doula? baby nurse??

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I am an lvn and was wondering how to become a doula or baby nurse. Has anybody done that?? Just wondering what is needed. Im a little confused right now and not sure what direction to take. I seem to have so many options. If anybody has any info I would really appreciate it. thanks!

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A doula and a baby nurse are two completely different things; both satisfying, but completely different.

I have no experience being a baby nurse--I'm not even sure what you mean by that--a nursery nurse, maybe, or do you mean someone that goes out and does home visits on newborns? Try the health department, I guess. Most places will want an RN for that, though, I would think.

For info on doulas, try www.dona.org

Being a doula is a very *nonmedical* job, and also very irregular. Unless you are in a business with another person, you will be on call 24/7. I don't know any doula that makes enough to support herself or her family. Most make between 300-1000 a month, that that is a lot of work for not much money. If it is your calling, though, it is very rewarding. I have heard that there are some hospitals that have hospital-sponsored doula programs. Some of them are volunteer, some are paid positions (but I assume the pay is pretty poor--similar to a nurse's aide, since the training hours seem similar). You can always check your local hospital to see if they offer such a program.

Good luck! I love being a doula for my friends; but I only do it for a select few people, and I always do it for free. It means as much for me as it does to them, I think.

Another option you might consider is working at an independent birthing center. Most hire RNs, but you may find one that will hire an LPN. Your role as a nurse is often more doula-like there, just by the nature of the business. Pay is often less than hospital RNs would make, though.

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A doula and a baby nurse are two completely different things; both satisfying, but completely different.

I have no experience being a baby nurse--I'm not even sure what you mean by that--a nursery nurse, maybe, or do you mean someone that goes out and does home visits on newborns? Try the health department, I guess. Most places will want an RN for that, though, I would think.

For info on doulas, try www.dona.org

Being a doula is a very *nonmedical* job, and also very irregular. Unless you are in a business with another person, you will be on call 24/7. I don't know any doula that makes enough to support herself or her family. Most make between 300-1000 a month, that that is a lot of work for not much money. If it is your calling, though, it is very rewarding. I have heard that there are some hospitals that have hospital-sponsored doula programs. Some of them are volunteer, some are paid positions (but I assume the pay is pretty poor--similar to a nurse's aide, since the training hours seem similar). You can always check your local hospital to see if they offer such a program.

Good luck! I love being a doula for my friends; but I only do it for a select few people, and I always do it for free. It means as much for me as it does to them, I think.

Another option you might consider is working at an independent birthing center. Most hire RNs, but you may find one that will hire an LPN. Your role as a nurse is often more doula-like there, just by the nature of the business. Pay is often less than hospital RNs would make, though.

Thanks for the advice. Im sorry my post must of been confusing, I guess you can tell that im a little confused about which direction to go in. When I said baby nurse I meant go to peoples homes and help them with their infants.teach how to breastfeed etc. I have no idea what I want to specialize in. Is med-surg a good idea for my first job? Im so afraid of med-surg ive only heard bad things about it, but I guess if you want more options later on you need med-surg experience. Is this true? thanks again!

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You might enjoy being a post-partum doula. They work privately, and do much like you said, help with newborn care, breastfeeding, etc. You are usually self employed for this.

I work in med-surg and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I also have worked at an independent birthing center, as a doula, and a childbirth educator. I feel like my experience in med-surg definitely helped me, particularly my assessment skills.

At the birth center we were a mixed bunch. Some had done other things (like ER or med-surg) and some only had experience in mother/baby. It seemed like we each brought our own strengths and weaknesses with our varied background.

If you really want to work with babies and mothers, I would go to hospitals and health departments and apply to the appropriate departments. If you don't have any luck, go med-surg -- sometimes it is easier to get a transfer within an organization. Another option is to apply at an office as the office nurse for a CNM. One CNM I worked with took her office nurse to births and the office nurse also did home appointments postpartum.

I am an LPN, finishing my RN this year, and I have found that being an LPN is definitely confining in this area. Most places want an RN. Pay is often less than the average RN makes, and sometimes that leaves them more open to an LPN...

