Is Doula/CBE experiance an advantage or frowned upon when pursueing OB/GYN nursing?

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Just wondering if I should be working the Doula/CBE experiance (and lots of informal breastffeding support) while trying to get my foot in the door of OB? I can only imagine that it's an advantage, but I worked pharm sales before an dheard more than once how managers didn'y like to hire people in who had been trained elsewhere. I guess I'm concerned the idea of some natural birth, lactavist (a bit a of a caricature) might deter some nurse manager from bringing me on.

I am currently in RN program, would like to get started as tech/CNA in OB somewhere prior to graduation, and really do want to move directly into OB, if at all possible. I'm intend to work for a few years prior to purseuing CNM.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

Why would it be frowned upon? It can only help you, unless you build a reputation for yourself as a doula that gets in the way and impedes the nurses work. Doula and CBE is totally different than nursing so the training should not make any difference in you getting hired as a nurse.

I would try and get a job as a unit secretary or tech in your local OB department, its a great way to get your foot in the door and managers like to hire people that they already know will get along with the nurses on the unit. 3 people have gotten hired on my unit since Jan, me included. One was a unit clerk in nursing school, one did a preceptorship on my unit while in nursing school; and I was (am) a certified doula, did 300 extra nurse clinical hours in another OB unit, had NRP before graduation, and am working on a grant for impoverished women to get a doula paid for at their birth.

My unit has a very low turn around rate (two nurses have been there for 30 years) so you have to really work hard and do extra stuff to get hired right after school. I imagine most OB units are like that, get your doula certification, get a job as a unit secretary and show them why they should hire you when you graduate!

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SirennaGreen~ I could have written that myself as a CBE & Doula who is going into nursing (starting pre-req in the spring) to be a CNM... would love to here what others have to say.

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Hearts Open Wide - Thanks for the input!

I won't be doing any additional Doula work b/c of school/life/kids...it's enough. I was planning on putting in the application, networking, and generally doing whatever I can this semester to get a position like you described. My worry about being frowned upon...I guess I just have this dread that most nurses and managers don't appreciate birth and the process like I do (I know, it's judgement.) and would really prefer someone who will mindlessly push the epi and pit and not waste everyone's time trying to encourage a woman to have her baby on their time....

I truly hope it won't be like that.

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Specializes in OB.
Hearts Open Wide - Thanks for the input!

I won't be doing any additional Doula work b/c of school/life/kids...it's enough. I was planning on putting in the application, networking, and generally doing whatever I can this semester to get a position like you described. My worry about being frowned upon...I guess I just have this dread that most nurses and managers don't appreciate birth and the process like I do (I know, it's judgement.) and would really prefer someone who will mindlessly push the epi and pit and not waste everyone's time trying to encourage a woman to have her baby on their time....

I truly hope it won't be like that.

If you truly want to be accepted on a unit and not prejudged, the first thing you need to do is get rid of YOUR preconception of nurses and managers who work in OB! Why in the world do you think that many of us would work in OB for decades without a true appreciation for the process of labor and birth and a desire to support women during that process? If you show even a hint of that attitude portrayed in that last statement I'm pretty sure you will have issues with other staff! (We really don't like being portrayed as evil sadists - or "mindless")

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Again..intent is lost electronically. These are conversations that should be held between real people who know eachother somewhat. I am absolutely certain that many people understand the intent of what I was trying to convey and I'm sorry that you took offense.

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

You may be disappointed in your search that you may not find your utopia for natural childbirth in a hosptial setting. While there are still those who hold on to allowing a woman's body to do what made to do naturally, most physicians are being trained in the completely opposite way With the national c/s rate projected to be 50% within the next 5-10 years, it would seem that labor may become the exception to the norm.

Your training will be a plus in that you will have experience with laboring patients, but I would not (as a manager) consider you as having any more experience than a new graduate. Doula training is a specific training and not necessarily clinical expereince that any manager would be looking for.

It seems to me that you said exactly what you wanted to say, and expected a response because you qualified your statement by calling it a judgement. I really don't think there was any other way it was going to be interpreted, whether electronically or in person. That is your opinion and that is fine. I hope you do realize that many nurses struggle with the 9-5 labor, c/s on demand climate of today. I can't even begin to tell you of the battles I have championed for a patient..as a nurse and a manager.

I wish you luck in your journey.

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Hearts Open Wide - Thanks for the input!

I won't be doing any additional Doula work b/c of school/life/kids...it's enough. I was planning on putting in the application, networking, and generally doing whatever I can this semester to get a position like you described. My worry about being frowned upon...I guess I just have this dread that most nurses and managers don't appreciate birth and the process like I do (I know, it's judgement.) and would really prefer someone who will mindlessly push the epi and pit and not waste everyone's time trying to encourage a woman to have her baby on their time....

I truly hope it won't be like that.

Sorry, but it IS like that! I am a hospital based doula, and if you go to OB with that attitude, you will not be welcomed with open arms I'm afraid. Nurses follow doctor's orders, and what I see every day is inductions, epidurals and pit. More often than not. You will do better to find a Birthing Center to work as a nurse. Don't get me wrong, nurses are independent critical thinking professionals, but the real world forces time constraints and setting priorities. They don't blindly follow doctors orders, but alas, an order is an order. We all hope the parents to be come in EDUCATED and INFORMED about the childbirth process, interventions and procedures so that they may make an informed decision about their care. THEY are the ones to question the doctor, NOT the doula, NOT the nurse.

