How do you get the "magic 1 year experience"?

Jolie, BSN · May 3, 2005

I am a new grad ADN - I have wanted to do L&D ever since I had my first, child (30 yrs ago). I originally wanted to be a mid-wife, but in the 70's most of the medical community considered them one step above "witch", so I talked myself out of it and became a medical lab tech (much more dignified!)...When "empty nest" set ine, I took traning to be a Doula, thinking that this might satisfy my need to be in L&D - all this accomplished was to make me more determined to get my RN. Now that I finally have my RN, but I am stuck at the VA for the next 15mo to pay back for scholarship. I would love to get a part-time job in OB L&D, but everyone wants you to have 1 yr experience - how do you get the expereince if they won't hire anyone w/o experience? I would even consider "volunteering" if I could find a Mid-wife or hospital who would let me in the door to get this experience. Any advise or ideas? I am starting on BSN in Aug and will finish next Aug - thinking of MSN Womens Health, but afraid I couldn't get a job....I'm in SC :uhoh21:

Your work experience at the VA is in med/surg, I presume. That will be an excellent preparation for OB. Most units are more open to hiring new nurses into mother-baby rather than L&D. I would recommend applying for staff positions on mother-baby, and then ask to move into L&D when a position opens up within your department.

As for finding advanced practice positions in SC, my first exposure to CNMs came in Rock Hill, SC. Unless things have changed drastically since I moved, I believe the area to be very open to APN roles in OB. Good luck!

BabyNurse513 · May 3, 2005

After working in L&D as an extern in college I was sure that was what I wanted to do after graduation. I got the same thing though, they all wanted someone with experience. One hospital offered me a job in the NICU and said after a year I could transfer to L&D. 3+ years later, I am still in the NICU! I love it and would never leave. But i know L&D always takes nurses with NICU experience.

BETSRN · May 3, 2005

I am a new grad ADN - I have wanted to do L&D ever since I had my first, child (30 yrs ago). I originally wanted to be a mid-wife, but in the 70's most of the medical community considered them one step above "witch", so I talked myself out of it and became a medical lab tech (much more dignified!)...When "empty nest" set ine, I took traning to be a Doula, thinking that this might satisfy my need to be in L&D - all this accomplished was to make me more determined to get my RN. Now that I finally have my RN, but I am stuck at the VA for the next 15mo to pay back for scholarship. I would love to get a part-time job in OB L&D, but everyone wants you to have 1 yr experience - how do you get the expereince if they won't hire anyone w/o experience? I would even consider "volunteering" if I could find a Mid-wife or hospital who would let me in the door to get this experience. Any advise or ideas? I am starting on BSN in Aug and will finish next Aug - thinking of MSN Womens Health, but afraid I couldn't get a job....I'm in SC :uhoh21:

You cannot go into L&D without a full-time commitment to learn. It takes well over a year to even begin to feel comfortable, or begin to be competant in labor management.

Get that med-surg experience even if you are stuck at the VA. While you are waiting, put some feelers out. Speak with some nurse managers. A good place to start would be in a post-partum unit and go from there.

allnurses Guide · May 3, 2005

I work in a rural hospital where we do a bit of everything. After I graduated, I did some training in L&D, took some courses, all the while working. That first year I learned L&D, PP, med/surg, pre-op and post-op, LTC, etc. I've since taken an online ER Nursing course and taken an MICN course and work in the ER too.

The truth is you can go where you want and in my experience there is no magic one year experience. If you want to do L&D, starting in post-partum would be good. Some hospitals will start training you in L&D right away. Mine did.

Nursing has evolved into speciality areas and I believe you can just go straight into your speciality area and get training and then go for it.

Like BabyNurse, I have a friend whose goal when heading back to school to be a nurse was strictly NICU. She started in the general nursery and 3 months later was in the NICU and never wants to do anything else. She never had a magic one year experience in med/surg.

Of course, doing a year in med surg has been good for some folks and if that is what you want to do, then there is no real reason not to. Except if you just want to get going on where your heart leads you.

There are so many good threads on this issue lately . .. .must be because graduation is near and lots of people are wondering about this issue.

