Constantly rejected from OB...

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Hello everyone,

I'm sure this is a tired topic and I did a bit of searching but didn't find much. So here's my story. I now have 2 years of medical/surgical experience with some PCU. My interest has always been with OB, but I listened to my nursing school instructors and pursued med/surg after nursing school (I was told to get that background first and then I'd easily get in to OB anywhere). The latter could not be more false! I am and have been continuously rejected from any OB-related jobs for the past year - mother/baby, NICU, and L&D. The reason is always that they want current experience.

I don't know how much of this may be due to the poor economy, but I am so frustrated! How am I supposed to get experience if no one will give me a chance?

I have even applied for nurse entry positions (i.e. graduate nurse) for mother/baby, but have not heard from that position and I expect I will be rejected for that, too. It seems all I can get is med/surg positions, and to be honest, I was horribly miserable for two years doing that.

Does anyone have any advice as to what more I could do to try to get my foot in the door??

TIA!!

Specializes in Cardiac.

At my hospital, the preceptor gets paid extra to train. Also there is the orientation classes, EKG classes, ACLS. Not to mention paying 2 nurses for one assignment! Very expensive. I've heard it takes one year to recoup the cost of your training.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

It's definitely the economy. Don't give up on your dream. The economy will change again in the next couple years, and then hospitals will be more amenable to training people who are inexperienced.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but where is the cost for the training?

The major cost is in having to pay for two nurses' salaries for only doing the job of one nurse for several weeks or months. If they have an opening in the unit and a need for a nurse, they want that nurse to be able to jump in and fill it NOW, rather than having to wait several months (while still paying her salary) until she's competent to work independently.

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Specializes in Pediatric, Psych, School.
I have applied at 6 of the hospitals in my city ; there are 3 teaching hospitals (one of them having the nurse entry position I applied for) but I've had no luck at any of those. The hospitals range from 200-1000 beds overall; not sure how many beds for those particular units but the teaching hospitals are quite large overall. I know that the smaller hospitals are less likely to hire in OB without experience, but once in a while they do.

I got NRP a year ago. I've considering looking into becoming a doula as well, but don't know how much that will help since it is not really hands-on with the medical aspect of L&D. I've even contacted a couple of local birthing centers to inquire about volunteering but they don't even have those.

I'm so discouraged!!

RNpandoraRN, is it possible you've only looked into post-partum doula programs or have spoken? I have a friend who was a birth doula, extremly knowlegeable and a nursing student at the time. She also worked as a tech in L&D. She's now in L&D, studying to become a midwife. Continue being persistent and explore all your avenues. Something will break for you.

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg, Nursery.

I also think it is mostly a cost thing. When a nurse is precepting someone, they are having to fork out 2 salaries when only 1 nurse is actually considered part of staffing. In L&D at my hospital new people to the area are given 3 months orientation and so for 3 months they are paying for 2 people to do 1 person's job.

Also, at my hospital, they will not hire a new grad in L&D or Nursery. You have to have experience before you work in either of those areas. New grads always start out on the PP portion of our floor and then if they choose to do so, they can try to get back to L&D or Nursery when a position becomes available.

I guess that is also a big reason why it is hard to get on at our hospital without any OB experience. The L&D & Nursery jobs go to any of the PP nurses that want a change. The only reason I got into Nursery was because a co-worker of mine had transferred up to the PP unit and heard of the Nursery opening. None of the PP nurses were looking to take it, so she told our manager about me. I can think of 4 or 5 PP nurses that are hoping to get back to L&D when spots come available.

So I can definitely see where the difficulty is for new people on our unit. No idea if other places are the same way, but that is the story where I work.

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Specializes in Obstetrics & Gynecology,Medical/Surgical.
Also, at my hospital, they will not hire a new grad in L&D or Nursery. You have to have experience before you work in either of those areas. New grads always start out on the PP portion of our floor and then if they choose to do so, they can try to get back to L&D or Nursery when a position becomes available.

I can't even get into PP (mother/baby in my area). Even with two years nursing experience, I still applied for the graduate nurse position one hospital had listed for mother/baby...I expect they will have to treat me like a graduate nurse and I am 100% ok with that, even the salary, if it means I finally get in. But no luck with that, either. *sigh*

Do you ladies think it's worth calling the Nurse Recruiter at this particular hospital and ask why I wouldn't be considered even for a graduate nurse position (the position was just recently removed from their website but I don't know if that means it has been filled)? And/or ask her what I should do to make my application more appealing?

Thank you so much for all your replies!!

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Specializes in Pediatric, Psych, School.

I think it's definitely worth calling the recruiter--or a few of them. Don't sell yourself short, though, by asking for a new grad spot. You're experienced, and it's worth a lot! Jeez...two years of med/surg is like gold. Why don't you sign up for some continuing education classes about L&D? Check out ce.nurse.com. I'm a big fan of it. Get additional CPR certifications, anything to make your resume more attractive to the recruiters.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Peds, NICU, PICU, adult ICU.

Next month will be 3 years as an RN for me (I've been doing dialysis with fresenius in all shapes and forms) and I still have not been able to get into L&D or any obstetrics nursing. And not for lack of trying, ugh. I currently have applications out with 4 local hospitals and have yet to hear back from any of them. Going to make another round of calls to recruiters

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Specializes in Gerontological Nursing, Acute Rehab.
It's definitely the economy. Don't give up on your dream. The economy will change again in the next couple years, and then hospitals will be more amenable to training people who are inexperienced.

This is very true...several years back, I was offered a job in L&D with only sub-acute and some med/surg experience. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; L&D.

I had to move 1/2 way across the country to do what I love. In GA, there wasn't as much need for L&D, but here in the Rio Grande Valley, they were actively recruiting for L&D at the time I was looking and paid my moving expenses, etc. They provided 6 months preceptor training and I had to test out to be on my own. Preceptors only make $1 more per hour and the preceptee's wages come out of educational dollars until she graduates. Prior to another hospital opening in our area and taking some of the pressure off of us, we were delivering around 600/month. Now, we deliver in the neighborhood of 300/month.

If you're interested in L&D, you have to think outside the box and figure out where the volume is--that's where the jobs are going to be. Good luck!

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Specializes in LTC.

My OB instructor pushed that for anyone interested in OB they should start getting their certifications required by various units and monitor training before getting the job. The more of the manditory ed you have out of the way the less they have to pay to train you.

This can however take a huge chunk out of your bank account.

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Specializes in Med/Surg; Orthopedics; Geriatrics; L&D.

There are places down here in the valley that are actively recruiting if you're willing to relocate. The training is good at most and the cost of living down here is fabulous! If you speak Sapnish, that is a plus...of course that's becoming a plus no matter where you go :):)

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