Hello! I'm a local Doula who works at an agency that partners with our local hospital. I've already attended over 100 births throughout our region and get along well will the OB's and CNM's at our local hospitals. I'm currently in nursing school and will be graduating with an ASN. I need to work L&D for one year to do the Frontier bridge program to become a Nurse Midwife. I know breaking into L&D is hard, and even harder with an ASN, do you think making my doula experience known and informing them of my CNM plans will heighten the chances of getting hired, or do you think that is still pretty slim?

Depends on where you live. I have heard so many people from all over the country say that it is difficult getting into L&D. However, I am in Miami, FL and was hired into L&D with an ASN straight out of nursing school. I have been at the same job for over 6 years now. There have been several new grads with ASNs and BSNs that have been hired after me in L&D, also with no experience. So for Miami, no it is not hard getting in L&D, in fact it is quite easy. If you were in Miami my director and manager would love to hire you with all of your doula experience. So like I said I think it has to do with the area you live in. However, my personal opinion is that your doula experience should give you extra points when it comes to getting hired. if I was in charge of hiring and someone said they have doula experience and they plan on becoming a CNM, I would hire them because that lets me know you are passionate about this and will be a great nurse and great asset to my unit.

I would not say your going to try and pursue midwifery after a year of experience. Tell them that it's part of your 5-10 year plan. No one wants to hire someone who wants to leave after a year, particularly a new grad

Hello! I'm a local Doula who works at an agency that partners with our local hospital. I've already attended over 100 births throughout our region and get along well will the OB's and CNM's at our local hospitals. I'm currently in nursing school and will be graduating with an ASN. I need to work L&D for one year to do the Frontier bridge program to become a Nurse Midwife. I know breaking into L&D is hard, and even harder with an ASN, do you think making my doula experience known and informing them of my CNM plans will heighten the chances of getting hired, or do you think that is still pretty slim?

As a fellow new grad, a current doula and an aspiring midwife, I believe that Frontier will allow you to use doula experience in lieu of the one year of L&D experience.

You might want to look into that.

Good luck!