sjc2005

I became a nurse to work in labor and delivery. It's been my passion and entire reason for even becoming a nurse since day one. I graduated in May of 2013 and had such a hard time finding a job due to the whole "no experience plague" but ended up getting a position in ICU. I've been there ever since and figured my critical care experience would help to get me a job in L&D. Problem is that it hasn't. Now I'm dealing with the while "no experience" thing all over again trying to find a job in the specialty I desire. I'm frustrated because it seems like there is very little I can do to help the situation. is there anything I can do that might help me in my job search?! Another issue is that I have my ADN but I'm in the process of obtaining my BSN. Thanks for letting me vent and ANY advice would be much appreciated!

This is what I kind of figured, but I wanted to make sure since I am new to the site. Thank so much for your help and tips! :)

Hey all! I am a new grad RN and recently had a brief interaction with a unit manager about a position I am very interested in. It actually turned out that we had some mutual acquaintances and one of them who works on the unit took her my resume. She was going to introduce me to her in person but the unit manager happened to be in meeting all day. a few days later I called her to follow up and although the position had already been filled, she encouraged me to watch for some positions she was going to be posting. My question is whether or not it is appropriate to add her on linkedin? I feel that with all of the things on her plate, that she may easily forget me in the future and that this may be a good way to stay on her list of possibilities. I am new to linkedin so any etiquette/tips would be great! Thanks :)

Thanks for all of the good advice. I just got an interview for an CVICU at a really awesome hospital so hoping that goes well! I think that would look good on applications for future L&D positions :)

I am a new graduate and recently licensed RN and am looking to find a position in maternity nursing. I went into nursing school knowing this was my passion and what I wanted to do. I am considering returning for my master's degree to become a nurse midwife, making it even more pertinent that I try to get a position in L&D. My problem is that it seems like it's next to impossible to get a job in this area as a new grad. I have heard time and time again that I will never be able to do it, and I'm trying to prove those people wrong, but I'm starting to feel defeated. Do I give up on want I really want and just apply to any job that will take me, or keep striving towards what I want? Have any of you been offered jobs in this area as new grads?

Thank you all! This really helps me. I am thinking of changing the opening sentence to " I am writing to introduce myself as a potential candidate for employment at ____ Hospital" and taking out the nurses name alltogether. Any thoughts? Although the nurse I was using gave me permission and is an excellent nurse, she is an ICU nurse so I feel like it doesn't fit. The nurse who I worked under in OB and wanted to use isn't returning any of messages so I'm thinking about just taking that whole part out.

Here is what I have so far. It has taken me weeks, but I finally feel like it's finished. Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks so much for your time :) March 27th, 2013 Ms.******* Unit Director ********City Hospital *********St state****** Dear Ms. ******: I am writing to introduce myself at the suggestion of **** *****, RN, BSN (MICU/CCU) who supervised my work as a student during clinical nursing experiences. I will be graduating from the registered nursing program at***** State College in May 2013 and desire to begin my nursing career with *********City Hospital. As indicated in my enclosed resume I have spent time at ***** City Hospital during my clinical experiences on the labor and delivery/postpartum floors. Through these experiences, I was very impressed with the staff's willingness to teach and guide me as a student and the excellent quality of patient care that is provided. I absorbed a wealth of knowledge in the time I spent there and knew that this would be somewhere I would be privileged to work. My goal is to begin my nursing career with ********City Hospital as this hospital offers the opportunity for me to further develop my knowledge and skills and grow as a professional nurse allowing me to bring a positive impact to the client, facility and the community. I will bring ******* City Hospital a strong passion for maternity care and women's health, as well as leadership and organization skills gained through my previous career and clinical experiences. I pride myself in staying organized and on my ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks while always maintaining patient safety. Previous instructors have commented on my ability to establish a professional and compassionate relationship with my patients. I feel that this is an integral quality for a nurse to possess as it maintains trust and confidence between the patient and the nurse. It is of upmost importance to me to always be an advocate for my patient and to ensure they have an optimal experience. I have continued to stay up to date with ******* City Hospital and am very excited to see the many advances they are making to further improve their patient care and safety to both mother and baby. This is why I would be delighted to begin my career with *****City Hospital and look forward to hearing from you in regard to available opportunities. You can reach me at ***.***.**** or *****@edu. Sincerely, S. C. Enclosure

Hello! I will be graduating in 6 weeks from an ADN program. I am trying to prepare my cover letter and resume to begin submitting for job openings. I know there is great debate on nurses going directly into a specialty, but I know that OB nursing is for me and was the driving force behind me becoming a nurse. My long term goal is to become a CNM in the future and I want to begin gaining experience as soon as possible. This being said, I am having a difficult time writing my cover letter and explaining my passion for this area of nursing. Does anyone have any tips, pointers or examples? I've spent countless hours staring at what I have so far to no avail. Any suggestions as appreciated! :) I also know that I am fighting an uphill battle in trying to obtain a position in this specialty, especially as an ADN, but I plan on giving it my best shot!

1. WHEN IS YOUR START DATE? August 29th! Excited and VERY nervous! 2 WHAT STATE ARE YOU IN? Ohio 3 PROGRAM (lpn,adn,bsn)? ADN 4 WHAT IS THE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU ARE HOLDING ONTO RIGHT NOW? To take one day at a time... 5. WHO IS YOUR GREATEST MOTIVATION TO COMPLETE NURSING SCHOOL? My greatest motivation are my children. The birth of my son is what prompted me to become a nurse!

I start my courses on the 30th! I'm very excited but terrified at the same time...I think that's normal, right? I guess the thing that I am most concerned about are smells. I know that's something I am just going to have to get used to, but I have a really sensitive nose and smells really bother me sometimes. If anyone has any suggestions on getting over this let me know!