Aspiring L&D nurse has a question!

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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I am starting nursing school this May (LPN) and I will ultimately transition for my RN. My goal upon graduation is to specialize in L&D, the nursery, NICU, anything pregnancy and baby related. I look around every know and then to see what the job market is like for this type of nursing and I always see that the hospitals require a year sometimes 2 years of exp for consideration! And the qualifications for NICU are even greater. My question is why is it like this? Are new grads able to get specialized nursing jobs? Another question how can they ask for previous exp in L&D if you have never been given the opportunity to work on that floor to gain this REQUIRED exp!?! All replies welcome. Thanks in advance =]

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Specializes in Psych/Substance Abuse, Ambulatory Care.

A co-worker and I were having almost the same conversation last night. We'd both love to get into L&D but every place wants exp. and how are you supposed to get it?

My aunt graduated LPN school and started working in an OB/GYN office. All of the Doc's at the office do deliveries, etc. at the Hospital they're affiliated with. She just transitioned to RN and one of those Doc's is helping her get into L&D at the hospital- it helps to know Doc's in the right places!! And the office experience has exposed her to a lot of the aspects of L&D.

Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you graduate as an LPN, try working in some kind of OB/GYN clinic/office setting and make those connections and get some experience while you're continuing your education! Hope this helps :)

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Med-Surg.

It is not like this in all parts of the country. I am from Texas and when I graduated nursing school in 2007, the local hospitals were all hiring new grads into L&D, NICU, Antepartum. Many of my fellow graduates scored jobs in these departments. I wouldn't say it is EASY to get jobs in these departments, the nurses who worked as nurse techs during nursing school in these departments were more likely to get chosen for the jobs upon graduation.

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A friend of mine years ago wanted to work PICU, but couldn't get hired without experience. She worked as many extra hours as she could as an "extra" RN in the PICU (for free), until she finally had enough experience to get hired. Would you really want to take all that responsibility without the knowledge and experience? (Be honest.) OB in Ohio wants all RNs. LPN's are being phased out of specialties.

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

I became a RN in 1988 with Associate degree. Over spring break I traveled to MD and applied at Johns Hopkins for L&D. It was the first yr ever they looked at new grad application. Lots of applications. I was the only Associate nurse chosen, other 3 were BSN prepared. We all had excellent orientation classes and all succeeded well. The next yr they hired 17 new grads! Community hospital in MD would not even interview me......

So my advice is to look at bigger hospitals, get some OB related experience once a LPN. ( I worked in nursery while in RN program not ever a LPN)

Be willing to relocate and while in RN school the last year start applying to everywhere you might want to be. And as I believe the economy will have picked up some by the time you are RN jobs may be easier to get.

Have you considered just going straight for RN and not spending time and money on LPN. LPN's are being phased out in most situations. Just a suggestion!

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I would have prefered to go straight through to RN but when I applied my application was denied...so decided to go the long way instead of sitting here and waiting.

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Specializes in Women's Health.

in ny state an LPN legally cannot assess; so will not be used in L&D, NICU, or nursery.....

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Specializes in Psych/Substance Abuse, Ambulatory Care.
I would have prefered to go straight through to RN but when I applied my application was denied...so decided to go the long way instead of sitting here and waiting.

and don't worry about what another poster said, LPNs are not being phased out- there are just more limitations on where they can work and what they can and can't do on the job.

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I never meant to imply, if that was my post you were referring to, that LPN's are being phased out. It's just that they cannot usually work inspecialty areas like OB/NICU/PP/PEDS. :nurse:

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Specializes in Women's Health.

indeed...... we are not saying this, but your liscense dictates these things

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

I meant to say Specialties tend not to allow LPN's. Nursing homes and such are almost all LPN's. Where I live now and in the part of FL I came from LPN did mostly DR office jobs and nursing homes. I did not intend to discourage any LPN's.

Sorry.

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I know LPN's don't really get to specialize. Im going to LPN school in May and when I complete it im going straight into RN, so I probably won't even work as an LPN... I was asking the question in reference to when I became an RN not LPN..Thanks ladies =]

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