CNA in Postpartum or NICU

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

I've been trying to get a job as a CNA on a postpartum or the nicu unit for about a year with no luck because my dream is to be a postpartum or Nicu RN. I'm having a hard time getting in though. I'm thinking about getting PALS, NRP & S.T.A.B.L.E to pump up my resume, so I can get in. Do you think that will help? Any other ideas or tips?

Additional info about me: I have been a critical care unit, sub acute CNA for 3 years. Just has been my dream since beginning to be a postpartum or nicu nurse

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Specializes in LDRP.
I'm thinking about getting PALS, NRP & S.T.A.B.L.E to pump up my resume

I am pretty sure those certs are only available to RNs (maybe LPNs too), but not CNAs. Are you currently working in a hospital with an OB floor? Try talking to the manager and tell her you have an interest on working on the floor. You can also try volunteering with La Leche League or something like that. I know my manager loves to hire people with breastfeeding experience.

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

I work at 2 hospitals with ob floors. Already talked to both managers multiple times...no openings �� but I've asked them to please keep me in mind if something comes up.

The school where I take my ceus every year said that I can take any of those more "advanced" ceus that I listed. I know PALS for sure I can take because we have several major childrens hospitals out here & they require PALS in addition to BLS to be hired as a CNA but I am checking into the NRP & S.T.A.B.L.E further because I don't want to spend the money only to find out the ceus aren't valid without an RN license attached to them or something.

I'm just one of those who tries & think 2 steps ahead & will go the extra mile & try to think outside of the box to reach my goals. I just want in. ��

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

What I might suggest doing is getting your corificeat tech certification, maybe a CLC (lactation counselor) certification.

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

The corificeat tech is a good idea i like that. CLC I am planning on getting soon, as well as childbirth educator. Just not sure if I can juggle CLC program & prereqs at same time right now. I was trying to find something that will take only a few days to get certified that may help pump up my resume. I really like the corificeat tech idea. Thank you for the suggestions!!!

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The corificeat tech is a good idea i like that. CLC I am planning on getting soon, as well as childbirth educator. Just not sure if I can juggle CLC program & prereqs at same time right now. I was trying to find something that will take only a few days to get certified that may help pump up my resume. I really like the corificeat tech idea. Thank you for the suggestions!!!

CLC (Certified Lactation Counselor, not to be confused with IB-CLC, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) is a week-long course that teaches you more in-depth breastfeeding basics--a couple former coworkers of mine had this certification and it was really helpful for times when the lactation consultant was unavailable. You might be able to find a course offered in summertime or when you aren't otherwise engaged in your pre-req classes.

Car seat tech, when I took it, was something like four or four and a half days and loads of useful info about car seat safety. It is invaluable to have people who know how to get baby in the car seat! And will be valuable information to have when you're ready to work as a nurse too.

ETA: Saw your other thread and if you can't get hired on as a CNA/tech, unit secretary might not be a bad idea as it will get you familiar with the unit and staff for future open positions.

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Specializes in OB.
The corificeat tech is a good idea i like that. CLC I am planning on getting soon, as well as childbirth educator. Just not sure if I can juggle CLC program & prereqs at same time right now. I was trying to find something that will take only a few days to get certified that may help pump up my resume. I really like the corificeat tech idea. Thank you for the suggestions!!!

The CLC course is five 8 hour days, just FYI. Very quick and easy to complete and a great foundation for lactation education.

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

Thank you so much! I am definitely interested taking the CLC now if I can get into a week long program.

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I am a PP CNA and have been for 3 years. At our hospital, CNAs cannot be official car-seat techs or give breastfeeding assistance even with a CLC. Very frustrating. But regardless, the best advice I can give is for you to make your way over to the unit, find the nurse manager and ask for a few minutes to tell her about yourself and why you want to join their team. Then, keep a close eye on positions that pop up. It is a very competitive area and I will say that knowing someone on the unit helps tremendously. I had worked along side the staff for 3 years before hand as in admitting and financial assistance and so knowing most of the nurses made it really easy for me to get the position once I was a CNA. Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatric Home Care, Dr Office/Clinic.

Thanks midwifemae!

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Specializes in NICU,Mother-Baby,L&D.

Do they have volunteers on either unit? I was a NICU tech for 4 years but volunteered on the unit once a week for 6 months. This gave me the opportunity to network and get to know everyone so when they finally had an open position I was a shoe in:) It was great experience and definitely prepared me for my current role as a Mother/Baby RN. Good luck!!

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