cardiac experience, looking at CAPPA childbirth education classes

[cvzsRN]

So! Basically long story as short as I can make it!

New Nurse, one year experience in Cardiac medicine at well known teaching hospital.

LOVED it! Chose cardiac b/c I worked as CNA during school on a step down and felt it was the best transition from student to nurse for me and that I could most definitely use those skills in the OB world :)

Well after just about a year of experience I left my position b/c of a transfer for my fiancée job & us having a newborn daughter.

We currently live in Puerto Rico and will be transitioning back to the states in 7-10 or 12ish months! Obviously hoping for the lesser!

I have searched and searched for a position here and it has been extremely difficult.

I always wanted OB or NICU in school and tried to make decisions for my career based on getting to those two points. I never planned to take time off and it has been difficult.

Anyway, as we prepare to relocate back to the states, my fiancé (will be married in April 2017) is actively trying for a position in San Antonio so that we can relocate to our forever home and be closer to family- I am trying to work through many scenarios in my head of how to make steps to beginning on OB or NICU. I am realizing jumping into NICU after almost a year off might be more difficult than I can prepare myself for. Now that I have healed from my own birth experience I now feel a new surge of energy to start looking at what I can do to prepare myself to enter the women's health world.

This is not a stepping stone, should I be blessed to receive the opportunity to work as an OB nurse and thrive here, I will most definitely be happy staying in this specialty as long as I am able to provide excellent care and be a productive member of the team.

So, I am currently looking at childbirth educator courses through CAPPA. I feel like this is a good step in the right direction, will help me pass the time as I continue to search for positions here or at our next location & might help give me the push to at least get an OB interview.

my questions are, after a year (or more) out of practice do you think this could be a wise decision? Even if I do not land an OB position and find myself back in cardiac medicine, do you think there is still opportunity to teach classes from time to time? Or does this just sound crazy and even desperate? I know I will have to make the best choice for my career at the end of the day, but reaching out doesn't hurt :)

Also any knowledge of CAPPA would be great, I am still researching as I go foward making the decision.

Ultimately I would love to become a lactation consultant and maybe a clinical instructor at some point.

Many advice is greatly welcome.

Thanks!

[klone, MSN, RN]

Are you hoping that a hospital will hire you for childbirth education classes? I would suggest getting NRP certified, taking a fetal monitoring class, STABLE. IMO, taking a doula class would be more beneficial than a childbirth ed class for an OB nurse, because that is something that you could tangibly use as an OB nurse (it's been my alarming realization that many OB nurses have NO idea how to support a woman through a natural, med-free labor).

If you're hoping to become a lactation consultant, then I would suggest taking CAPPA's lactation counselor/lactation educator course.

[cvzsRN]

I'm hoping to get hired as an L&D nurse but not opposed to postpartum. I have considered the doula route as well. I understand the hesitation of any hiring manager with my lapse in practice so I am trying to look at the best alternatives for the next 7-10 months to take a better step in that direction. I think it would be very beneficial to take any of those classes so I appreciate the input. I will definitely look into that as well.

My thoughts were that if I was unable to start right away in women's health as a nurse that I could and would at least be certified to teach childbirth classes and more than likely be able to get back into the swing of practice as a cardiac nurse until the time was right to make a transition to OB. It would be nice to begin right away in labor and delivery but I am aware of the challenges I will face whenever relocate back home.

I am currently at 6 months out of practice and because of the hiring practices in Puerto Rico it has been extremely difficult to find a position. When I return from visiting my family I am hoping to start volunteering at a local ER/urgent care.