What are the chances of getting into L&D?

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My goal is to be a CNM..but I'm wondering what are the chances of working in the department I want (L&D)? I'm very new to this board and I really don't know how any of this nursing stuff works. When you're a new nurse, do you have a choice in what department you work in (assuming you work in a hospital). The only reason I want to do nursing is to end up some day as a CNM, so I'd really only like to work in departments that would be pertinent to this goal. Such as L&D or mom/baby care.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.

Hi Bethany, I've wondered the same thing. I've been told that my local women's hospital isn't to thrilled about putting new grads in L&D. Some suggestions I've been given to build experince from nurses has been, work/volunteer at birth center, work in NICU (you'll be working with babies, and building skills you may need in your CNM practice) or work in med-surg(general nursing skills never hurt). I like the birth center suggestion best :)

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I'd love to work in a birth center (it would actually be preferable over a hospital setting for me) but there are none in my area. :o

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
I'd love to work in a birth center (it would actually be preferable over a hospital setting for me) but there are none in my area. :o

Perhaps you could volunteer/work part-time with a CNM or OB in their office?

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.

As a new grad, the hospitals in my area practically offered you whatever area you wanted. I took a Peds day shift. I have a friend going to OR, another to Tele. Several went to ERs and ICUs in the area.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

If you are willing and ready to work the increasingly unpopular night shifts at the hospital, then you might have a pretty good chance of finding a position on the L&D unit. Quite a few L&D Nursing Jobs become available every year, but the hours are during the night time (7pm to 7am or 11pm to 7am). Many nurses who are desperate to break into L&D often turn these night shifts down because family obligations dictate that they must work during the daytime hours.

To sum this all up, the chances of getting hired into L&D are good if you are willing to start out on nights.

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Specializes in Going to Peds!.
If you are willing and ready to work the increasingly unpopular night shifts at the hospital, then you might have a pretty good chance of finding a position on the L&D unit. Quite a few L&D nursing jobs become available every year, but the hours are during the night time (7pm to 7am or 11pm to 7am). Many nurses who are desperate to break into L&D often turn these night shifts down because family obligations dictate that they must work during the daytime hours.

To sum this all up, the chances of getting hired into L&D are good if you are willing to start out on nights.

QFT. I could have gone L&D or nursery, if I took nights. My main interest is women's/children's areas. OB, L&D, Nursery, Peds, Post-Partum The only unit of interest where I could get days was Peds.

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Are there evening shifts? Or are the shifts either day OR night? I think I'd be willing to do a night shift, but it would be hard to figure out logistics with the three children we have.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Are there evening shifts? Or are the shifts either day OR night? I think I'd be willing to do a night shift, but it would be hard to figure out logistics with the three children we have.
Some hospitals still offer 8-hour shifts such as 7am to 3pm, 3pm to 11pm, and 11pm to 7am.
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:lol2: I guess I should have worded my question differently. I've only seen people talk of shifts like 7am-7pm...or 7pm-7am. I haven't seen anyone mention any 5pm-10 or 12midnight type shifts....
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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
:lol2: I guess I should have worded my question differently. I've only seen people talk of shifts like 7am-7pm...or 7pm-7am. I haven't seen anyone mention any 5pm-10 or 12midnight type shifts....
I knew what you meant the first time around.

Most hospitals only offer 12-hour shifts. Some offer 8-hour shifts.

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That's weird Commuter, I was actually responding to this (which showed up in my mailbox, but not on the thread)

"Of course there are evening shifts. Healthcare does not stop at 5pm.

Think of all the women who give birth at 10pm, midnight, 2am, 4am, and so forth. When the baby is ready to leave the mother's body and enter this world, the fetus has no clue as to what time it is."

Sorry for the mix-up.

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