Most efficient way to get a job in postpartum

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Hello there.

I graduated with my BSN in May and am extremely interested in working in Postpartum/Nursery/Mother-Baby/Couplet Care. I have gotten certified in BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, STABLE and Fetal Heart Monitoring. I am working on my Childbirth Educator's Certification. I have no other hospital experience except what I've done during my three years of nursing school at 6 different facilities.

My question is what's the fastest, most efficient way to work in the department I'd like to call home. With these sketchy economic times, I'm not quite sure how to go about this. Should I just take a job as a CNA or LPN in the facility I'd like to work for and wait for an opening? Would that even help, since most postpartum jobs I've looked at required experience in Postpartum and/or L&D? Should I wait for a new graduate RN position to open up? Will I be waiting for a year? Should I just apply for Med/Surg positions to get a few years of experience, then apply later to postpartum?

I know no one can really answer these questions, but whatever suggestions, especially from personal experience, would be really helpful and greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Onc, LTAC.

It will be interesting to see what others say, but I personally would go for a med/surg position in the mean time. I started out in L&D before deciding it wasn't for me and then going off to a medical unit. There are just SO many things to learn in general medical nursing that can be applied over to post partum, because your post partum pts may have other issues going on besides delivering a baby. Working medical can help. If you get into a hospital on any unit, getting to know the nurse manager on the LDRP unit can be a big help. I think the last thing you want to do is just sit around and wait for a new grad position, but that's just me.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
I personally would go for a med/surg position in the mean time. I started out in L&D before deciding . I think the last thing you want to do is just sit around and wait for a new grad position, but that's just me.

I second this....:yeah:

Best,

Diane, RN

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Specializes in Orthopedics.

I also would try to get into med/surg first. A lot of m/s issues come up in post partum and you will be a better nurse with that background. Even a year would do you a world of good. I did my preceptorship in PP and I loved it, but I was surprised how many of those nurses couldn't start IVs, draw blood, put in foleys, etc, even after years of experience.

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Our hospital hires straight into postpartum without prior experience. Hope this helps!

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Specializes in Oncology, Med-Surg.

i work med-surg right now. i want to do 2 years in med-surg before i go into L&D/nursery/PP/ob-gyn. i hope this experience in med-surg will help me in the future. i am learning a lot here, but i know in the end i want to work with mother and babies =D

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Our hospital hires straight into postpartum without prior experience. Hope this helps!

which hospital is this?

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i'm a new grad, and i'm IN LOVE with postpartum/nursery nursing. i really really wish i can find a job.. although in this bad economic times, i've been looking into dialysis. i just started reading this thread and i know how much i miss holding those babies already. =( i would suggest joining a nursing organization dealing with OB. do some CEUs and print them out.

just a thought =) how's the postpartum job search going?

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actually, i remember one of my classmates told me... "screw going into medsurg, just do what you love! not every has to go through it!"

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