Needing advice

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Specializes in med/surg.

I've been out of nursing for a couple of years while having my four children after coming from a med/surg background. I was wondering if anyone knew of any hospitals that would hire in L&D without experience and after being out of nursing for a little while.

After having my babies, I think L&D would be a good fit for me!

Thanks in advance!

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Having babies of your own does not qualify you for L&D. I suggest going back to med/surg for a year, getting back into the groove and brushing up your skills, then trying to transfer into L&D from there.

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Specializes in Perinatal, Education.

It really depends on where you live and what those hospitals are willing to do. Call and ask around. You may start in postpartum, but that is a foot in the door. You may also find that you like postpartum just fine. Good luck!

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Specializes in Mental and Behavioral Health.

If you need to work, you might have to take any job you can get right now. You could go for what you really want when the economy starts to come back, and pickings aren't so slim. Some of last year's bright new grads are still jobless. There is a new crop of bright new grads coming out now. It is really hard to get a job, and it's going to get worse if the medicare cuts turn out to be deep. Businesses are suffering. They are watching their nickles and dimes. They aren't hiring. I hope you can get the job want. You might have to settle for what you don't want for a while, or go back to school for another degree. Student loans are lots easier to get than jobs right now.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Having babies of your own does not qualify you for L&D. I suggest going back to med/surg for a year, getting back into the groove and brushing up your skills, then trying to transfer into L&D from there.

I agree.

It's a high liability specialty. You need to go back to med-surg and then try to go to a training program for L & D.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I don't know that the OP is saying having babies qualifies her for L&D, though it's probably best if she comes back to clarify. I read it to mean that seeing L&D nurses in action made the OP think that L&D might be something she's interested in.

OP - it depends on the hospital. You might find hospitals being a bit choosy in who they hire, with the economy being what it currently is. On the other hand, you might find a good fit right off the bat. It certainly can't hurt to ask around. :) Good luck!!!

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

I kinda know what the OP meant. I felt the same way after I had my baby. I wanted to be L&D all the way. I waited for someone to die and took the chance on applying for the position in our L&D unit. I had critical care experience and no labor experience. They took a chance on me and 15 years later, I am the nurse manager.

It is difficult to say that someone would give you the shot in this day and time. L&D is a typically a low turnover area. Not many jobs available and when there are, it is best to hire someone with experience. I took a chance on a person just like the OP (nurse but out of practice for a while, no real experience). After 3 months of orientation, she just wasn't getting it. She decided to leave, rethinking her love of L&D. I didn't even hire any new grads this year because of budget. I think getting yourself back in the game would be a good start, build your skills and your critical thinking and wait for something to open up. And remember, just because you think it would be a good fit, doesn't mean it will.

Good luck to you.

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