Best wishes.

steph

mstigerlily · May 6, 2005

Try Maternal Child, Women's Health, Postpartum. Our hospital hires new grads into L&D and postpartum. The openings when I was hired were in Postpartum and I am so happy to be there, I just might forget about L&D all together. I am really suited to all the teaching, spending time with patients, breastfeeding instruction, etc. I am now working on my CLE (Certified Lactation Educator) and maybe even a Lactation Consultant some day. If you can't do that, try to at least get med-surg in women's surgeries dealing with gyn surgical patients.

Melissa

KK7724 · May 10, 2005

Try Maternal Child, Women's Health, Postpartum. Our hospital hires new grads into L&D and postpartum. The openings when I was hired were in Postpartum and I am so happy to be there, I just might forget about L&D all together. I am really suited to all the teaching, spending time with patients, breastfeeding instruction, etc. I am now working on my CLE (Certified Lactation Educator) and maybe even a Lactation Consultant some day. If you can't do that, try to at least get med-surg in women's surgeries dealing with gyn surgical patients.
Melissa

Hi,

I am a new grad (graduation May 14, 2005) I got a job in Newborn Nursery and will be floating to Post-partum and on our floor, everyone must work one shift a month in Mother/Baby, which I think at our hospital is where they put female surgery patients (hysterectomies, tubals, etc.) I was told that if a Labor position became available, I'd be trained for it. Well, I saw two girls that precepting on the floor with me (they were from a different school) and they got to do their entire preceptorship in L&D...I only got 50 hours....well....I saw the girl today and she and her friend got full-time positions in L&D....I'm not upset, because I really love the Nursery...I had the most fun there during preceptorship and I got the best compliment ever from the asst. unit manager, "I could tell by watching you and I've done this a long time, but you're meant to be a Nursery nurse. You just don't know it yet." Anyway, I have to move to SC a year from now....Nursery jobs are hard to come by....people get them and stay there because it's a happy place! Anyway, my question (I'm sorry for all the extra details) is this: with my newborn experience and post-partum experience, can I get a L&D job easier than someone with no Maternal/Newborn background??? What about traveling?? Is there actual work out there for Newborn nurses???

~Kristina~

New Grad May 14, 2005

Nursery Nurse May 31, 2005

Jolie, BSN · May 10, 2005

Hi,
I am a new grad (graduation May 14, 2005) I got a job in Newborn Nursery and will be floating to Post-partum and on our floor, everyone must work one shift a month in Mother/Baby, which I think at our hospital is where they put female surgery patients (hysterectomies, tubals, etc.) I was told that if a Labor position became available, I'd be trained for it. Well, I saw two girls that precepting on the floor with me (they were from a different school) and they got to do their entire preceptorship in L&D...I only got 50 hours....well....I saw the girl today and she and her friend got full-time positions in L&D....I'm not upset, because I really love the Nursery...I had the most fun there during preceptorship and I got the best compliment ever from the asst. unit manager, "I could tell by watching you and I've done this a long time, but you're meant to be a Nursery nurse. You just don't know it yet." Anyway, I have to move to SC a year from now....Nursery jobs are hard to come by....people get them and stay there because it's a happy place! Anyway, my question (I'm sorry for all the extra details) is this: with my newborn experience and post-partum experience, can I get a L&D job easier than someone with no Maternal/Newborn background??? What about traveling?? Is there actual work out there for Newborn nurses???
~Kristina~
New Grad May 14, 2005
Nursery Nurse May 31, 2005

Yes, having newborn and post-partum experience will make you more attractive than other candidates when a L&D position becomes available.

As far as positions that are strictly normal newborn nursery, they are few and far between. That is because most hospitals offer mother-baby care, which is a single nurse caring for both mom and baby post-delivery. It is a far more efficient method of care than the traditional post-partum/newborn nursery model where mom and baby receive care from different nurses. Studies show greater satisfaction among patients and nurses who are exposed to this model of care, and other benefits as well, such as improved breastfeeding support. At the risk of being accused of "flaming", I would venture to say that hospitals which still operate under the traditional post-partum/nursery model may be somewhat behind the times, and perhaps are not basing their care on research. If a hospital continues to operate under the 'traditional" method, I would be curious as to their rationale for doing so.