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I have to say, I am a bit saddened by some of the things said in this thread. Here are my .02. You have to remember, majority of the time, the patient has already made up their mind wrt what their wishes are during labor before they walked in the door. A good deal of the time, that decision is to have an epidural. It isn't simply that nurses push it on them or that they don't appreciate the labor process. If you become an LD nurse, your main job is to respect the patients wishes. Not everyone has the same expectations or plan for their labor. Even if it isn't a choice you would make, you MUST respect it. And, to be honest, MOST women (at least in my area) are NOT opposed to interventions (including the epidural). Their "appreciation" of the birth process is far different then yours. You can pawn it off as being the managers or nurses not having that appreciation...but bottom line is, we appreciate the fact that women have a choice, and we respect that choice.

Granted, you will have some nurses who are not fans of taking care of women with a birth plan and desire for intervention free labor. In my area, at least, there are just as many of us that LOVE taking those patients. You have some that much prefer the induction with epidurals and ones that prefer not to if the choice is there. Typically, in report before going on the unit, we are told about the patients...and the ones who prefer natural pick those ones, the ones that prefer taking care of patients with epi's, take those ones. I know my nurse manager LOVES to hire a nice diverse group of nurses...ones that respect patient wishes above their own preferences at least...b/c labor is NOT a one size fits all process. It is good to have that mix of nurses with different strengths to take care of the varying desires of all the patients.

And you WILL see things you don't like or don't agree with. And you WILL be asked questions. It is your job to make sure the patient understands their rights...they can refuse anything and they can request a different provider at ANY time. You are their advocate for what THEY want. Bottom line.

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"My worry about being frowned upon...I guess I just have this dread that most nurses and managers don't appreciate birth and the process like I do (I know, it's judgement.) and would really prefer someone who will mindlessly push the epi and pit and not waste everyone's time trying to encourage a woman to have her baby on their time...."

Thank you for helping to assuage my fears. It's good to hear from nurses who are truly about supporting the patient. I truly did not mean to suggest thaat ALL nurses push epi and pit, simply that my FEAR ("DREAD", as above) is that many L&D units are, underneath the exterior, a business and that whoever is the higher up would rather have someone working there who will facilitate patient turn over and getting mothers in and out, not waiting 12 hours with a primip through first stage walking the hallways. Get the room available so we can bring another one through. I suppose this doesn't apply much if you aren't in a busy L&D.

In addition, in defense of my earlier state re: appreciating birth. I think it hit a nerve, and I should have seen that coming. I tried to frame it by saying "don't appreciate birth like I do", which clearly made it about me. I didn't explain how I appreciate birth? No one knows my individual framework for the process of birth and transition into motherhood. If anyone was interested, they might have ask for clarification, but instead reacted to an assumption and pounced. I am sure that you have been attacked by so called 'natural birth nazi's' and felt a similar tone in my post...again, apologies.

Personally, I am worried about how I will handle uninformed patients. I have several lovely close friends that have chosen medicated births, for a variety of reasons. I have supported women in medicated/surgical births of their choosing. They knew what they wanted. They had ask questions, examined their feeling and their partners, and made decisions. My goal and desire is that women are informed enough to make educated choices. Sadly, I don't think many families are well informed. Pregnancy and birth can be a very powerful and spiritual transformation into motherhood. A powerful rite of passage. I am always saddened when I hear stories of women who never knew they didn't have to lie in bed the entire labor. No one ever told them they could get in the shower. Or that they could refuse a procedure. Or even question a procedure. I think..." is this what it has come to? Birth happens to us?"

So, I realize this is not what happens day in and day out. Many providers ae wonderful and supportive. Many women truly don't want to be bothered, as long as they don't miss Grey's Anatomy. What I was hoping for was a little reassurance. It won't always be like I fear. What I learned again, with getting my hand slapped, was shut up and do what you're told. Don't rock the boat or speak your mind, because you will be labeled and treated as such. The wonderful news is that I do have a local birth center that I can work in p/t to get my fix. Do my time. Go to grad school. Then, practice as I damn well please. Sure, I know I'll make no money. Good thing my children's college saving plan consists of getting poor enough so that they get lots of financial aid. (seriously, we're planning on doing healthcare mission/ministry. It seems like a better plan than trying to save 100k, huh? just give it all away ;)

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bmcm2girls- Thanks again. It was very kind of you to put so much time and thought into your response.

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Specializes in OB, lactation.

I don't think Doula/CBE experience would be frowned upon at all, but I also don't think it would get you "in" like actually working on the unit in some capacity (OB tech, CNA, unit clerk, etc.).

It can be an adjustment to go from a circle of peers who are educated, healthy, and on the same page as you are about birth- then hit a unit where the vast majority of the patients may be largely uneducated about pregnancy and birth. It can be dismaying.

I pretty much knew it would be that way before I started - and you know what? You really can turn that dismay into an opportunity. It may sound cheesy, but you have so much more opportunity to teach and empower those patients who are not informed! You probably won't turn their entire world around in the time that you are with them, but at least you are not preaching to the choir - you have more chance to make a difference with these kinds of patients than with those who have already read the book & signed the birth plan to the last "T". They are usually very appreciative, too, that you have taken the time to explain things to them (like maybe no one has before!).

It's all shades of grey out there... usually people are doing the best they can with what they know. You mentioned that you plan on doing a healthcare mission, if that will be in a different culture then you'll see even vaster differences in health beliefs... the L&D thing is just a milder version of the same thing, in your backyard.

Does that make sense?

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