L&D nurses who worked other floors first

[nolaRN]

How was the transition to L&D? Was it positive or negative? How much previous nursing experience did you have and did it help you at all?

I've been a nurse for six years. I have five years of telemetry/med surg experience and one year of ICU experience, but I want to work in L&D. It's the reason I went to nursing school in the first place. Thanks!

[ragingmomster, BSN, MSN, RN]

I am thinking that this subject has had lots of coverage in the past, and there are benefits to both sides of the issue.

That being said, IMHO go Med/Surg first. Be sure you can organize yourself and get exposure to the issues you see in M/S because you are going to see them in L&D with an overlying case of "human infestation".

[babyktchr, BSN, RN]

I came from ICU/CCU and thought it helped tremendously when I finally got a postion in L&D. I still use a lot of ICU thinking.

[pebbles1977]

I went from a gyn/gyn onc floor to L&D. It was a great transistion. I knew some of the nurses from transfers to the floor and from being a charge nurse. The others I met along the way. I always knew I wanted L&D, but ended up loving gyn for longer than I expected. It worked out really well bc I got a lot of women's health/med surg skills that have actually come in handy on L&D.

I think your experience will only benefit you, and any L&D unit would be crazy not to hire you at this point.

Not to mention you have some confidence, probably more than most, coming from ICU. You will rock their world! Go for it!

[USA987, MSN, RN, NP]

I also came from the ICU. I agree that I still use a lot of my ICU thinking. It was a very easy transition for me.

Best wishes!

[INFJ]

Anyone work NICU first????

[Jolie, BSN]

Anyone work NICU first????

Yes. I did 5 years of NICU, then got the notion in my head that I was losing all of my adult skills. (I was smart enough to realize that I didn't want to stray too far from my roots, though!)

I went to work in an LDRP setting that included a Level II NICU. It was really the best of all worlds. I oriented to mother-baby first, then L&D. That portion of orientation took forever, though, as I kept getting pulled into the NICU for staffing.

I really loved the job, although I was overwhelmed at times by the multiple aspects of it, including ante-partum, L&D, mother-baby, NICU, OR, PACU, NRP, fetal monitoring certification, and ACLS. It is an area that truly takes many years to gain expertise. Unfortunately, hubby was transferred, and I left after about a year. I returned to the NICU in my next job, and have not done L&D since.

[INFJ]

Thanks for the quick reply! As a soon-to-be new grad, which would you recommend doing FIRST? I have a huge interest in both and I don't want to make a mistake!

Thanks again!!!

Amy:)