.

After all the doctors examined the man and woman, they need to cure all the diseases if they were discovered, since it is undesirable for a woman to take medications during pregnancy. In addition, some diseases affect the conception and development of the fetus.

Is the work of a doctor in demand

The profession of an obstetrician-gynecologist is very much in demand. Maternity hospitals are always ready to accept new employees. In private and public health facilities, there is a severe shortage of doctors for taking birth. Experienced specialists are ready to teach interns all their skills in assisting women in childbirth.

Wage

The salary of an obstetrician-gynecologist depends on the level of qualification of the doctor. The average salary in Russia is about 40-50 thousand rubles. If you work in large cities, then the salary of specialists is much higher than the national average. Experienced experienced doctors are also appreciated in private clinics, where they are offered comfortable conditions and a good salary.

Employment difficulties

After successfully completing studies at a university and receiving a diploma, young specialists almost always find jobs in medical institutions by profession. In the process of training the applicant needs to undergo practice. Already during its conduct, the future doctor can prove himself and his character, which later will help him get a vacant position.

To get a private medical institution, experience and recommendations from the hospital management are needed. During the interview, a specialist is evaluated immediately according to several criteria. Only the best specialists in their field are accepted to the most attractive places.

Career

When working in the field of medicine, getting a promotion is very difficult. After all the exams for advanced training have been passed, the specialist is awarded the title “obstetrician-gynecologist of category 3”.

Subsequently, doctors can be upgraded to the second, first and highest categories. If a specialist proves himself to be a talented leader, there is a chance that he will be promoted to the head of the department, and even to the post of chief doctor of the hospital. Some talented doctors are hired by the Ministry of Health.

Job prospect

Despite the many duties of obstetrician-gynecologists, their activity is quite attractive and promising, because it opens up many opportunities for development for a specialist in this field. Getting a higher medical education turns you into a leading specialist, which allows you to conduct private practice.

Working conditions

In maternity hospitals and antenatal clinics, the work schedule is shiftable, but the future doctor must be prepared to often stay at work during emergencies and difficult births.

Doctors Responsibility

The obstetrician-gynecologist of the maternity hospital bears great responsibility in case of making an independent decision during complex operations and other medical procedures. If the fact of unlawful or erroneous actions of medical personnel, as well as their inaction, as a result of which the patient died, is proved, the experts are liable to the law of the Russian Federation.

Continuing education program

In order to climb the career ladder as an obstetrician-gynecologist, the specialist will periodically upgrade his qualifications. To do this, you need to undergo training in special courses, which usually last several weeks. After passing the exams, a qualified doctor is assigned a certificate confirming his right to provide medical care to patients in need.