Beatriz Orvis, CNM, NP, RNFA, MSN, MBA
Oak Park, CA
I am in my early 50s and have been in obstetrics since 1978. I received a bachelor’s degree, later became a midwife and OB-GYN nurse practitioner, received my master’s degree and later completed my MBA.
While working as a nurse midwife, I was asked to assist with cesareans. Being a “professional student,” I decided that if I were going to be in surgery, I might as well learn something about it and have some sort of certificate.
I attended an RNFA Program (it was a non-NIFA program with very little hands-on training, and I wouldn’t recommend it) and received my certificate in 1996. I had to relocate and could not find a job as a midwife, so I had to go back to working as an OB Director, a job I held from 1986 till 1992, when I decided to go back to school for my midwifery. I have always loved the bedside and considered OB and surgery the “loves of my life”- after my family, that is. However, I was enjoying the job I was doing and even changed management jobs in order to do more and at a larger facility. My dream was to become a COO; thus the MBA degree.
The last management job just about did me in, both, physically and mentally. I had two back surgeries and close to a clinical depression. I knew I didn’t want to go back to management but didn’t quite know what to do, especially since I was used to having a 6-figure income and was planning for retirement. I was ready to go back to the bedside and work in labor and delivery.
But before I did that, I thought I’d give the “RNFA stuff” a try. I attended NIFA’s SutureStar workshop in Las Vegas in May 2007 and requested privileges at one of the facilities where I had worked as a director. The MDs knew me well and said they could use me to assist with cesareans. August 14, 2007, I assisted as an RNFA in my first cesarean. The word began to spread and a urologist asked for my assistance as well. I had some cases but they were few, averaging about four or five a week.
Then, one day in early November a friend who worked as a Med-Surg director at another facility called me and said that one of the orthopedic surgeons was looking for an RNFA, would I be interested? I said, “Sure, as long as he is willing to train me; I am, after all, an OB nurse.”
I did my first case with him on December 20, 2007. A couple of weeks later, another orthopedic surgeon at the same facility called and asked if I would be interested in helping him and his two partners (one of whom is a spine surgeon). I agreed and started with this group in January 2008.
So, for being “hard core OB,” I am now turning into the ortho queen. I do cases four days a week; sometimes five. I have privileges at West Hills Hospital, Los Robles Hospital, Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital, Simi Valley Hospital and a couple of others. The majority of the cases are ortho and spine with some OB, gyn and urology in the mix. I have helped a gastric bypass MD and laparoscopic urologist but I am not too fond of the scope for such long periods of time. I am now doing an average of 10-15 cases per week and have had as many as 19 cases in one week. My income is fantastic and I love being my own boss.
I have no regrets for how my life has turned out. I should have started this business 10 years earlier!
Beatriz Orvis (previously Tajalliaghdam)