Doula Training before becoming a nurse?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hey there! I'm currently in nursing school (under a year left until graduation 💃🏼) and have been a nurse-extern in an OB department for a couple of months. I love it! I fully intend on staying in this speciality, if not pursuing my CNM. My question is, as potential new nurse and someone who has not had kids, do you think there would be any benefit to training as a doula before I graduate?? I'm basically looking for more education in labor support.

Bonus question: what's a good way to learn more about breastfeeding and helping new moms troubleshoot and adjust? Are there classes or anything that are geared towards nursing staff?

Thanks for any guidance! I love reading this board!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Doula training is pretty time-intensive, and you must be available for labors at all hours of the day (and a doula might be at a labor for 24+ hours). How will you manage that while in nursing school and working as nurse extern?

The best way to prepare yourself to be a labor nurse is to train as a labor nurse. You're in an ideal situation as a nurse extern. Keep doing that, and do some reading on non-pharmaceutical pain management in labor.

I believe DONA offers some 1-2 day seminars on labor support geared towards OB nurses.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Forgot to say, congrats on getting the nurse extern job! When I was in nursing school our local hospital had an externship program. Historically, L&D had not participated, but while I was in school they began participating for the first time and I was their very first nurse extern. It was such an amazing, valuable experience and I had such a wonderful preceptor. I cannot say enough good things about those types of programs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB.

I think the DONA workshops (as klone stated, typically 1-2 days) would be a great asset to you, even if you can't fulfill the number of births it takes to be actually certified as a doula, for a basic crash course in labor support. Additionally, for a good foundation for breastfeeding education, I always recommend the Certified Lactation Counselor course, offered by the Healthy Children's Center for Breastfeeding. It's a 5 day, 40 hour course with a certifying exam on the last day that I've taken twice now (before I had a kid and had any breastfeeding experience), and found extremely helpful. Both courses will run you several hundred dollars, just as a heads up.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, you should absolutely take the time to attend a doula training if you plan to work in L&D and desire to do so! I coordinate a volunteer doula team and most of them are in nursing school. Training doesn't mean you need to become certified and take private clients, it means you will be more skilled. In my area, some hospitals offer doula programs made up entirely of student nurses and Johns Hopkins is considering it as a requirement in the future.

DONA offers 4 day trainings and other organizations offer online courses that you can take at your own pace if that suits you better. Might I suggest researching volunteer doula programs in your area as well so you can put those skills in practice without the demand of providing private services. Best wishes!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a certified Doula, awaiting my nursing school cohort, and now working as a nursing assistant on mother baby- I know my heart is in OB, I too want to eventually look into CNM! I loved my Doula training! It is time consuming, but if you are interested... go for it! As long as you can keep up with everything you have I don't see any reason why you cannot complete it! I have two tips- find a doula(or a team) in your area and ask to shadow! Everyone Doulas differently and you can gain so much more from each style to develop your own style and gain more insight into being a doula! And 2 - READ! Ina Mays book is a great start and also complete child birth handbook is amazing, you have lots of reading and general knowledge to understand- but as a nursing student you'll have no challenge there. Some programs that are distance learning are also self paced! So you can look for those and also check reviews and credentials if you did plan to use it as a career choice later on. Hope this helps!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment