organizations

[RNCoastiewife]

I have always wanted to be an OB nurse. That was the main reason I went to nursing school in the first place. I graduated May 2009 and am working in a SNF, it was quite literally the only place hiring new grads. Anyway, I ask how does one get the foot in the door to maternal/infant unit. People say join the organization. I have been looking at AWHONN, it looks like a great org but I was wondering other than the discounted CEUs and UTD info, how does it help you to land a job? Do recruiters look at that? I was thinking of joining and maybe taking the fetal heart monitoring, would that help? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[RNCoastiewife]

Anybody??

[bluemartian, BSN]

From my experiance joining a professional organization it a good way to network on a local or national scale, community involvement, Ive know several people who have networked into their field of choice by joining these organizations

[LDRPNurse7]

Joining a professional organization is a great way to network and get your foot in the door. If you attend your local area meetings I'm sure you will meet people from the hospital you would want to work at. It ALWAYS helps to know someone. As far as the fetal heart monitor class.. I'm not sure I would do that right now, they aren't going to expect someone with no experience in L&D to be able to read a strip. It won't hurt but not sure how much they will care, it really just depends on the manager.

Have you contacted the unit manager and ask to set up a shadowing experience? It would also help to email/call the unit manager and ask what kind of experience they perfer.

Hope that helps :)

[bluemartian, BSN]

Try to find out the brand of the fetal heart monitor and contact that company to get you in contact with a product educator or provide you with educational material, most companies have instructional DVDs.

[ocmama]

I recently went to a new grad open house and the L&D manger wanted M/S experience NRP and ACLS, she also mentioned fetal monitoring, but that seemed less important (my understanding is that you can do this after you get hired into L&D) I too went to nursing school because I want to go into OB, but I am beginning to realize that it might be a long road to get there. Good luck!

[RNCoastiewife]

Thanks for your input. I appreciate it! I think I will set aside some $$ and give it a shot. ocmama I feel your pain. It's frusterating b/c everyone wants experience but you can gain any unless someone out there gives you a chance.