Labor and delivery nurse, Am i headed the right way.

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Specializes in NONE.

Hello im new

but i want to be a labor and delivery nurse. I kind of have a plan going but wanted to get some feed back on it. if im doing it the right way or taking too long and there is another way. Well right now im getting my certificate as a medical assistant back office. intent to work for an ob doctor. then i will work up to get my CNA(takes about a term at school, so i was told ) . After that LVN( takes one year full time student) .After LVN get my RN( takes about one year full time) Then im pretty much stuck there. Do i have to become a specalist in Labor and divery nurse and get my blachlerso degree. Am i on the right track.

Sincerely Bridget

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Specializes in NICU.

Why go LVN-RN instead of just straight for the RN, if that's your goal in the end? For that matter, why not go straight for the bachelor's? What is your educational situation right now? (just out of high school, going back to school/switching careers, etc.)

There are a number of L&D units with new grad RN programs that hire and train you right out of school, but they're pretty coveted positions. Having your RN, and especially your BSN, will give you a leg up from the rest of the applicants.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Once you have your RN, there is no further formal education needed to become an L&D nurse. You just need to find a hospital that is willing to train you. I would skip the MA and CNA and LPN rigamarole and just go into an RN program, take the NCLEX, get your RN, and apply to OB units. You may have to do a year in med/surg, or you may luck out and get a job in L&D right off the bat.

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I got my CNA certification in two weeks, since my community college offered an accelerated program in the summer; you may want to see if that's a possibility for you. The class was from 8am to 5pm every day (including Saturdays and Sundays,) but it was completely worth it when I was hired the day after the classes ended.

I also agree with a previous poster that you should just go straight for RN if that's where you want to end up.

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Hi! I saw your post. I'm just right out of high school, and got into an accelerated RN program. i'll have my RN in 22 months. You should check into that. I just did comp 1 and comp 2, and i only take 13 credit hours. =) Good luck in whichever route you choose! =)

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Specializes in OB.

This seems rather a round about way to get to where you want to go. The MA is pretty much useless in transferring to nursing as it is a different role and different training. Available positions in an OB office may be limited and wouldn't really help in terms of experience.

Most OB units do not hire LPNs in L&D, some do not employ CNA's though of all the possibilities this would probably be the most likely to get you into a hospital L&D unit while in nursing school (and has more shifts available to work around classes than MA).

I'd suggest going straight to the RN program in order to save yourself both time and money.

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Why not go directly to the LPN, skip the MA; the offices typically hire either LPNs or MAs, they don't seem to have a preference. Then you can get your RN. I've noticed that MA and LPN take about the same amount of time (though I don't know what the prereqs, if any, are for the MA program you're interested in).

Conversely, if you are intent on going the MA route, don't bother with the LPN, just go directly to the RN.

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Specializes in NONE.

thank you so much for helping. right now im in MA because i am on unemployement and had to drop out off one school into another because my GPA was low and didn' qulify for financial aid.the other school only had LVN. Not only that but i have to pay the monthly bills, have two kids. so thats why im in MA. i talked to a counserler at my community college and was told that if i wanted to get into RN that i had to get my CNA first and i think if i recall LVN. basiclly work my way up the latter. but i will do some more looking into. thank you again.

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Specializes in NICU,Mother-Baby,L&D.

I was wondering what path i should take as well. I think im just gonna go straight for the RN. You should too.

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Once you have your RN, there is no further formal education needed to become an L&D nurse. You just need to find a hospital that is willing to train you. I would skip the MA and CNA and LPN rigamarole and just go into an RN program, take the NCLEX, get your RN, and apply to OB units. You may have to do a year in med/surg, or you may luck out and get a job in L&D right off the bat.

Yeah, that -- you took the words right out of my mouth.

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Can't she become an MA then get a job on a L&D Unit as a unit secretary? That would be an option to still make noney while in school, and get her foot in the door.

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