Help ! Tips to switch from a Med-surg nurse to an L&D nurse

[Honey J, BSN, RN]

I have one year or RN experience working in Med Surg and I am tired of it. In nursing school I knew that I never even wanted to go to med surg I knew wanted to be an L&D nurse. However I graduated right before the pandemic hit. So I took my next in the hype of everything shutting down and it seemed nobody was really hiring for L&D nurses. 

 Now I have a little bit of experience under me I am ready to change. Does anybody have any tips ? I’ve done applications for the past month in a half and not much seems to be moving. I am working towards finding a class to get my ACLS currently. Am I seen as not qualified because I don’t have that? But at this moment I’m so over med surg I am prepared to quit with nothing lined up. 

[Sherlsx3]

I'm in the same boat as you! I hate med surg so much! It's very hard to get into L&D. I've been applying for a while as well & I was told it's based on if you have experience but how am I supposed to get experience in the field that no one will hire me in because of my lack of experience? It's also based on who you know as well. I have my ACLS, it didn't make a difference honestly, but I am working on my NRP certification. I don't know if that will help but it doesn't hurt to try. I'm not sure what advice to give you because I need some advice as well besides "just keep applying and be patient". Hopefully things get better for us soon. If all fails there's always travel nursing.

[Honey J, BSN, RN]

18 hours ago, Sherlsx3 said:

I'm in the same boat as you! I hate med surg so much! It's very hard to get into L&D. I've been applying for a while as well & I was told it's based on if you have experience but how am I supposed to get experience in the field that no one will hire me in because of my lack of experience? It's also based on who you know as well. I have my ACLS, it didn't make a difference honestly, but I am working on my NRP certification. I don't know if that will help but it doesn't hurt to try. I'm not sure what advice to give you because I need some advice as well besides "just keep applying and be patient". Hopefully things get better for us soon. If all fails there's always travel nursing.

Yea it’s crazy hard like even a position that was hiring for specifically training new people switching didn’t hire me. I’m like what the heck? I’ve stretched over 3 or 4 different counties trying to find a place

[Idiosyncratic, BSN, RN]

Honestly, the biggest thing I would suggest is you need to find ways to stand out. Do an Introduction to Fetal Heart Monitoring Course and the Intermediate(usually the minimum they want for these positions), make sure you have your ACLS, NRP and some places even want you to have your PALS. At least with these, you'll stand out because they won't have to wait for you to get them. ?

A lot of the time it is all dependent on getting through the robot HR application process and they will filter out based on needs. Perhaps also look into PostPartum, Antepartum or Nursery? Then you're at least getting your foot in the door. ? 

[brume, BSN]

Here are some ideas (worked for me!)

Look up “Applicant Tracking System nursing tips” on Google to find info on how to best make it past the resume robots.  Join linkedin, try to find direct contact info for L&D managers, and ask to shadow.  Network!  Join AWHONN and do the intro to fetal monitoring class.  Go on the AWHONN Hub message boards and find members who work where you want to work; contact them.  Do the same with facebook groups.  Do doula training and volunteer to doula if there’s a volunteer doula organization near you.  Look into Centering Pregnancy and see if you can volunteer with them or get trained.

Good luck!