advice for specializing in OB

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I will be graduating this Spring. :balloons: My aspiration is to become an OB/GYN nurse on a Mother/Baby unit. My goal is L&D.:nurse:

My question is this: Does anyone have any advice on how to specialize in this area? I mean, do I just apply, interview and hope to get in to OB? Or do I continue my education? Are there actual classes to specialize in OB nursing? (OK, I know, I know, that's more than "a" question, :lol2: )

ANY and ALL advice would be very much appreciated. My soul is in OB nursing, I can feel it is a calling for me.

Thank you in advance for your help. :wink2:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Hi there and welcome to our forum.

My advice:

Look for a hospital that has a residency program for new graduates---often these will hire new grads into "specialty areas" like OB, ICU, ED, etc and it's a great way to learn ....or

Do like I did: apply for an OB position and hope for the best. I was hired into OB 8 weeks prior to graduation----got lucky I did. But hey, it worked!!!

Also: Be sure to make everyone you know aware of what you want. Never under-estimate the power and helpfulness of networking. If you know someone in the "business" let them know what you want to do....and keep your ears and eyes open for openings.

GOOD LUCK!!!

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Well, I have applied to 2 hospitals for the OB unit. I have interviewed with one, and they are not hiring for L&D, but possibly for Postpartum. But, I haven't heard anything back as of yet. The other hospital isn't currently hiring for OB, but I did interview for a Med/Surg. position with both hospitals knowing OB is my goal.

I also had my yearly pap today, and my OB/GYN, who delivers at one of the hospitals, says he'd put in a good word for me. But, I think he may have been just being nice.

Anyway, I keep hoping and praying I get a call. If it doesn't happen soon, it WILL happen someday.

I was just wondering if there were courses, online classes or something I could do to increase my knowledge and potential for getting a nursing job in OB.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Starting out in PP would be a great move.

Also, you can get your CPR and perhaps NRP-----that would help. But don't shrug off PP or Mother/baby. GREAT way to START OUT!

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Oh, no, I am not shrugging off PP. I would absolutely LOVE PP, or nursery, or L&D, or even GYN surgeries, anything to get me on that unit and a foot in the door so to speak.

It's just the waiting that is killing me. I keep in touch with the RN recruiter at least every week to 10 days. She says she will keep me in the information loop, but it's killing me waiting. I don't want to pass up any other offers though either. For instance, the other hospital I interviewed with is giving me a tour, and I feel like they may offer me a position in Med/Surg. I don't necessarily want to turn them down unless I know I have a good chance at the other place. What is your advice? Should I let the other hospital know I may have another offer?

I really want the other hospital (the one with OB) even if I don't get OB right away.

Thanks!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, OB/GYN, L/D, NBN.

You could always do like you suggested and continue your education. However, doing like SmilingBluEyes and just apply. I was hired before graduation onto a PostPartum/Med-Surg floor...best of both worlds. I get to primarily work with moms after delivery and also get to work with Med-Surg which keeps up all my skills (and we get everything from chest tubes to PEG tubes...I dropped a NG tube on a patient the other day...) I alternate charge with the other RN on the shift with me every other pay period. I had a good orientation and feel comfortable. But one of the best things...I can come in extra on some of my off days and orientate in L/D or NBN. You never know when they need someone to fill in for those areas and I might have to go back there (they can't use agency nurses for specialty area, unless they were trained and most arent, so a lot of times they will get agency to replace me on the floor and let me go back to L/D or NBN).

My director has been really great about it for the most part. She wants the unit to become Maternal Health Services and be cooperative. I have even gotten to take Fetal Heart Monitoring certification class.

If this is what you want...go for it! And even if it doesn't work, you can always try something else... It takes some people more time to find their niche.

:nurse:

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Thank you Mississippi RN. I do think I need to just go for it. I wonder though if I should let the first hospital know that I may have an offer from the other one. Maybe that would prompt them to make a decision or at least give me some idea of when they will make their decision. I just don't want to keep bothering them and ruin any chances I have. I have not actually come out and asked when they would be making up their minds. Maybe I should do that??? Any advice?

You sound like you have a great job, Mississippi Rn. Best of both worlds and great opportunities ahead! Congrats on your accomplishments.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, OB/GYN, L/D, NBN.
I wonder though if I should let the first hospital know that I may have an offer from the other one. Maybe that would prompt them to make a decision or at least give me some idea of when they will make their decision. I just don't want to keep bothering them and ruin any chances I have. I have not actually come out and asked when they would be making up their minds. Maybe I should do that??? Any advice?

I don't know that I would necessarily let one hospital know about the other offer in details. Maybe, after an acceptable amount of time, simply call them to see if they have made a decision with the explanation that if this job doesn't work out then you would have to make other arrangements. However, when you had the interview, they should have given you some kind of time frame in which you would recieve a decision...or at least kept you posted on the fact that no decision had been made. But I wouldn't necessarily say, for example, "well...I need to know if I have the job, because "SO and SO Hospital" has offered me a position and blah-blah-blah". It's not really any of their business who else has made you offers and it MIGHT be seen by the interviewer (depending on who they are) as attempted "bullying" to get them to make a decision. But don't get me wrong...you should not in any way be "strung along" about this job. You have a life to live and need to move on with it at some point. :D

And thanks...I do enjoy my job. I really do think I lucked up on this one. I would think it almost perfect if the staffing were a little better, and the turnover on patients a little lower, but I suppose that is something you have to deal with everywhere. I hope you find a position, whether it be OB-related or not, that you enjoy just as much. You should look forward to getting up in the morning (or at least be content with it...lol...never want to wake up) and going to your job. ;)

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Thank you for your advice. I will keep my options open, but will shoot for my goal. If it is meant to be, it will be. One way or another, I will be doing what I feel I am called to do: help people get well and/or stay well.

Thank you.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

YES do GO FOR IT. will be waiting to hear you got your dream job, soon!

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