I want to be a CNM...were my first job as a nurse be?

[tiffanygrace]

I am a new nurse and have been working in home health since for the last 9 months since I graduated from my BSN program. I have a goal to obtain my dual degree as an FNP/CNW in a few years through a dual-degree program. However, I am struggling to know where I should work now to gain adequate experience to enter such a program.

For the last 9 months I have been working un-skilled home health care and now have two jobs offers for skilled nursing. One is full time nights L+D at my local hospital. The other is flexible part-to-full time days at a long term care facility. To throw into this mix I have a yet-to-sleep-through-the-night 18 month old and several years of experience as a birth doula. I know the L+D job would be great experience but I don't know I can rock nights with my little one, who also has night terrors on a weekly basis. When I asked how soon I could switch to days during the interview the nurse manager said "Maybe this is the right job for you but not the right time" which lead me to believe that in a small town county hospital it wasn't gonna be quick to be working days in L+D. Concerning the LTC job, it would work better for me as a mama. But would it be good experience? The nurse to patient ratio is 1:40.....would I get anything out of this besides stress and some management skills?

Thank you for any advice!

[klone, MSN, RN]

I answered your question in your duplicate thread you posted on the main nursing forum. If you want to go into a midwifery program, then absolutely you should take the L&D job. But it wouldn't be your "first job as a nurse" as you said in the title - your first job as a nurse is the one you've been doing for the past 9 months, per your post.

[jalilly]

If your goal is to become a CNM, it will be extremely beneficial for you to take the L&D job. It will be harder to get into a CNM program without L&D experience and CNM school will be easier with more births under your belt. But, you have a little one who needs your attention and working nights will be hard. If you truly feel that your daughter needs your attention at this point in your life there is no shame in that. In my opinion, if you take this job now applying to CNM school will be more straightforward. If you take this job- don't do this alone! Ask for my support and help from your partner, family, friends, etc. Remember- your daughter will outgrow this phase in a few years. But most importantly, trust your gut instinct. If you truly feel inclined one way or another let your heart guide you. Ask your loved ones what their opinions are. Write a pros and cons list. And remember, whatever happens everything will be OK. Good luck to you.