Advice from L&D Nurses

[4bears]

I want to become a L&D Nurse, this is what drove me back to school and become a nurse. I graduate in a few weeks and I am becoming very discouraged. I tried to get a Nurse Tech position in PP, L&D to get my foot in the door, but they wanted experienced Tech's (nurses aide or ER techs,etc.) Everyone is looking for 1-2 years experience in my area (SE Michigan) for L&D, LDRP, Ant.P, PP & Special care Nursery. Is it essential to do med/surg prior to L&D? Some nurses I know said hospitals require it because those are hard to fill jobs, but won't really help me in the job I want. If I end up with med/surg position what should I persue to make me more marketable to a L&D Dept. (Gyn?/surgical/ER?). I applied for a NICU position but did not leave the interview with the "I think I would like to work here" feeling, I would love to have the experience - but not at that facility. Does anyone know of any hospitals in my area that are more opt to hire Grad nurses? Any advice appreciated.

[MissMonica]

Im writing to you because my path was the same as yours when i first graduated...(came to nursing only wanting to work in L&D but they werent hiring new grads....). I started on a postpartum/well baby floor on noc shift since they do take new grads and figured after 6 months-1 year with that experience I'd transfer over to L&D, BUT I want to tell you, I worked in mother/baby for 15 months and was bored to death. Your patients are healthy and they whine all day about the silliest stuff when there are people on the floor above them dealing with cancer, heart failure, etc. I surprised my friends/family and even myself by realizing maternal health wasnt challenging enough and actually chose to switch to the nitty-gritty med/surg....now i do wound care, colostomy care, MRSA-isolation etc. on a daily basis but the work is way more fulfilling and challenging and truthfully I found the advice my instructors in nursing school were giving was true: you would do best to have the med/surg experience before going into a specialty...now I learn sooooooooo much more every day. If all you can get is positions in med/surg, go for it! if only for a year, get all the hands-on nursing care experience and then go to the specialty...thats what i think.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Monica's post is excellent. Just so you know, no you don't have to have med-surg first to get into OB. I was hired into OB right out of nursing school. Look for a hospital that highlights residency programs for new graduates; they are the ones most likely to hire a new graduate into certain specialties like ICU/CCU, ED, OB and others.

GOOD LUCK!