Hi, first I would like to say that I'm new to allnurses.com, therefore, I'm not too sure if I'm post this in the right category or not...but here goes.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself to start off with. I'm a senior in high school. I've always wanted to work with babies. I'm also facinated with pregnancies. I have changed my mind a million times, but it always comes back to nursing. My only other option is teaching, and I'm pretty sure that occupation is not for me.
What kind of options do I have in the Nursing field???
What kind of nurses work with mothers/babies?
What do they do?
Do all nurses have to work in the ER sometime or another? (I get sick a lot. that would be a huge fall back) Any info you think would be helpful is welcome!
Also, I'm kind of hesitant because I don't know how I would do with IV's/needles/blood and guts:( Do I HAVE to deal with it??
No this is not a homework assignment. I am 20 years old working in the oil field and I want to be a Labor and Delivery nurse. I just have SO many questions! Is it hard to get a job one a L&D floor? I almost have my CNA and could I apply to work on the L&D floor with only a CNA to get the experience so when It comes time to apply for jobs after my schooling I will have it under my belt? Are there classes that I should also take after nursing school to more ready me for labor and delivery? Thank you so much for your answers!
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
No this is not a homework assignment. I am 20 years old working in the oil field and I want to be a Labor and Delivery nurse. I just have SO many questions! Is it hard to get a job one a L&D floor? I almost have my CNA and could I apply to work on the L&D floor with only a CNA to get the experience so when It comes time to apply for jobs after my schooling I will have it under my belt? Are there classes that I should also take after nursing school to more ready me for labor and delivery? Thank you so much for your answers!
The homework assignment was about the OP. It is hard to get a job in nursing right now. The market is in a surplus with nurses returning to work that were stay at home MOMs and husband's/SO's laid off. Nurses that were "expected" to retire can't because they lost their butts in 2008 when all this began because hospitals don't offer retirement plans and have to contribute to our own 401K. This added to schools cranking nurses out at a rate higher than demand with little to no regard on whether their grads obtain gainful employment. NUrses are graduating with thousands of dollars in debt and cannot find jobs promised by a NON existent shortage. Many laid off workers went to nursing school for the promise of a good paying job in these "accelerated courses" (one in Ca Accelerated BSN 1 year is $80,000) that are extremely expensive only to find there are no jobs.
When you go to nursing school you will learn about all aspects of nursing from the elderly to children to babies to labor and delivery to critical care to the ED. Nurses specialize after they graduate determined on what peaked their interest during school. Anytime you can get a position in your area of specialty even as a CNA will get your foot in the door. What I can tell you is the OB/L&D is one of the speciality areas that IS difficult to get into as being a high risk area for things to go wrong hospitals and the units themselves or every choosy on who they let in and near those Mom's and babies.
Once you are a registered Nurse there are courses you can take to give you a more intensive schooling on your area of speciality and then take a certifying exam (on your own dime). Most of these certifying exams require so many hours worked in that specific speciality in order to sit for the exam. Once you graduate there are NO guarantees on a job or that it will be in your speciality right away. Most specialities prefer AT LEAST one year "med-surg" experience first prior to being hired into your specialit. Nursing school does NOT prepare you to be a nurse....there is A LOT of learning and honing of one's skills post graduation.
Nursing is a rewarding, frustrating, physically challenging, over whelming profession but most of us can't imagine being anything else....good Luck..
I completed my CNA this past summer and start my job in Labor and Delivery in a few weeks. If it wasnt for my friend that already works at the Hospital and put in a good word for me HR would have passed by my resume with no experience. But they really liked me in my interview and said they wanted the right person with the right attitude and they will train me for all I need to learn. This is exactly where I want to be so hopefully when I complete nursing school I will be able to continue in L&D! Good Luck!!!
xtxrn, ASN, RN
4,267 Posts
It's a thread from May :)