LPNs in L&D

I am unsure about which route I will take to become an RN. Either LPN and bridge or direct ADN program. Either way, I want to be a L&D nurse when (and if!) I actually become a nurse. I was just wondering, what is the policy on LPNs working L&D where you live? I hear some hospitals only keep RNs doing L&D and LPNs on post-partum or nursery staff.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Our hospital doesn't hire LPNs, period. We have one LPN on staff, and she was "grandfathered" in. She's in her 70s, I would guess, and she only works in the nursery with the healthy babies.

Have worked 4 places, none of which hired LPNs to do labor/delivery. Some do hire LPNs for postpartum and mother-baby, however. Check around before you decide the route. I say go straight for RN if possible.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

L&D jobs are at a premium, and usually there's a great deal of competition to obtain these hospital positions. Therefore, the vast majority of L&D departments only hire RNs. If many RNs are competing for L&D jobs, the LPN's chances of finding an L&D position are slim.

[SuperFlyRN]

Our hospital recently went acute care only, meaning, no RPN's (same as LPN here in Canada). I say go straight for RN if you can. More possibilities. Ever since we went to a Birthing Center type facility where the staff is all cross-training, our staff is dropping off like flies.

[abooker]

Which schools are you considering? You'll want to find a program that is the best "fit" for you. If you're a nontraditional student like me, don't rule out the LPN & Bridge route. Another thing ... even if you're a typical student, taking classes with folks who have a lot of life experiences will help educate you to deal with atypical moms and babies more effectively when you encounter them at work.

Are you planning on working in a health care setting while you are in school? The experiences outside of the classroom are educational, too. Maybe that's another reason for the LPN and Bridge route, because you can practice skills you will use as an RN while finishing that second year of school.

I'm in long term care, where there are a lot of wonderful LPNs who were going to Bridge and earn their RNs but felt tired and just wanted to "take a year off". They're disappointed with themselves now, because it has been up to ten years for some of them, and their prerequisites have expired. If your ultimate goal is RN and L&D, then go for it. But there is more than one route to a goal, and the LPN option can be a beautiful drive. Talk to the best L&D nurses you can find, and see if they took the scenic LPN route.

[mitchsmom]

We have one LPN that works with postpartum patients, but she can't do L&D.

Thanks everyone! :)

[lovablelvn]

Right after nursing school I worked on a "women's Services" floor for a while but as far as L&D only one LVN worked per shift and they only worked the triage room (which only holds 2 people), but our post partum floor is treated as anyother and LVN's can work there easily... but this is in TX and in a city a little over 100,000 people.

[kirsnikity]

Here in California, L&D is outside the LVN's scope of practice.

LPN's are not hired where I live. The only place they can work here is in long term care facilities.

[sqky]

We have a LPN working postpartum and nursery at our facility. She was trained in OR as a scrub nurse for C-sections.

I just talked to her. She loves taking care of the moms and babies, but the highlight of her day or night is scrubbing in for a c-section.

[jenrninmi, MSN, RN]

We have 2 LPNs and they can work in Mother/Baby and they can also work as a scrub tech but that is all.