Certifications?

[jpvanzut]

I am a nurse who presently works in Cardiac Care; Pre-op and post-op CABG for the past two and a half years. I was wondering what kind of certifications would be useful to obtain in order to be successful in getting a job in L & D? I don't have any experience in working in L & D.

[tablefor9, RN]

NRP, Basic Fetal Monitoring from AWHONN. Doula, Lactation, Birth Educator. Big thing in your favor would be to be willing to work anywhere in women's services unit and cross train to L&D. You could have a position in my unit RIGHT NOW if you were willing to do even *the first two* and work nights.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

Several L&D units also require ACLS (for the mother) or STABLE. But as tablefor9 said, NRP and Fetal Monitoring are BASIC.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Things like NRP/STABLE you don't have to have before getting a job in L&D. Every place I've looked/worked allows for a certain timeframe (usu 6-12mo) for you to obtain those certifications, and they will either have the classes on site or provide you with information on where they're taught. Some places in my area at least won't even allow you to take the classes unless you work on that unit. Ditto with fetal monitoring. Also, those things are a lot easier to understand when you've had at least some recent practical experience with them. That's not meant to insult your intelligence, not at all...just that it helps so much to have a hands-on experience to relate to what you're seeing in the book/video/strip/presentation.

Joining AWHONN, as previously mentioned, would be a good idea, as would childbirth education/doula/breastfeeding courses. Those are things that give you a foot in the door.