Want to get into obstetrics.. needs advice!

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Specializes in Family Practice & Obstetrics.

Hello to all you maternal & newborn nurses!

I have some questions! I'm currently in my 3rd year BScN at York U but this summer I did the 2nd year BScN to RPN bridge through Georgian College. I'm writing my CPRNE Sep 11th and after this I want to begin my maternal & newborn nursing certificate... I found through George Brown I can do the 7 courses online through distance-ed and are available to both RNs and RPNs. I was wondering what else I would need to do... I know there are different levels (1,2,3)...

Just wondering if there is anywhere that does a newborn assessment course, fetal heart monitoring, etc..... I know Michener Institute does the newborn resuscitation course...

Looking for someone to point me in the right direction as ultimately after I write my RN exam in 2015 I want to be ready to look for jobs in L & D as I know they are hard to come by!

Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in NICU.

Hi jordynnmac! I wish I could answer your question for you. Unfortunately, I'm actually asking one of you instead :)

You said you completed a BscN to RPN bridge at Georgian but I can't find any trace of it on their website. I wondered if you could give me a link to the program, I'm starting second year in the fall and this is something I'd love to do if it was an option.

Thanks!

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I am not a proponent of certification without experience, I think it is better for a nurse take a speciality certification when they can apply the knowledge directly to their work in the specialty. Boosting your resume with a certification without any experience doesn't put you at an advantage in unionized workplace especially if the position can be filled internally. You're better off getting a part time job as a RPN, building your seniority and applying for internal postings in maternal newborn when they come up.

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Many years ago, I worked on a postpartum unit. Newborn assessment was part of my basic PN course along with clinical time on the unit. Infant CPR is included in the basic course. Anything additional that we needed to know was covered during the orientation period.

Postpartum and L&D are extremely hard units to get hired on to. I still have no idea of how I landed the job. They either hired fresh nurses with no bad habits to break or nurses who had children of their own and were "motherly" for lack of a better description. They also hire nurses from certain ethnic backgrounds because of the groups delivery rates at my hospital.

The only "outside" course I'd consider doing is on breastfeeding.

Many new nurses want to work these units because they see them as "happy" places. Nothing could be further from reality. You have to be ready to work with women who have had stillbirths, those who are giving their child up for adoption, social service apprehensions, and babies born to addicts. My hospital is "inner city" and these were/are common events.

Nurses hired there tend to stay forever. I've only seen one vacancy posted in the last 18 months for our post-partum unit and none for the other local hospital that delivers. Be prepared to work casual.

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Specializes in Family Practice & Obstetrics.

Hello Galipemi....

The course is not advertised on their website. Its only available to Georgian-York collaborative RN students and the program is the only one in Ontario for now. I think I saw on your profile that you are at humber so it wouldn't be available to you :(

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Specializes in Family Practice & Obstetrics.

Thanks for the advice! I'm not necessarily expecting to get a job right away in this area more so looking for when I am completed my RN in two years but I would like to have the knowledge before getting into the area. I disagree with not becoming knowledgable in an area that you are going to be working in, thats just my opinion and I just would like to get everything down before I even apply. I know its a hard area to work in and yes I am ready to work casual. I was more so looking for anything I could do to become more confident in my abilities to nurse in the area I love :)

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Hello Galipemi....

The course is not advertised on their website. Its only available to Georgian-York collaborative RN students and the program is the only one in Ontario for now. I think I saw on your profile that you are at humber so it wouldn't be available to you :(

The course is available to all RPNs and is available through Mohawk as well as George Brown

http://coned.georgebrown.ca/owa_prod/cewskcrss.P_Certificate?area_code=PA0048&cert_code=CE0304

http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/continuing-education/maternal-newborn-nursing-certificate.html

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Specializes in Family Practice & Obstetrics.

I was talking about the 2nd year BScN bridge to RPN available at Georgian that she asked about, not the m & n certificate :)

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Specializes in Family Practice & Obstetrics.

she or he *

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Specializes in NICU.

She :D

And thanks for answering. I really wish this was something available to all students, that's an incredible opportunity. Good luck on the CRPNE!

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