Labor and Delivery New Grad?

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Specializes in FNP: Urgent Care & Primary Care; RN: Med-Surg.

I am a new nurse and was wondering if L&D would be a good first job. It was my favorite in nursing school, but what goes on behind the scenes? Is there a lot of overtime? I guess I'm asking what is it really like? If this is not a first good placement, what would be? (Med-Surg, Neurology, Psych?) Thanks for you honest input.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

If you like L&D go for it. No other position will allow you to get the experience you get there. I would occasionally get pulled there (and get easy post partum moms) and I felt like I knew nothing. Thankfully those L&D nurses know what they're doing and answered questions.

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Specializes in FNP: Urgent Care & Primary Care; RN: Med-Surg.

Thank you so much for the support. I just loved the environment.

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It depends on the needs of the department as to whether you could get hired on as a new grad in L&D. In some places, they will orient you as a new nurse, no problem. In many others, though, you'd be required to have a minimum of a year (or more) in med-surg nursing in order to qualify for the orientation spot. Sometimes, they want to see that you are familiar with all the comorbids that can accompany a pregnant woman into the hospital.

It's great to have goals of working in whatever specialty you fancy, just remember that it may not be the first (or second, or third) job you have.

Good luck!

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