ESRD RN to L&D

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HALP! I am so far out of my depth- I've had two anxiety attacks this weekend over this insane life-changing decision I've made and I can't backtrack.

SO- A bit about me. 26 year old RN with 6 years RN experience- 4 in management. I have been a floor nurse, clinical coordinator, nurse manager and facility administrator in a few dialysis clinics across the U.S. Going to be honest- Dialysis is wearing me down and I find myself becoming cynical and the worst version of myself. I am recently engaged to a wonderful man and will be a stepmom to a gorgeous 2 year old next year- so I need a change of environment..I need to go into work with the hope that I'm making a difference and truly helping my patient and their family. I know it won't be roses and baby laughter every day- but I need a change from the chronically ill.

I have a master's degree in healthcare administration and the Boss life was fun for a bit but the stress started to burn me out faster than I expected. Basically, I missed the direct patient care and the inability to make necessary changes at the managerial level left me crestfallen and bitter by the end of the day.

So in short - I am on the verge of starting my own family and I want to be part of the joy that comes with family focused nursing.

I am looking to further my practice in the next few years- either to DNP or NP in L&D

(but I need a base first)

SO- I've been advised to get my Neonatal resuscitation cert, my ACLS and advanced fetal heart monitoring cert. Does anyone know if an AWHONN membership is worth having to get access to the FHR course? Will I have to pay extra in order to take all the classes provided or are they included? What books will be useful (I have the AWHONN FHR book already). What should I mentally prepare myself for? What should I keep in mind during the interviews? What skills beget a solid L&D nurse?

And anything else you think I should know about this role before I go into it- Thank you!!

Much Love

-Potats

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Specializes in Labor & Delivery.

I'm not sure who suggested you get your NRP or ACLS, but I'd recommend waiting until you have an L&D position - most of the time the classes for these certifications are available to you for free by your organization if it's your first time obtaining them. They usually give you your first six months working to get those in order. As for EFM monitoring certification (the FHR stuff), that is something you should be worried about once you have been practicing for at least a year in L&D. One of my coworkers didn't even take the test until she had 16 years of experience - this is not to say you need 16 years or even close to that, but it's meant for nurses already working in L&D/working with EFM regularly. The test for that and the skill itself is too nuanced to just take a class and get certified. In addition, some organizations offer a little bonus, or at least will reimburse the class and testing costs, if you get your EFM certification while working for them.

Focus on networking and reaching out to hospitals in your area with L&D. I cold-called HR departments and shadowed an L&D nurse I knew to get my foot in the door. L&D is a notoriously competitive specialty. Be prepared to move if need be.

For interviews, you should highlight your past experience and be able to explain "why L&D?". Behavioral/situational questions are pretty common nowadays so research those and practice. I wouldn't expect clinical questions.

Lastly, L&D nursing is not for the faint of heart. A normal, healthy patient (mom or baby) can quickly spiral into an unstable one. Postpartum hemorrhage can be deadly within minutes, for instance. You need to be quick on your feet and able to handle stress well. The good days are great, but the bad days are a whole other level of horrible.

Good luck, it's an awesome field, and one that will never cease to amaze or to challenge you.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
On 7/8/2019 at 1:42 PM, Potats said:

I am looking to further my practice in the next few years- either to DNP or NP in L&D

Have you done any research in this, or what exactly did you have in mind? There really isn't an NP in L&D. There's a nurse midwifery program/CNM certification. Other than that, there aren't any advance practice degrees specific to L&D.

I agree with the previous poster that said you should not get NRP until after you're already working. Your employer will pay for you to take the course, and until you're actually in practice caring for newborns in the transition period, it's hard to put the skills together and make sense out of it. Ditto advanced fetal monitoring. Instead, I would recommend basic fetal monitoring. You can't run until you learn how to walk. Consider taking a 3- or 5-day long course in lactation that allows you to take the CLC exam.

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@klone There is NP in OB/GYN, which covers L&D as well. You're right, it's not L&D specific. I will take both your and @aspiringcnm3 's advice to wait until I'm hired before taking the certs.. I guess I got a bit overeager to equip myself with as much info as I could before my first day. Thanks for the tips!

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
3 minutes ago, Potats said:

@klone There is NP in OB/GYN, which covers L&D as well. You're right, it's not L&D specific. I will take both your and @aspiringcnm3 's advice to wait until I'm hired before taking the certs.. I guess I got a bit overeager to equip myself with as much info as I could before my first day. Thanks for the tips!

Are you referring to a WHNP (women's health nurse practitioner)? If so, that is not L&D. They provide prenatal care and women's care (typically in the clinic setting), but not care in the inpatient L&D setting. The CNM has the same scope of practice as the WHNP, PLUS they can be privileged in the acute care hospital setting to manage low risk labor/delivery.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Just now, klone said:

Sorry, duplicate post

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Specializes in Women's Health, OBGYN, Stepdown, Critical Care.

WHNP's are hired inpatient as well as outpatient

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
21 hours ago, idani said:

WHNP's are hired inpatient as well as outpatient

Not in L&D

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Specializes in Women's Health, OBGYN, Stepdown, Critical Care.

You have already stated this, however L&D is not the only inpatient unit a WHNP can be hired to work in. Perhaps the original poster should research the scope of practice of a WHNP vs CNM and decide which route she should pursue

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