I'm looking for a GN/RN posintion in L&D

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Hi guys,

I will be graduating in December 2008 and definitely want to go into L&D but am not having much luck finding hospitals that have GN/RN L&D internships available to start with. My goal is to go straight from school into L&D. I was wondering if anyone new any hospitals in the DFW area that might have more opportunities. Also if I'm not able to get into L&D right away where is the best area to try to start, for easy transition into L&D, and one more question, how long do you usually have to work in another area before you can transition into L&D?

Thank you.:)

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Specializes in NICU.

Are you looking at the current job listings, or for general information on hospitals' HR pages? As a (still unemployed) new grad from May, I can tell you that most hospitals won't have actual new-grad job postings up until next month.

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I know there will be more next month but I'm wondering what the chances are that there will be L&D openings. Do you know if there usually are GN L&D internships? are they pretty common or not?

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Specializes in NICU.

My guess is that it probably depends on the area and the size of the hospitals you're looking at. I've been looking at LA, and I've found most places do let new grads into specialties like L&D.

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I'll be graduating in May and am looking into going into L&D in Dallas metro area as well. I'm currently doing OB clinicals at Parkland and have met a ton of RNs that went straight into OB from graduation. Parkland has a 6-7 month long OB residency, but the rumor is that you have to commit to a 2 year stay after you've completed the training. I'm not sure where you did you're OB rotation, but Parkland has been really interesting. Everyone says it's the place to start if you want OB. I've heard that the larger hospitals are more willing to hire graduate nurses, so you can check into those. Good luck!

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Operating Room.

Hi! There are several hospitals in Dallas that usually offer an L&D internship for GNs or RNs, and they are usually doing interviews in September for a January internship. Good places to look are : Parkland, Methodist Dallas, Presbyterian of Dallas (where I started in the internship and I think #2 in number of deliveries in the area behind Parkland), and Baylor. Most require a commitment to work for them a couple of years after you finish the internship. But, if you really want to be an L&D nurse, the time commitment is short compared to your entire career.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Best of Luck to you!

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Jadzia~

I'm curious how the hospitals get you to commit. I'm new to all of this so forgive the ignorance...do you sign a contract and how binding is it. I'm wondering if you get a sign on bonus and then don't follow through w/your commitment do you then just pay back the bonus. Any insight you have would be great!

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery, Operating Room.

It's an actual paper contract you sign upon accepting the job, if you break it, you will owe the hospital a specific amount (the specific amount will be on the contract). The same goes for a bonus, if they pay one. I imagine the contract is as binding as any contract is. But remember, the contract should spell out the expectations of the hospital, too. If they failed somewhere, then you would not owe them anything.

Hope this helps!

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Specializes in OB - L&D, M/B & Nursery.

We do our hiring in June when the nursing students graduate. We do hire GN's - usually three or four per area, L&D/M/B, or Nursery. I live on the East Coast and nurses are scarce. We will pay your nursing school debts and then you owe the hospital two years of service. There is a signed contract and if you do not stay the full two years they will make you pay them back every cent. If we do offer a sign on bonus, which we haven't done for a couple of years, you only get it portioned out. For example, if the bonus is $5,000.00 you would get paid in thirds - part of it upon signing the contract, part of it after a year, and the rest upon completion of your second year. Again, if you leave before your agreed upon time, you have to pay it back. Even if you leave the state they will find you and attach your pay until it is paid off. Two years is a small enough price to pay for the privilege of starting in a specialty unit right out of nursing school. I wish you the best of luck, it's not for everyone. You either love it and stay forever or hate it and leave within six months. I hope you're one of the ones who will love it. I have been doing L&D for twenty years and I still love it. I wouldn't work anywhere else. :redbeathe

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I am a nurse extern in labor & delivery at one of the local hospitals in Fort Worth, and I graduate in Dec. as well. I know that there are a couple of hospitals around here that have new grade internships in L&D such as: John Peter Smith, & Harris Methodist Southwest. Some of the other hospitals like baylor and harris downtown will make you start off in antepartum

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Wannabanrn, did you enjoy your OB clinical at parkland? What were the nurses like, and how much autonomy did the nurses have there? I just ask, because I am graduating in December and I am considering working there in that department. Anything that you could tell me about your experience at parkland in L&D would be greatly appreciated!

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:confused::confused:
Wannabanrn, did you enjoy your OB clinical at parkland? What were the nurses like, and how much autonomy did the nurses have there? I just ask, because I am graduating in December and I am considering working there in that department. Anything that you could tell me about your experience at parkland in L&D would be greatly appreciated!
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