How important is L&D experience?

Being pregnant has completely renewed my interest in pursuing midwifery for several reasons. It's why I went into nursing school in the first place. However, since graduation, I've only worked telemetry/progressive care (one year) and have been in a combined MICU/SICU/CTICU since then.

Is this going to be viewed as a deterrent when I apply to grad school for midwifery? It's not like I've never been exposed to L&D. I spent my final semester in school doing a 3-month practicum in a very busy, high risk L&D unit. However, that was a couple of years ago now.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Anyone in school now that can offer some insight?

Thanks for any help/advice you can give me!!

It depends where you apply. For example, Georgetown doesn't require you to have ANY nursing experience. Frontier wants a year of nursing experience (in any specialty) and Columbia wants you to have a year of L&D, so it depends.

What school were you thinking of?

UPenn specifically. They don't specify this on their admissions website (at least that I can find).

UPenn specifically. They don't specify this on their admissions website (at least that I can find).

UPenn doesn't required L&D.

Not to give conflicting info, but I am preparing to go to u of p and the info packet they mailed me say's 2 years l&d experience? frontier was 1 year.

Not to give conflicting info, but I am preparing to go to u of p and the info packet they mailed me say's 2 years l&d experience? frontier was 1 year.

Less than half my class had L&D experience, and third had NO experience whatsover in nursing.

I don't remember it saying that on the packet, but whatever, it should not deter you from applying. I don't think their policy has changed. Good luck.