RPNs in Mother-Baby in Ontario?

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I will be starting my preceptorship at the mother-baby unit as a student PN. This was one of my top choices so I'm extremely happy. I was wondering though, do RPNs usually work on this floor? And do they hire new grads at all? I know it's a tough unit to get in to and probably a lot of competition, but any advice is welcome!

Specializes in Medicine.

I never had a placement on mother-baby, so I can't give the most accurate answer. But I know that many hospitals in Ontario hire RPNs on their mother-baby units, although I am not sure of the ratio of RNs to RPNs, it varies. And they do occasionally hire new grads, I did see on the HFO new grad guarantee website 2 postings for new grad RPNs for mother baby settings in Ontario. If you want to work there after you graduate, email the unit manager sometime during your preceptorhip, saying that you are passionate about working in maternity and why you want to work on this unit, and that you want to inquire about possible employment opportunities on the unit after you become an RPN, maybe that will get you a position!

If your preceptorship is in post partum, there has to be a PN already working there to mentor you.

There are multiple applications for every vacancy on these units. I was hired with two years LTC experience for a casual job in Women's Health. There is no real hiring trend, just managers instincts. Lately, on ou PP unit, new hires have been of specific ethnic groups due to language needs of the women delivering at our site. So, if yo are fluent in another language let management know!

I never had a placement on mother-baby, so I can't give the most accurate answer. But I know that many hospitals in Ontario hire RPNs on their mother-baby units, although I am not sure of the ratio of RNs to RPNs, it varies. And they do occasionally hire new grads, I did see on the HFO new grad guarantee website 2 postings for new grad RPNs for mother baby settings in Ontario. If you want to work there after you graduate, email the unit manager sometime during your preceptorhip, saying that you are passionate about working in maternity and why you want to work on this unit, and that you want to inquire about possible employment opportunities on the unit after you become an RPN, maybe that will get you a position!

Thanks so much for your input--I think getting to know the nurse manager and other staff is the way to go. My very first rotation was in the mother-baby unit but I don't remember much about the ratio of RN to RPNs, it was a very short rotation and we mostly were only concerned with assessments.

If your preceptorship is in post partum, there has to be a PN already working there to mentor you.

There are multiple applications for every vacancy on these units. I was hired with two years LTC experience for a casual job in Women's Health. There is no real hiring trend, just managers instincts. Lately, on ou PP unit, new hires have been of specific ethnic groups due to language needs of the women delivering at our site. So, if yo are fluent in another language let management know!

Oh wow that's so interesting! And actually very smart, because I remember having to shadow a nurse who was providing education to a new mum who didn't speak English and had to wait for the husband to translate everything to the wife. It was VERY time consuming and the nurse was slightly frustrated as she had a full load of patients.

I do know 3 other languages besides English (not French though), so I will be sure to add this to my skills. Thanks for sharing this!

PS. I can't believe we have to wait so long before posting a new comment lol

Colleges in Ottawa does have placement on mother-baby.

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