Re: Help preparing for unit change to L&D
It seems to me that NICU experience would be of use for an L&D nurse. AWHONN is the national organization for Women's Health, Ob, and Neonatal nurses. Becoming a member would entitle you to their publications and would look good on your resume. You can take the basic fetal monitoring class online at awhonn.org, but to take the intermediate, you need 6 months of experience. But it never hurts to have the basic under your belt. Depending on the kind of hospital you're interested in, STABLE could be of use. It's for smaller hospitals that ship out their sick babies; it teaches how to stabilize the infant in an organized way for transport (Sugar, Temperature, Airway, Blood, Labs, Emotional support). If your NICU sends a team to high risk deliveries, you probably already have NRP.
Volunteer to be the one to go to deliveries, to check out the L&D board to see what's cooking, talk to the L&D nurses. Let them know you're interested in going over to L&D and that you'd like to know of any positions that open. If you show interest, they'll pay attention.
It's a lousy job market right now, so opening will be few, but once the economy starts coming back, lots of people who have been putting off retiring or going part time will leave and a place for you will open up
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