what2donow

I am just starting in out in a much sought-after, much anticipated job as an L and D nurse, where I hoped to gain the foundations of a potential future career as a CNM. And..... I am way disappointed. From what I am seeing, this unit resembles an IC...

Anyone have tips on how to get good at placing IVs? My previous job did not require it, and now I am suddenly expected to be able to do this with no experience or instruction or anything! I know the most likely answer to my question is, "practice", b...

Thank you so much, everyone, for the advice! Today I had 5 attempts and got...... ONE! Terrible. I know I just need to keep trying, and I need someone good to tell me what I am doing wrong. In general, I have no trouble hitting a vein (get immediate ...

So... I am on orientation in an L&D unit, where I felt so sure (for a long time) that I wanted to be. I have a pretty solid nursing background (8 years, some ICU) and consider myself to be fairly smart, conscientious, and careful. The problem is ...

THANK YOU.

Hi. I will be starting in L and D next month and, while it is what I've always wanted to do, I am SCARED. I am coming from an ICU and med/surg background and just don't know what to expect. Does anyone have any advice as to how to prepare myself? Any...

After a VERY long time of applying to new jobs in the area I desperately want to work (OB), I have finally gotten 2 calls back. I am ecstatic, because I never before got so much as a call. BUT, of course I missed the calls. I called each of these rec...

You are so right on. I'm guessing you will catch a lot of flack (which I will assume you realized by your capitalizing and bolding of "but not all" in your post), but you are right. Nursing needs people like you. While I could say more, I will say th...

Does anyone have any sense of how employers view graduate CNMs who don't have an L and D background? I don't want to set myself up for an unemployable future by going through with CNM school without having that prior L&D experience.

Trying to network here. Anyone? Thanks!

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond. I am right now torn between two motivations: to find some kind of work in perinatal or women's health nursing because this is my interest and I want to move in that direction before/while getting my CNM ...

I have med-surg and ICU. Despite two years of applying (getting NRP, joining AWHONN, etc), no one will hire me to anything related to perinatal or women's health, including post-partum positions, clinic positions, you-name-it. I feel that this is whe...

Please help! I have been accepted to Frontier's CNEP program and I was initially ecstatic. However, now I am starting to second-guess myself, and I need to give them confirmation of my enrollment in 2 days! My dilemma is this: There is a nurse midwif...

Want to send me your address, Barkow, for the cookies? Looks like you are the only taker. Ha.

I am in a very similar situation. I am SO TIRED of searching for OB jobs, SO TIRED of applying, SO TIRED of not even getting an interview. Then, the one interview I did have did not land me the job. I am getting so hopeless. I just did the NRP course...

Thanks for your reply, Barkow. Do you feel like elaborating on these "politics and frustrations"? I'd love to hear what you think about the program.

Oops. I meant "how it works" not that I wanted to know it works. Thanks for the replies.

For those of you who are AWHONN members, what are it's benefits? I have heard a lot of people say that it is a good idea to join, but I'm not sure what you "get" out of it. Thanks.

I'm just wondering what those endless resources are and what form they take. Are you able to read publications on the website as a member, but not as a non-member? Do they mail out educational materials to members? I just have heard so many say how g...

This has gone beyond ridiculous. I have been searching my heart out for a new job, and am of course not alone in the fact that I have received not one interview, let alone offer. Today in my fruitless search, I came across a position that stated a re...

Well, I feel like an idiot now. It didn't even occur to me that it was a typo! Maybe potential employers can detect a lack of common sense and that is why they've got no interest in me. But, I did point it out to some friends and none of them made th...

Does anyone know how I could go about talking to a practicing midwife, or preferably several, about their roles, schedules, etc.? Is it OK to just call clinics and birth centers and ask to speak to someone? I got up the nerve to call one and felt so ...

Can I get a big Hell Yeah? I couldn't have given a better rant myself. There is a reason the night shift gets paid more- BECAUSE IT SUCKS AND YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO DO IT. I spend more time trying to organize absolutely all of my cares and tasks so a...

What are your thought on writing directly to the nurse manager of a unit, explaining why you want to work there and why you would be a good fit, and enclosing a resume? I mean, rather than going through human resources. Would this look pushy or annoy...

There's no law stating that you have to tell your future employer that your plan is for CRNA school in a short period of time. I wouldn't.