I want to be A L&D Nurse...How Do I Get There???

[LovinNewlife]

Hello All...I'm 22 and a mother of a 9 month old baby girl and I have gone to college and graduated in Sales and Marketing. However, I have always wanted to work with babies. The problem has always been I didn't know how to get into the field. After Having my daughter I decided that this is what I want to do. I am asking those of you that are already in this field for your advice on getting into this area...and I have nothing medical on me yet. I live in the Fresno area and I don't even know where to start, PLEASE HELP.

[SmilingBluEyes]

HI there and welcome to our forum.

If you want to be an L/D nurse (and I did after the birth of my first child) here is what you might want to do:

1. Shadow or interview nurses in the field, to get an accurate picture of what it is like, and what they love and dislike about nursing in general, and specifically, OB nursing.

2. Start thinking about schools you might like to attend. I would plan on studying to be an RN (not an LPN), as most units hire RNs into L/D, rather than LPNs. Some units DO hire LPNs , but they are the exception and increasingly rare.

3. Check this site out:

http://www.allnursingschools.com to see what schools are near you and what they have to offer. Start thinking about where to go and don't neglect to consider finances. Find out what you may qualify for in the way of grants, loans, and other aid and check that out.

4. When you narrow down where you will go, get a copy of the degree plan of that college of nursing. You will need to complete a lot of pre-requisite course work PRIOR to even being accepted into nursing school. SO begin work on those courses. If you plan to attend community college first, but transfer later to a university, DO make SURE all your coursework WILL transfer. Do not waste time taking classes that may not or won't.

5. Discuss your aspirations with a career/degree plan counselor at the school, to lay out a reasonable plan in which you can pursue a nursing degree. Find out what it takes to gain entry. Remember, acceptance to school of nursing is very competitive, so take as many of your "pre-req's" first and get the best grades you can.

6. Find the school of nursing at the college/university and talk to them about your aspirations, if you can. They should also have a degree plan and the specifics spelled out how to gain entry.

7. Go to nursing school/graduate. Try to make networking contacts along the way, people who may be able to help you get a job in OB after you graduate.

*Once you graduate, and pass national boards (NCLEX), you will be eligible for employment as a licensed nurse. Getting a job in OB may be hard right after graduation, but NOT impossible. Try to find a place that offers residencies for new graduates in speciality areas like OB, ICU, ER, etc.

GOOD LUCK. Hope this helps you get started.

[flytern]

Is there a local hospital using volunteers in their nursery? Our hospital does. Or become a CNA (it's about an 8 weeks course at a junior college).

Then you could get hired on the L&D floor. Alot of current RN's started out as CNA's, learned how to scrub for C/Sections, then went back to nursing school. By the time they graduated they were very comfortable.