Medsurg RN want to get into OB

Postpartum RN · Apr 17, 2015

Hi OP, I am much in the same situation as you, except I have much less acute care experience. Post Partum has been my dream job since I graduated almost 6 years ago. I cant wait to get there! Med Surg is not for me either...tips please!

TheSpectator · Apr 18, 2015

I started out in Med/Surg and have now been working in LDRP for a year and a half. This may not be the experience of most, but I did not have to do anything special to land my current job other than apply and interview well. I feel like 2 years of med/surg experience is plenty to prepare you for L&D/OB nursing and my interviewers/management really valued my experience in a more acute setting. I don't feel as though a special "training program" is necessary. Landing the job and being provided with a solid orientation to the unit should be sufficient for an experienced nurse. My only tip is if you truly want a different job treat job hunting like a job of its own. Network yourself, read up on the area your interested in, and apply apply apply. The good jobs definitely don't just fall into your lap. You have to work for them. Hope you land your dream job!

SimplisticRnx · Apr 18, 2015

Spectator, what made your application stood out? Did you have any work experience or preceptorship in OB? Should I be getting my NRP or STABLE certifications? I don't have any experiences except from clinicals. I feel like every time I apply for an OB position, HR won't look at my application since I don't have any experience. My hospital isn't hiring any L&D nurses Nor training nurses either :/

TheSpectator · Apr 18, 2015

Honesty, I think one of the best things I did was make an ally of my med/surg unit manager. I did not love med/surg but for the time I was there I worked my butt off and impressed as many people as possible. Because I was applying within the same hospital I went to my med/surg manager BEFORE I put in my application to speak with him, let him know where my interests were, and that I planned on applying so he could begin looking to someone to train to replace me if I did transfer (because that would take months).

I think he really appreciated the heads up and didn't have to hear about me looking for other work from another unit manager, he heard it from me. He called the L&D manager to talk me up and got two of the very seasoned nurses on my unit (including my original preceptor) to write me letters of recommendation. I wouldn't suggest telling managers you plan to look elsewhere before you apply or are offered jobs usually but I knew the unit managers talked among themselves and didn't want him to hear it from an outside source. I make a point to build good, professional rapport with managers for these reasons.

I have a history of local and international volunteer work on my resume that may or may not have helped. I did not get any certifications because I knew my hospital would provide these. If it is more competitive in your area this may end up being a necessity to make yourself more marketable. However, I didn't find it necessary. I had no experience in OB. My senior preceptorship in school was med/surg.

Hope this his novel helps in some way! Good luck

iPink, BSN, RN · Apr 18, 2015

My hospital is big on allowing transfers for current employees. It's considered a laterally move. I started on critical care and once I hit my year, I emailed the M/B manager and got an interview set up an hour later. I also was in great standing with my then manager so she could speak to the other manger about my character. I had no certs except for the ones I had in critical care and no OB experience. I was officially hired within one day of being interviewed.

Now not everyone gets transferred due to units they want are fully staffed, etc. So, if that's the case with your hospital, keep trying till an opening is available. If obtaining OB certs can help, go for it. I prefer the hospital to pay for it though.

Good luck.

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