what if I start in home health?

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Graduated over four years ago and haven't worked (had three kids, great kids, but career suicide) now I am trying to start my career in the midst of a bad economy where recruiters throw out all resumes with grad dates over a year old :( and obviously am having a VERY hard time (refresher course made no difference, but I'm hoping it might help in an interview if I get the opportunity).

My end goal is to become a CNM and I would like to work in postpartum and/or L&D for a while first as an RN. Right now I am volunteering at a weekly breastfeeding group and getting certified as a lactation educator so that I can pursue becoming a lactation consultant while I attempt to get an RN job. Becoming an IBCLC is another career goal of mine, but I just always thought that I would work in postpartum as an RN first.

I may be able to get a job in home health and obviously I am happy to have any job prospects given my current predicament, but I am wondering how this will look when I eventually try and get into a hospital job.

So has anyone started in home health and transitioned to M/S or even OB? How'd ya do it?

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Nope, No Luck! I have a similar story and I have been trying to get int the hospital and can't. I have been working as a Home health nurse (because that was the only job I could get) for a yr and still no luck in getting a hospital job. I have been trying since I received my license in Jan of 2010 and have no luck at all. I graduated in 2007 but did not get my license til 2010 so i am in the same boat. I would like to eventually become NP in women's care, but I have to work as an RN in women's first so I am right there with you. I wish you the best of luck! Toya

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Yea it's a really tough economy out there and hospitals are getting harder to get into. I am still a nursing student but trying to get my foot in the door and have been applying for nurse aid positions or any position at all. I've had a few calls back so far for an interview, but no job offers yet. :(

I hope you both the best of lucky... it really is hard out there. I believe that the way you're going with volunteering and pursuing lactation education is great. It will show the nurse manager that you are motivated and enthusiastic in becoming an L&D nurse in addition to having the qualifications to be a lactation consultant.

I don't think that you will never transition into the hospital if you start at home health, because at least you can still use your nursing skills. I know a few people that have transitioned that way and a previous preceptor of mine said that it looks better on someone's resume that is actively working or volunteering in something with health care, because it shows you never gave up. So keep at it, and goodluck!

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I think getting your lactation certification is a great choice and will look great on a resume. L&D is hard to get into because everyone wants it and once you're in, you typically stay for a long time. I am not sure home health would take someone without nursing experience.

Have you tried nursing homes? I was not aware that it was so hard for new grads to get into hospitals. You could also work in a MD office... although your pay won't be as well as a hospital because they could get an LPN for less so you may have to take a pay cut. But there are other options... outpt clinics, urgent care clinics, ANYTHING you can get your foot in the door with and put up with for a year while you get some experience and have some work while you look for your dream job. I would also suggest (not sure as I don't work in L&D) that you could go ahead and start towards CMW. Heck, even look into the local OB offices. That would be an awesome experience. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Psych, Geriatrics.

Could you volunteer on your local hospital's mother-baby unit, or volunteer for like a local teen pregnancy shelter until a paid job comes along? I agree, I think the lac consult will add great value to your resume.

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Thanks for the support and ideas. I emailed the mother baby nurse manager at the hospital where my husband works about doing an unpaid externship and she said she would pass it on to the ed. person. I emailed to follow up and have heard nothing in over a month. Also, I can't really volunteer since my husband does not have a regular schedule and I would have to pay for child care. At this point I am focusing on completing course work toward becoming an IBCLC and really enjoying it. Life has forced me to rearrange my career trajectory and perhaps it is for the best so I can spend more time as a mom for these early years.

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I had 10 years of experience and just got back into nursing in 2009. I have been doing home health because I can't get hired either. I have never made more than $18/hr and right now I'm making $15/hr. I'm an RN. Visits are a way to make $30/visit but if you've read some of the complaints here, you would know that some visits can take an hour and a half plus travel time, which can be equivalent to $15/hr or less if you take into consideration the cost of gas.

I truly believe this trend is a think tank to drive down RN salaries because we are desperate. Right now, $20/hr would be a dream for me and would be the same for many others who are desperate. :twocents:

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