If you are interested in "nursery only" positions, you may have to consider the NICU, which is also a highly rewarding area of practice.

Please don't consider traveling until you have at least 1-2 years of experience under your belt. As a traveling nurse, you would be expected to have sufficient expertise to practice independently in an unfamiliar unit with a minimal orientation. That is a recipe for disaster for anyone who lacks experience and confidence.

KK7724 · May 10, 2005

Yes, having newborn and post-partum experience will make you more attractive than other candidates when a L&D position becomes available.
As far as positions that are strictly normal newborn nursery, they are few and far between. That is because most hospitals offer mother-baby care, which is a single nurse caring for both mom and baby post-delivery. It is a far more efficient method of care than the traditional post-partum/newborn nursery model where mom and baby receive care from different nurses. Studies show greater satisfaction among patients and nurses who are exposed to this model of care, and other benefits as well, such as improved breastfeeding support. At the risk of being accused of "flaming", I would venture to say that hospitals which still operate under the traditional post-partum/nursery model may be somewhat behind the times, and perhaps are not basing their care on research. If a hospital continues to operate under the 'traditional" method, I would be curious as to their rationale for doing so.
If you are interested in "nursery only" positions, you may have to consider the NICU, which is also a highly rewarding area of practice.
Please don't consider traveling until you have at least 1-2 years of experience under your belt. As a traveling nurse, you would be expected to have sufficient expertise to practice independently in an unfamiliar unit with a minimal orientation. That is a recipe for disaster for anyone who lacks experience and confidence.

When you say "Mother/Baby" do you mean the nurse delivers, recovers, provides post-partum care for the mom and nursery care for the baby?? Is this called "couplet care" also?? I really want to be the most well-rounded that I can especially with my move to SC coming in the next year....I guess one year of experience in newborn nursing could help me at a children's hospital?? Would this be a good gateway into NICU?? I think if you work in well-baby you are comfortable handling newborns and you know what normal looks like...so....I don't know. I am in Montgomery, AL and things are behind the times here....I forgot to mention my hospital is set up like this: Mom comes in "in labor"...is placed in a room, she delivers in this room, she is recovered in this room, and stays here until she is discharged home. The nursery is in this same unit. So...frequently the "Nursery" nurses will work post-partum when needed, the "labor" nurses will work nursery when needed and vice-versa....I am going to get orientated and comfortable in the Nursery then ask the unit managers to train me in Labor and Delivery. That's the plan at least...

~Kristina~

New Graduate May 14, 2005

Nursery Nurse May 31, 2005

Sylv · May 10, 2005

I am a new grad ADN - I have wanted to do L&D ever since I had my first, child (30 yrs ago). I originally wanted to be a mid-wife, but in the 70's most of the medical community considered them one step above "witch", so I talked myself out of it and became a medical lab tech (much more dignified!)...When "empty nest" set ine, I took traning to be a Doula, thinking that this might satisfy my need to be in L&D - all this accomplished was to make me more determined to get my RN. Now that I finally have my RN, but I am stuck at the VA for the next 15mo to pay back for scholarship. I would love to get a part-time job in OB L&D, but everyone wants you to have 1 yr experience - how do you get the expereince if they won't hire anyone w/o experience? I would even consider "volunteering" if I could find a Mid-wife or hospital who would let me in the door to get this experience. Any advise or ideas? I am starting on BSN in Aug and will finish next Aug - thinking of MSN Womens Health, but afraid I couldn't get a job....I'm in SC :uhoh21:

Do you work at the VA in Charleston?

KK7724 · May 10, 2005

Do you work at the VA in Charleston?

I am moving to the Charleston area May 06....I need help! Which hospitals should I try for?? MUSC never has any positions open in my specialty (Newborn nursery, post-partum). What about Trident?? Roper?? Summerville?? What kind of pay can I expect for a nurse with 1 year experience, NRP, and ACLS??? What about the naval hospital in Charleston?? Any opportunities in OB nursing?? My boyfriend is Air Force going to S. Korea for 12 months with a follow-up assignment to Charleston AFB June 06'....if we were married could I get into the Naval Hosp??

~Kristina~