Re-entry RN looking for advice breaking into OB...

[nightingalemom]

Hello all!

I'm new to the board and have been enjoying reading through reams of helpful and thought-provoking posts.

After seven years of family-raising, I'm ready to take the plunge back into nursing. The thing is that although my prior experience was in med-surg (2 yrs) and telemetry (2 years), I want to go where my heart has always been - maternal & newborn nursing.

The good news - I've certainly been acquiring mothering, teaching, and breastfeeding experience in my years away from the hospital. The bad news is that I'm afraid no-one will want to hire a re-entry nurse, let alone for a specialty in which I have no direct (paid) experience.

Things I'm considering: starting the certification process as a doula or childbirth educator, or interning with a friend who is a Lactation Consultant. And, of course, starting the applying & interviewing process hoping to persuade someone to take a chance on a rusty nurse who's passionate about mothers, babies, and learning a lot very quickly. I'm also doing some online CEU's in OB-related topics, and have a copy of the NRP book I'm working my way through.

What would you advise to give me the best chance of landing a job in your field? Am I being completely unrealistic?

Thanks for any insight you might have for me!

[nurseob7]

I don't think you are unrealistic at all. Our unit recently hired three new graduates and I'm pretty sure our manager would have hired an experienced nurse first, even if the experience was years ago and in a different area.

We still need one more nurse for the night shift -- my manager said that the next nurse she hires needs to have quite a bit experience in labor and delivery since she recently hired three inexperienced nurse. Once she finds someone, I am going to transfer to the day shift. Looking forward to the change!

Good Luck !

[KarryRN]

I've been out of nursing for 6 years. I plan on taking a refresher course this fall. I haven't decided what area I want to go into yet. I'm hoping the refresher will help me narrow it down. I have 1.5 years experience in pediatrics and I also worked post partum for 3 months. I got the post partum job after I had been not working for a year after my first child was born. They didn't seem to mind that I had not worked for a year.

[nightingalemom]

Thanks for the encouragement. I've been looking around for a refresher course, but so far they seem to be few and far between. I'm definitely excited, though, to be back in the nursing community!

:balloons: