From ED to Mom Baby or L+D

rn/writer, RN · Jul 9, 2012

They offer a three-day course that would make you more marketable and give you a better chance at a job? I'd jump at the chance.

Good luck with whatever you pursue.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2012

Just because the posting says experience is required does not mean that they will never consider an applicant without L&D experience.

Make yourself as marketable as you can. Take NRP. Take a fetal monitoring course. On your resume and cover letter, play up the experience that you've had with pregnant women and labor during your time in the ER. Then put yourself out there and apply for some jobs!

pinknblue82 · Jul 10, 2012

ED is great experience to bring to L&D! Take the class and apply for the job! Good luck :)

m157756 · Jul 10, 2012

Excellent advice from fellow nurses. I had only one year of experience as rn in med surg . Was told flat out at interview "u need more experience , get one more year and come back" by team leader. Then here comes the director and I say "what do I have too do to be here? This is all I want to do" so she says "I'm putting u at top of list" a week later I was hired. She said to take fetal monitoring course and NRP. It was the best nursing job I have ever had. Will rerun some day.

nursejess12 · Jul 10, 2012

I am interested in seeing everyone's resonse. After 6 months and over 100 applications, I just got my first nursing job. It is at my local hospitals level 1 trauma center ER. It is a great opportunity and I feel so blessed to have gotten the job. My dream job, though, is to be in L&D. I plan on staying in the ER for a few years and then get brave and start applying for my dream job. I say take the class and apply! Good luck!

MommyandRN · Jul 17, 2012

I am in a similar situation. I have mostly adult experience. But I would love to work in L&D, Mom/Baby, NICU, or Peds. With all my adult experience, it's like it doesn't matter. It seems that new grads get hired in, or RNs with experience in that area.

rn4babies63 · Jul 18, 2012

Hello all.
I'm an ED nurse since 5 years and feel I need to do something different. A few weeks back I was able to get a sneak peak into the mom and baby unit in our hospital with connected L+D ( unfortunately only for 1 night shift). It was so interesting and a wonderful experience. Now I'm strongly considering making a change in my career. But everywhere I look for open positions they requiere 2-3 years of experience. Our hospital cooperation offers a 3 day maternity nursing and new born care didactic course which I was thinking about taking.
I would appreciate any input on that matter.
Thank you so much

I was hired into L&D 16 years ago as a new grad into a Level I trauma center. The hospital I currently work in has hired many new grads and just hired 3 new nurses that aren't new grads but are experienced in other areas. I know that our director is impressed by the applicants that show their interest to her. When there is an opening, go to her personallly with your application (even if you have to apply on-line). I know that we had someone that applied several times and the application never got our director from HR. She never knew she applied! If you are able to take the course, I would do that, too. It certainly would be impressive that you have spent your spare time to express your interest in that area.

Granted, OB experienced nurses usually trump anyone else but not everyone wants to work L&D. That's why our 3 new nurses got hired with no experience.

However, alot depends on your particular hospital. My second job hospital WILL NOT hire anyone without experience in OB. Personally, I don't feel that their nurses are any better than the nurses we trained from the beginning.

Good Luck and be patient!!

rn4babies63 · Jul 18, 2012

Hello all.
I'm an ED nurse since 5 years and feel I need to do something different. A few weeks back I was able to get a sneak peak into the mom and baby unit in our hospital with connected L+D ( unfortunately only for 1 night shift). It was so interesting and a wonderful experience. Now I'm strongly considering making a change in my career. But everywhere I look for open positions they requiere 2-3 years of experience. Our hospital cooperation offers a 3 day maternity nursing and new born care didactic course which I was thinking about taking.
I would appreciate any input on that matter.
Thank you so much

I was hired into L&D 16 years ago as a new grad into a Level I trauma center. The hospital I currently work in has hired many new grads and just hired 3 new nurses that aren't new grads but are experienced in other areas. I know that our director is impressed by the applicants that show their interest to her. When there is an opening, go to her personallly with your application (even if you have to apply on-line). I know that we had someone that applied several times and the application never got to our director from HR. She never knew she applied! If you are able to take the course, I would do that, too. It certainly would be impressive that you have spent your spare time to express your interest in that area.

Granted, OB experienced nurses usually trump anyone else but not everyone wants to work L&D. That's why our 3 new nurses got hired with no experience.

However, alot depends on your particular hospital. My second job hospital WILL NOT hire anyone without experience in OB. Personally, I don't feel that their nurses are any better than the nurses we trained from the beginning.

Good Luck and be patient!!

brittykbritt · Jul 19, 2012

I was just blessed enough to be hired into LDRP as a new grad. You just never know! My manager said she saw herself in me and the way my passion showed through really made me stand out to her. It doesn't hurt to apply!

Guest321574 · Jul 19, 2012

I am in a similar situation. I have mostly adult experience. But I would love to work in L&D, Mom/Baby, NICU, or Peds. With all my adult experience, it's like it doesn't matter. It seems that new grads get hired in, or RNs with experience in that area.

I was lucky to get hired with "other experience." One (the job I'm taking) was mainly because I already had an established relationship with the manager. But the other job I got purely out of the blue, I did have to contact the director directly (creative googling for an email address), and what caught her attention the most I think was the AWHONN fetal montoring course I took three years ago (!) when I graduated, hoping to get into l&d right away. I did not have ACLS, NRP, STABLE or anything like that. I only had 6 mo of med/surg experience, and the other 3 years is psych!