New Grad Needing Advice on Postpartum Nursing

[NJRN2017]

I am currently working day shift on a med/surg/tele unit as a new graduate. I have been there for just over 6 months now. Although I feel incredibly lucky to have gotten a job in this competitive market, I am just miserable. I dread going to work, I think about work on my days off, and I have so much anxiety while I am at work. I am doing fine according to my coworkers and director, getting out on time, and feel that I am handling my workload appropriately, but I cannot continue to feel this way. I know new grads sometimes feel this way, but life is short and I want to do something I love.

My dream job is working on a mother/baby/postpartum unit. Any advice on how to "boost" my resume? I know that mother/baby openings are few and far between, but I am desperate to work in postpartum, commit to the specialty, and learn!! I did my senior preceptorship on a mother baby unit, took ACLS, and I am currently preparing to take NRP. Is there anything else that I can possibly do to land a job in mother/baby? I was considering becoming a certified lactation counselor, but I do not have the ability to get any clinical hours. Would hiring managers even consider me with 6 months acute care experience? Any advice/recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Get STABLE and NRP certs. Keep applying. Maybe you can even volunteer on the unit if able.

[cleback]

My hospital has baby holder volunteers... there's a particular need for babies in withdrawal. Maybe you could volunteer to do something like that, do some good and network all at the same time?

[NJRN2017]

Prnqday,

Thanks for the advice. I am signed up to take NRP in January. The instructor told me that it was a challenging class for someone who does not yet work in the field. How was your experience with the course??

[jennylee321]

Yeah I mean if you have no experience with babies then NRP would be difficult, but you said you did your capstone in mother-baby so maybe it'll be alright. You best be getting a year of experience in med-surg before you try to move to mother baby. You asked what will make you a more competitive applicant and a years experience would be top of the list before you start worrying about certifications.

[lpjohnso]

My advice to you is to apply for a New Grad Program in a NICU ASAP. As a new grad, I was hired as a NICU nurse, and stayed there for 2 years before I applied to Postpartum. All Postpartum units are thrilled to have a nurse with a background in NICU. If I hadn't had my experience in NICU, I know that I absolutely would not have gotten the postpartum job. I've been in postpartum for 9 years now, and I'm very grateful that I did some time in NICU to get me to where I am today. Good luck!

[Cococure]

I am a post-partum nurse and working in med-surg will greatly aid you as a post-partum nurse. As a new nurse you will dread going to work for a while no matter where you work, it's just a steep learning curve. We have new grads on our floor that are stressed but it's just from being a novice nurse. Getting your NRP is a good step, shadowing a nurse in the NICU or on the mother baby units will help. Also you can volunteer to float to be a helping hand on those units. We have nurses that float to care for moms only and postpartum nurses care for the babies. Keep in mind that sometimes new nurses that work in mother baby leave after about 2 yrs because they get bored some transfer to NICU or other areas.

Good luck and keep trying!