Moving, wanting to get into peri-post-natal position w/o prev. experience

[satguruRN]

I would love to hear your thoughts!

BAckground:

I'm doing Oncology Med surg right now in FL, and can't wait to get out. I did 3 months of a residency in Oncology Med Surg in Los Nageles before I relocated to FL d/t a family emergency. I have been at my current job for 7months, bringing my nursing experience to a little under a year.

I'm currently looking for mom/baby jobs in L.A. I know they are hard to come by, esp. w/o previous experience, so I was hoping to get a job here in FL in post partum or L&D, work it a few months (6-9?) then apply to similar jobs in L.A.

Because of finances, my husband wants me to move back ASAP. I strongly feel that I should wait for a mom/baby job, in FL or CA, but he wants me to apply to any job in L.A., so I can move back right away.

The problem:

I really dislike Med surg. My brain is not wired for it, and I totaly admire med surg nures everywhere. My passion, and the reason I went int nursing iis to work with the peri/post-natal population.If I get into a med surg job in L.A., I'd probably be itching to transfer out asap, which would make me look like a job-hopper and hurt my chances for more meaningful employment, right? And I am not qualified for a CCU job, of which there are hundreds out there!

The other options I can think of are home health, hospice or public health nursing... but would being out of acute care hurt my chances of getting into L&D later on?

or should I just suck it up, apply to med surg positions and try to transfer in due time?

thanks for your advice and opinions in advance!

[AvaRN22, MSN, RN]

Hi SatguruRN,

I'm in a similar position right now. Really trying to get into maternal/child health nursing, but it is hard! I have cardiac, telemetry progressive care experience, but really want to work with the mother/baby population. I also want to teach kundalini on the side too, as it looks like you're doing. I would say that exiting out of acute care would probably hurt your chances of getting into L&D, but that's just my guess. That's why I'm staying in acute care until I take more coursework in L&D/maternal-child health. So what did you end up doing in this situation? It looks like you made the transition into postpartum.

[satguruRN]

Hi! (and Sat Nam!)

i'm not sure that there's a solid way to break into it mom/baby, except keep applying to openings, be persistent. Keep working in acute care. Establish a rapport c the nurse recruiter, if you can- they can be vital in getting your application in to the right hands... Maybe if you have a friend who works in the unit that can put in a good word for you... I followed up w/ my manager, and it happened eventually. I have 8 months post-partum under my belt, and i LOVE it.

Project and beam in on it, too- "Keep up, and you will be kept up!" It does make a differnce.

Continue building up your resume and education.

GOOD LUCK! it might seem up hill, but the right position will open up eventually.

[AvaRN22, MSN, RN]

Thanks so much for the encouragement and input! I really needed it after all the hunting and applying I've done this week, haha. That's so wonderful and inspiring that you love what you do :) I look forward to making the transition to a unit like yours.

Sat Nam :redbeathe

Hi! (and Sat Nam!)

i'm not sure that there's a solid way to break into it mom/baby, except keep applying to openings, be persistent. Keep working in acute care. Establish a rapport c the nurse recruiter, if you can- they can be vital in getting your application in to the right hands... Maybe if you have a friend who works in the unit that can put in a good word for you... I followed up w/ my manager, and it happened eventually. I have 8 months post-partum under my belt, and i LOVE it.

Project and beam in on it, too- "Keep up, and you will be kept up!" It does make a differnce.

Continue building up your resume and education.

GOOD LUCK! it might seem up hill, but the right position will open up eventually.