Considering applying for L&D (NICU nurse)

[sweetsadie]

Hello!

I've been a nurse for over 3 years with most of my career spent in a Level IV NICU. I have also done a year of school nursing (while still doing PRN NICU) to better match my family's schedule but found that I hated it. I have attended many high risks births as a NICU nurse and I am interested in switching specialties to L&D.

Has anyone else made this transition? What were the challenges?

Any current L&D nurses who didn't switch have any input?

[labordude, BSN, RN]

I made this switch 5 years ago after almost 10 years in Level III-IV NICU. I only wish I was able to switch sooner, but I knew exactly what I wanted and it wasn't a maybe situation for me.

Since I didn't need as much (or really any) extra training on the baby side of the delivery, I was able to really focus on the mom and fetal side which was awesome. I was able to care for moms with likely NICU admitted babies really well and prepare them for what they might see/experience/etc. It was tough sometimes if my baby wasn't good at delivery not to jump over to the warmer because I was the mom nurse and not the baby nurse (though there was one time we did an "okay switch" because the mom was good and the baby needed help which was taking a while to get there).

If you think you want to do L&D ask them to shadow. It shouldn't be an issue as a current employee, we do it all the time for people interest in internal transfers.