Know of any new grad L&D/Mother-Baby programs?

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Hey everyone,

I graduate from an RN (non-BSN) program in December and really want to get into Labor and Delivery. Its what I went to nursing school for. I've done some research and a lot of hospitals seem to have gotten rid of their new grad programs. Are there any new graduate L&D internships/externships that you know of that are still functional? I figure I should start applying for positions in October and I'm willing to relocate anywhere if I can find the right job. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

- Sib

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

In this economic climate, you will be hard pressed to find a job in any arena, let alone OB....which is a shame. I have not hired new grads for 3 years now..not that I haven't had applicants, I just didn't have space and when I did, I wanted experience. In my area there aren't any specialized OB internships, and I haven't heard about any beyond the state. The best way to get your foot into OB will be do do externship (if available) or CNA or PCT on that unit. That way people will see how you work, get to know you and you can show what you are made of. Don't know if you will have enough time before your graduation date to get in anywhere (most externships are in the summer months here). Good luck to you

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I was hired about a year ago as a new grad right into L&D/Postpartum. My orientation was 16 weeks. Another girl I graduated with also got an L&D job straight out of nursing school. If you are willing to relocate there are a few jobs out there.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I graduated in May and started right out in L&D. It is not an official new grad program but my orientation will last a few months. I did 300 extra clinical hours in L&D through a separate nursing program, got NRP before graduation, am a certified doula, am working on writing a grant that pays for underprivileged women to have a doula at their birth, and took a beginning midwifery course while in nursing school. There was a girl that got hired a month before me and she worked in an OB's office prior to nursing school. A girl in my class that graduated a semester early got hired in December but worked as a unit clerk in our department prior to getting hired. Get involved in your community. Try and meet with the nurse managers at the L&D departments in your area. And be willing to move if you have to.

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Hi HeartsOpenWide,

Was it easy to get the NRP on your own? I've worked as an uncertified doula before but I didn't know whether that would be perceived as useful or not. I would love to have additional clinical hours in L&D, how did you set that up? Sorry for all the questions.

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Hi Matolamom,

Have you heard of new grad hiring freezes in that same area lately?

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No hiring freezes here. In fact we are now on mandatory overtime, and they have at least two new grads on orientation right now. I think there are some positions open right now too. I took NRP and just finished ACLS.

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.
Hi HeartsOpenWide,

Was it easy to get the NRP on your own? I've worked as an uncertified doula before but I didn't know whether that would be perceived as useful or not. I would love to have additional clinical hours in L&D, how did you set that up? Sorry for all the questions.

If you live in california it is a piece of cake to get extra clinical hours: http://www.csuchico.edu/rcnp/

The summer session is full but you can always apply for the winter. Do it now, its first come first serve.

NRP was not hard at all. I did it through the hospital I precepted at. You should try calling local hospitals and ask them about their classes and how you could go about getting into one. It really could or couldn't be useful as a doula because the hospital staff are not going to let you participate on a code, but you would know what is going on and could softly talk the worried mother through every step.

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Here in Belleville, Illinois there is a program called Versant Residency for RNs. It is 19 weeks of intense classroom and hands on training.

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My hospital still does them...they do a year long internship to train in all area of the maternity center. However, they JUST did their hiring for the positions. They occasionally open some up in the December time frame, but I am not sure if they will this year or not.

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Hi bmcm2girls,

May I ask what hospital you're at?

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