Anyhow, good luck! I hope you find a good spot for yourself. Don't fear med-surg, though. I find a lot of the skills I used with laboring moms and post partum moms and families I use in the hospital on the medical floor--therapeutic communication, nonpharmacological pain interventions, education, etc. There is a lot of cross-over.

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You might enjoy being a post-partum doula. They work privately, and do much like you said, help with newborn care, breastfeeding, etc. You are usually self employed for this.

I work in med-surg and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I also have worked at an independent birthing center, as a doula, and a childbirth educator. I feel like my experience in med-surg definitely helped me, particularly my assessment skills.

At the birth center we were a mixed bunch. Some had done other things (like ER or med-surg) and some only had experience in mother/baby. It seemed like we each brought our own strengths and weaknesses with our varied background.

If you really want to work with babies and mothers, I would go to hospitals and health departments and apply to the appropriate departments. If you don't have any luck, go med-surg -- sometimes it is easier to get a transfer within an organization. Another option is to apply at an office as the office nurse for a CNM. One CNM I worked with took her office nurse to births and the office nurse also did home appointments postpartum.

I am an LPN, finishing my RN this year, and I have found that being an LPN is definitely confining in this area. Most places want an RN. Pay is often less than the average RN makes, and sometimes that leaves them more open to an LPN...

Anyhow, good luck! I hope you find a good spot for yourself. Don't fear med-surg, though. I find a lot of the skills I used with laboring moms and post partum moms and families I use in the hospital on the medical floor--therapeutic communication, nonpharmacological pain interventions, education, etc. There is a lot of cross-over.

Would you happen to know how to go about becoming a post-partum doula?

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Hi newlvngrad.Many Self employed nurses visit out Entrepreneurs forum at

https://allnurses.com/forums/f56/

How much experience do you have in nursing? I delayed 4 years in getting into hospital nursing for the same reason you just mentioned...."what people say about med-surg" and to me that was a BIG mistake on my part. I tried some jobs that I definitely had NO idea what to do. My advice would be to get some experience under your belt and while doing that pay attention to what other nurses, other units, other specialties are all about. I started in Oncology and very rapidly found I did not like it. I found my love in Ortho. So don't do as I did, OK?

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Hi newlvngrad.Many Self employed nurses visit out Entrepreneurs forum at

https://allnurses.com/forums/f56/

How much experience do you have in nursing? I delayed 4 years in getting into hospital nursing for the same reason you just mentioned...."what people say about med-surg" and to me that was a BIG mistake on my part. I tried some jobs that I definitely had NO idea what to do. My advice would be to get some experience under your belt and while doing that pay attention to what other nurses, other units, other specialties are all about. I started in Oncology and very rapidly found I did not like it. I found my love in Ortho. So don't do as I did, OK?

I have no experience> I havent started working yet and im not planning on getting my first job until january of next year. The reason for that is my parents just moved out of the country and I want to spend the holidays with them, because once I start working I will never get the vacation that I want. Thats why I was looking for something like registry because I want to make my own hours and work when I want so I am able to visit my parents whenever I want.So I guess I am looking for something flexible, and I heard registry is the way to and in order to do that you need 1 year experience in med-surg, and I wanted to aoid med-surg, but if thats what I have to do to get to registry then I will. Once I am working registry do I have to be sent to med-surg floors or can I be sent to other types of facilities?

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I'm not sure what you mean by "registry." Are you here in the US? I fear the longer you put off getting a job, the more difficult for you it will be. But I have always worked; perhaps others who have been in your shoes will have better advice and guidance. If you aren't going to work, I would definitely suggest doing some sort of education, even if it is self-led--a doula course, a course in breastfeeding education, anything, and the more the better. First of all, it shows your potential employers that you were doing something productive with your time off. Secondly, it will make you more marketable--if you are wanting to do post-partum doula work, but you don't have any experience in breastfeeding education, for example, employers or potential clients might not be very interested in hiring you.

I would recommend you go to the dona website. DONA stands for doulas of north america; it is a national organization of doulas, and it provides doula education and certification. They could answer many of your questions regarding being a doula.

Good luck!

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Would you happen to know how to go about becoming a post-partum doula?

Go to www.cappa.net

CAPPA offers many certifications, including one for postpartum doulas.

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