How easy is it to get the job of choice right after graduating nursing school?

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When I first started out in nursing scool, I wanted to work in labor and delivery. The more schooling I have completed, the more I see that most everyone else wants the same. I have made a second choice and decided I would love to work in the E.R. How likley is it that I can obtain either of these jobs right out of nursing school? What special classes can I take to obtain my goals and is there anything else I can do to get one or the other?

I do know that in my state...All of the 4 yr colleges are only doing BS programs. The hospitals around here are prefering BS degrees over an associates. All of the associates are being transfered to small private colleges and have heard that is hard to find a job and it is very hard to get in the hospital. Like everything else...guess it depends on where you live.

**** also.....What is ACLS and what other classes can I take or certifications can I get on top of my BAS to get into L&D or thr E.R.?

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Specializes in PICU.

If you're still in nursing school, here is some advice that I can give you:

1. Get to know your clinical instructors and let them know what units you are interested in. They could possibly offer you a shadow day in the ER or OB! I know a lot of schools where I am from allow students clinical days on other units, ER was a popular choice. Your instructors can also help you network! You never know who they know. So do your best and get noticed during clinicals.

2. If your school offers a senior practicum, take this opportunity and request one of the units you want! I didn't realize that many schools did not do this... when I interviewed for my job I was one of the only candidates in our group interview who actually had a practicum on that specific unit.

3. Try to obtain a nursing assistant or PCT position! It always looks good because you'll learn time management skills and have experience in the hospital outside of clinicals. If this isn't possible, try to volunteer at a hospital you would like to work at.

Good luck! Aim for what you want. =) But don't let it bring you down if you don't get exactly what you want. You never know where life will bring you, you may find you really enjoy a completely different type of unit.

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They have our L&D nurses take PALS because they routinely float to the nursery and Peds. But everywhere is different :)

Someone said it before, but ACLS is advanced cardiac life support.

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It's not a an employee's market right now, so beggars can't be choosers when it comes to what facility or unit you end up working at. I would love L&D too, but am starting off in med-surge because that is where I was offered a job. I consider myself in training for the job I really want ;).

This is 100% correct. I too want either the NICU or the ED but I was more then happy to accept a job in Med/Surg after applying to over 100 different positions and hearing almost nothing back. When your ready, apply to your dream jobs and the realistic jobs because you never know what can happen.

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Specializes in MSN, FNP-BC.
I wouldn't let the crappy job market keep you from shooting for the areas that you really want, because those areas do hire even if it's few and far between at the moment. I agree with whoever suggested ACLS, and I also recommend PALS which you would need for both ER and L&D. Other than that there really isn't much you can do besides network, network, network while you're in school, and/or look into an externship or even employment as a tech in those departments.

FYI.

In our hospital, the L&D nurses have to have NRP which is specific to the neonate not PALS.

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Specializes in pcu/stepdown/telemetry.

Even if you get acls or pals to be more marketable-what can you prove you can do with it as a new grad?

Nursing managers will want to know how you have used it. The best thing you can do for yourself is to get a job in a hospital on a med/surg floor, yes it is the hardest thing. If you want ER, L&D you need those basic skills of hanging drips quickly and programming pumps, assessing pt's, handling when they go downhill and starting IV's plus the millions of other things med/surg nurses do+time management. That is what they want before you specialize, at least a year of experience, and it is really for the pt's safety. L&D nurses have to be quick and efficient because of how fast you can go from a normal delivery to an emergency c sec.

Good luck

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