O how I long to be a L&D nurse :(

cheska_rn, ASN, RN · Sep 23, 2013

My advice:

Keep applying for L&D jobs, but also apply for HOSPITAL jobs. Not a dig against LTC, but a lot of facilities want your experience to be hospital experience. I took a job on a geropsych unit at a hospital and after a year applied to a L&D unit and started last week (woohoo!).

As for the FHM. During the interview I had told the hiring mgr that I had thought abt getting certified in it and she said that she was glad I didn't because they do the certification through the hospital (not sure if that is how all hospitals work, but just an FYI).

Hired alongside me was a new grad who is a lactation consultant (no hospital experience at all -- brand new grad!), and because she was a lac consultant it helped her to get in (she only got certified to spruce up her resume since she too knew she wanted an L&D position upon graduating.) I know that certification can be expensive (hers cost $750!) so not sure if you want to go that route.

Best of luck!

RN520 · Sep 30, 2013

I agree with cheska - seems like hospitals want you to get certified through them. It's the company/method of their choice and it's FREE to you! Keep applying for L&D jobs, and get to know someone in that specialty. It's how I got my job on a postpartum unit. I start in 2 weeks and it's because I stayed in touch with 1 person on that unit. Join AWHONN and read up on their staffing guidelines, and be very upfront about what cert's you'd like to earn. Did you have a good relationship with your maternity prof in school? See if he/she has any leads or contacts. Also - have you joined the ANA in your state? That can be a good place to network too. Best of luck to you!

PeepnBiscuitsRN · Oct 1, 2013

It could work in your favor to work in a hospital first, because you could then transfer from whatever unit you start on to OB. That said, it might take more time for you to get hired in OB, firstly because if you got hired on say, cardiac or ortho or something it would be expected, or at least it would be classy to stick around for a year or so before zipping off to another unit or another hospital. In fact, a lot of managers would probably frown on someone who worked on their respected unit for 6 months and then split. Secondly, you'd have to wait for an opening at the right time.

What I would suggest, whatever route you go is to think about why you want to be an L&D nurse. I'm not saying it as a challenge or anything, I'm just saying that recalling my interview for postpartum, the manager didn't want to hear "fluff" like "oh I just love babies!" (Well DUH!) Or "I want to be able to hold a mother's hand through labor..." yes of COURSE! But pay more attention to the hospital itself and the clientele it serves- an example: my hospital is inner-city. 85% or more of our patients are living in poverty, many are from broken homes, many are teens, and a large population are either Hispanic, Hmong or Somali (bi-lingual skills are naturally a huge plus). I find people fascinating, and I find the diversity of child birthing practices really interesting. I have a soft spot for teen-mothers, I feel like if I as a nurse can make a mom feel safe in the hospital and reassure her that her "babydaddy" isn't going to get past the front doors, then good. I like to feel useful to someone.

That wasn't meant to sound like a "yay for me" sermon, but you get the idea. My manager was real upfront that people think they want to go into L&D because it's going to be just like "A Baby Story" or some other TLC show. So I'd say if you have a specific hospital in mind, research it. Know why you want to work in L&D (also be willing to start in Postpartum or Special Care Nursery). I agree with joining AWHONN. It looks good on a resume. It shows that you are willing to learn about this specialty on your own. Becoming an IBCLC is a pricey investment but if you have the resources then I'd suggest doing it. Don't bother with getting certifications- they'll train you and odds are you won't pay a dime whereas on your own you might pay...several dimes... plus, some certifications require that you've already worked in the field for X number of hours.

I got my foot in the door where I'm at because I had both my kids at this hospital- the nurse manager was working the floor one day and was wheeling me down to the special care nursery to see my baby. I remembered her name. I came back a few days after discharge with a resume (and another thank you ). They weren't hiring at that time, so in the meantime I got a job on the cardiac floor, floated all over the place for a year and then applied to a special care nursery job, the recruiter called me and said that I wouldn't be considered for that because I had no experience, HOWEVER- there's a postpartum job that's not posted yet that I fit many of the qualifications for and my cover letter sounded like I'd do well there. So...I applied, interviewed and got hired. Right place, right time...

rbytsdy · Oct 2, 2013

Maybe consider getting a Lamaze certification? Lamaze is not terribly expensive (I think I paid $400). You could get in as a childbirth educator, even per diem. Most facilities teach Lamaze. My nursing school instructor was an oncology nurse who also taught Lamaze - go figure! But she loved it! She taught Lamaze out of her house and for a local (HUGE) teaching hospital.

►that_funky♪&# · Oct 13, 2013

Please forgive me if this sounds stupid, but what is AWHONN? I really want to get into OB and the hospital I have in mind has their OB nurses do everything; there are no special nurses that just do postpartum care or nursery care-they wear all hats. So besides becoming a lactation consultant, what other things would be beneficial to getting hired right onto the OB unit? Is it bad that OB is my ONLY area of interest for nursing? I think I would either be bored or weak stomach in other depts. And I don't really want to have to deal with a lot of different medicines.

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 13, 2013

Association for Women's Health, Obstetrical, and Neonatal Nurses.

Yes, it's extremely limiting that OB is the only area of nursing that you want to go into. It's a very high demand area of nursing, and new grads nowadays are lucky to find hospital jobs, period, after graduation, let alone their dream job. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Not saying its not possible. The hospitals I've worked for hire new grads regularly. Just consider other alternatives, at least in the short term. Good luck!