Published Dec 26, 2015
lee0112
4 Posts
Hi! I'm currently a junior year nursing student studying in MA. I'm suppose to graduate in 2017. I have a love and interest in women's health. A lot of the professors and clinical instructors I have asked about what I can do in nursing that focuses on women's health don't have a lot of information and advice to give me. So can anyone give me potential career paths that have to do with women's health? What is it like? Where can you work? And how can I prepare myself to get a position in women's health?
Thank You!
lksavage112
LDAthleteNurse, BSN, RN
407 Posts
The most useful info I can give you is find out what facility you might want to work in and try to land a job as a tech on their L&D floor. Also, when you get ready to graduate, be sure to apply to many new graduate nurse residencies and be willing to relocate.
ajohn154
50 Posts
I graduated nursing school in May and was able to land a job in mother-baby straight out of nursing school because I had my senior preceptorship/capstone on a Mother baby unit. Also u can apply to be a CNA on a mother-baby unit .
passion4womenshealth
58 Posts
Hi! I'm a senior in a BSN program and I'd recommend volunteering if you don't have enough time for a tech or CNA position. Each hospital is different with what you can do, but even setting up delivery rooms, or being in the prenatal/women's health clinic setting, or a cuddler for the NICU. Different things you can do with women's health are: labor and delivery, postpartum, outpatient women's health clinic(which usually includes prenatal care as well), free standing birth center, furthering you education can lead to a certified nurse midwife, women's health nurse practitioner. Best of luck to you!
cayenne06, MSN, CNM
1,394 Posts
If you are interested in LDRP maybe get some doula training and attend some births? I also recommend shadowing at a Planned Parenthood clinic- it's a great place to learn the ins and outs of reproductive health (of course, being a PP employee myself, I am biased :) ). Contraceptive management, menopausal care, sexual wellness, infection screening/treatment, abortion, wellness visits and preventative care, LGBTQ health care, assault/abuse, adolescent care... SO MUCH good stuff to learn.
You could also sign up for a childbirth ed series- look for local instructors, explain your situation, and most will happily either let you pay to attend-or even better, let you attend for free and have you assist in the class.
ACNM also has reduced price memberships for non-midwives- you get access to their online database and their printed journal.