Maiya22

Have you contacted local homebirth midwives in your area? Many of them have web sites you can find by searching online. You could message them and let them know about your interest. You could offer to buy them lunch and have an informational meeting to ask any questions you may have. See if they would consider letting you assist with births and/or see what their suggestions are for getting more experience. Since you are a nursing student, you have more skills to offer over a layman. Good luck!

Thank you klone. It's good to hear that the hospitals don't want to rush you out to avoid overtime. :)

I hope to become an L&D nurse in the future and I was wondering how you leave a laboring or delivering mother when your shift ends, but you're in the thick of it? I assume that many hospitals (like other businesses) may have strict policies about not working overtime without permission and they require that you clock out on time. I also imagine there could be major liability issues for continuing to help a patient off the clock and possibly if you're on the clock but working past your shift ending time. How do you leave a woman when you're in the middle of helping her push, getting her baby cleaned up, or some other intense and important moment? Watching the clock and then saying "Sorry, my shift is over... good luck with that!" seems a little awkward. And if you've built a report with the couple over many hours, it seems awkward to slip into the shadows to leave as a nurse replaces you without saying goodbye. I'm just curious how that all works