How to get hired in OB/Newborn Nursery as a new grad?

[RN/Mom]

If all goes well, I will be graduating as an RN (with an associate's degree) in a few months. I live in Southern CA and will be looking for work in either LA County or Orange County.

I have about 2.5 years experience working med-surg as an LVN, which is long enough to know that med-surg nursing is definitely NOT for me (long-term, anyways). Getting to work with moms and babies, breastfeeding, and infant/child development are HUGE passions of mine, however, and the reason I got into nursing in the first place.

Since I know that I definitely want to work in this area of nursing (I'd be happy in L&D, post-partum, or in a newborn nursery), how do I make myself marketable as a new grad? Will I be expected to have some sort of med-surg or acute care experience as an RN first? Will my LVN med-surg experience count for something, or hinder me in any way? Are there any special certifications or continuing education I should get (such as fetal monitoring or lactation education)? Any volunteer experiences I should look into? Is it appropriate to tell prospective employers in a cover letter how passionate I am about this field, or would that be weird?

Any advice would be most appreciated! Thanks!

[NuNurse<3]

I did my leadership on Ob and then had a knockout interview and got in as a casual status and then it turned full time before orientation was over. I got lucky now I'm having a hard time though with labor and delivery. Just not getting it all fast enough. I probably would benefit from a year in medsurg but I have never wanted to do that and got so lucky dont want to risk losing my spot by leaving for awhile to get the basic skills down pat. L&D is much harder than I thought. Very overwhelming there's so much to know and so much on the line. If you're an adrenaline junkie then you'd probably do great. I always thought I'd do well in high risk situations because in my everyday life had always done well under pressure but not so much now. Kinda feeling pretty defeated actually right now. Need to show them what I'm made of.

[RN/Mom]

Thanks for replying! I am really hoping that my med-surg LVN experience will count for something when I am looking for jobs as a new grad RN, but I'm not sure what to expect!

I'm sure there's a LOT to learn as an L&D nurse -- I don't know about your school, but my nursing programs (LVN and RN) covered very little! I'm sure most new grads working in that area would be in the same boat as you, so try not to feel too defeated! I am totally NOT an adrenaline junkie, though, so maybe I wouldn't do so well in L&D, either...

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

I did med/surg for 4 months before getting hired into OB/L&D/Maternity. I stayed with that med/surg for an additional 4 months before I quit.

It was good experience, sure, but I dont think it was a necessary pre-req for OB (though it did make me more marketable thats for sure). OB has such a large learning curve. Its a whole other world unto itself, much different from med/surg. I just now, as of last week off orientation after a total of 6 months. And even then, I have not seen all possible high risk scenarios, though I have seen a bunch. But thankfully I work on a wonderful unit, with awesome co-workers and am never alone.

I also did a vast amount of leg work to further help my case getting into OB. I did my practicum in L&D my last two semesters of nursing school. I became a certified lactation counselor. I took NRP. There are lots you can do to help yourself get hired...you just have to be willing to work hard for it.

[RN/Mom]

I also did a vast amount of leg work to further help my case getting into OB. I did my practicum in L&D my last two semesters of nursing school. I became a certified lactation counselor. I took NRP. There are lots you can do to help yourself get hired...you just have to be willing to work hard for it.

Thanks for replying! It is a goal of mine to become a lactation consultant eventually, but I'll look into getting certified even sooner if that will help me find a job. OB/Maternal nursing is my passion, so I want to make myself as marketable as possible!

[NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN]

OP I'm the same as you. I'm was a LPN for over 2 years and currently seeking a position in OB. I hope my experience will count for something as well. OB has always been my passion, I too want to make myself marketable.