New OB Nurses, Grads and Students, Please Feel Free to post your questions here:

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Being a CBE and Doula will certainly NOT hurt. As soon as you get your BSN, try to get a job in OB. If you can't, you can try applying to work float pool or another unit and volunteer to float to OB whenever possible to get "face time" and experience.

www.hospitalsoup.com

list of hospitals nationwide ----there, you can find the addresses/phone numbers and web sites of hospitals. This will enable you to get in touch w/OB depts and human resources personnel about getting a position.

Good luck. Hope this helps.

hmm I would guess that depends on where you work. We DO allow floaters where I am, (thank goodness) and fundal checks CAN be taught quite easily really---- it does not take years and years in OB to learn this. And nurses from other areas know how to take vital signs, and what to look for. WE never just "turn them loose" and on their own on the floor, we are always there to help and back them up.

If a person does not feel comfortable w/fundal checks (or other OB issues), I check behind her. I know what floats can do them, what ones cannot. The floats who come up to us regularly know what they are doing most of the time and are very good about asking when they reach their limits.

Many facilities DO allow floating, and even to OB. Ask the facilities where you are considering working if they are among them. I have worked in 3 facilties that DO use them. IT works out very well.