LVN really wanting to work in Newborn care, it is possible?

[Lucy79]

Nursing is my second career in the healthcare field. I was first a professional midwife for five years and attending home and birth center births. I have now graduated as an LVN and I am studying to get my RN and ASN. All I can find in Homehealth or office jobs. It there any hope of getting anything in Maternal/newborn nursing? This is where my strongest skills are - I am willing to relocate. Any suggestions?

[prettyinblu]

Im not sure how employment is in your area for LPNs but its extremely hard for LPNs to get hired in that setting? I wish you the best of luck!

[nursel56]

To be honest with you, I think it would be very difficult. When I started out back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, my first job was at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. I worked in every unit there at least once including ICU and NICU.

The demand for nurses was very high then, though. Now that is not the case and new grad RNs are having a terrible time getting any job, let alone a specialty like that. Since your background is so strong in maternal/child nursing, though -- you might make a more attractive candidate for a job in a freestanding Birth Center or something like that.

I've found that hospitals are very quick to dismiss professional experience in a related field, volunteer experience, and personal experience ie taking care of a sick family member. They tend to want someone who has done exactly what they do and even has a similar philosophy. They actually look askance at a doula or a midwife that has not gone the RN to Certified Nurse Midwife route. It's pretty discouraging.

I always add the caveat that trends don't mean everyone and nobody can predict one individual's chances of success. The minute you make a blanket pronouncement it seems the exception will show up. Best wishes to you in your future career!!

[Fiona59]

Got to ask how could you be a "professional midwife" without having an RN. Do you mean a lay midwife that is unregulated?

LPNs work postpartum in my province. It's kind of the dreamjob for many new nurses but in reality the chances of getting hired are slim. Nurses on those units tend to stay put. Most new nurses wind up there by picking up casual shifts and waiting for a permanent opening to appear (which is not all that frequent).

What is the job market like in your area? That's what you need to research.

[ibmanda2000, LVN]

Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, TX hires LVNs in the NICU