L&D so hard to get into....

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Why is it so hard to get into L&D? I want to be in L&D very much, but it looks like there are no opportunities out there...they all require previous L&D experience. So how do I gain L&D experience to begin with?

I am just very sad. I don't want to go back to med surg, but it looks like that is the only opportunity available for me if I want to work with patients. :(

I guess I'm just venting. Does anyone know what I can do?

Specializes in ortho, surgical, long term care.

I too am curious about this - I work occasionally as a doula (volunteer) so I have been in the birthing units independently with the mom and absolutely love it. I am 100% sure that is where I want go with my career, but it seems so difficult to obtain the right skills, etc. I have been told that all the L&D units require at least 1 yr. of med-surg (at my hospital) before they will consider you for any of the birth related units. I work in a fairly large hospital and we have about 3500 - 4000 births per year, so I know that it would be a great hospital to get experience in. I am just not sure of where to try to apply for my first nursing job if I can't get into "Babyland" right away. I am transferring now as a CNA from a med/surg/ortho floor to a gynecological/medical floor to hopefully learn more. We do get some antepartum overflow as well. I guess I will just try to do an externship in Babyland next summer and hopefully get my clinical preceptorship/transition in fourth semester in L&D and/or mother/baby. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!!! :)

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