Repeated Tries x 5 to Enter L/D field--Still applying Suggestions

serenity1 · Sep 27, 2013

Where I am we are always short on L&D, and they will always take someone with experience over having to train someone. I took the AWHONN basic fetal monitoring and NRP to make myself more attractive to L&D. I also joined AWHONN. I started in post-partum but still had to interview against other nurses from all over to get into L&D. Good luck!!

babyktchr, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2013

I know it is frustrating. I tell you this. I just interviewed two people within the last 2 weeks. One had gobs of experience and the other just out of orientation in LDRP at another facility. If I only had one postion, I would've gone with the more experienced nurse. Here is why. I need someone who can hit the ground running at this point. While I love to train new folks to OB and mold and shape them, at this point, on MY unit, I need experience. Orientation is expensive and honestly, it sucks the life out of my budget. You are essentially non-productive for a long chunk of time, and well, its time right now that I don't have. I am sure a lot of units are like mine. I have hired a few 'newbies' in the past few months. Some have worked. Others not so much. Unfortunately, the magic of labor and delivery isn't for everyone, even if it has been your passion forever and a day.

So, would I look at you more favorably if you took monitoring, or NRP or became a doula? Not necessarily. How would you practice what you learned if you aren't currently working in the area? Just because you took a course, it doesn't mean you know how to use it. Unfortunately, you are going to have to be patient and keep putting in those applications. I do hire newbies. Like I said, I love to train new folks to OB. Its all in the timing.

I would hope that the places that you interviewed would keep you on file in case something opens up. Here's a bit of advice. Again, this is just me. Don't get all gushy about OB being your life's passion in your interviews. I hear it all the time. It doesn't impress me. I want to know how you perform under extreme pressure. How you mulit-task. How you deal with challenging personalities. I want to know about your worst day, your best day and why. I want to make you squirm and see how you react. THAT is going to show me that you are worth my time and energy to train you.

I wish you luck in your pursuit. If this is what you want to do then you have to stick with it. In the meantime, hone your skills as a nurse. Critical thinking, technical skills (IV's and such) and love what you do, even if it isn't where you want to be. Make the best of it and be the best NURSE you can be.

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Oct 5, 2013

All I have wanted to do was delivery babies with no fault of trying. I actually got offered an L/D job right out of RN school, but I was moving to another state to start over because of a divorce. I had no idea that this was a fate sealing moment in time. Since then, I have been an RN for five years. I've been in Cardiac, Float Pool, and now Ortho/Neuro. I am so tired of this type of nursing and really want to be with women and families, doing what i was made for. I have applied for multiple L/D positions and the person with experience in the field always get hired over me.
What do i need to do to give me an edge? Become a doula? Take fetal monitoring on my own? TAke NRP on my own?
Frustrated,
singmaggie-RN

I did my leadership clinical in L&D, and my preceptor (who was also my L&D instructor) told me to do everything that I can do....and afford to do to let employers know I am making an effort, and that I am serious about wanting the job. I totally, hands down, want to do L&D....but I have no issues what so ever starting out in M/B. Keep applying, keep looking, and don't get discouraged when you run into someone who doesn't want a new grad in L&D.....I had 7 years experience as an LPN in LTC, and the manager of home care wouldn't hire me on to do private duty because "you have no experience." Hm. And what have I been doing for the last year and a half? Private duty. That old director left, and the new one came in and told me "You aren't going to learn if no one is willing to give you a chance." Learn what? Ha.....good question. :)

I have my NRP, a membership to AWHONN, I have a new grad M/B class coming up in a few weeks, and hopefully after taking my NCLEX, I am going to go ahead and take fetal monitoring. And....hopefully, my preceptor will hire me. (She is also the clinical coordinator for women's/infant services.) Is that a guarantee for me? No. But, she does know how I was as a student, and knows how passionate I am about what I want to do.

Good luck to you!

perfexion, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2013

I'm in the same boat. I went to nursing school for the sole purpose of becoming an l&d nurse. I got lucky and ended up in outpatient antepartum straight out of school thinking I at least got a foot in the door of OB. However with no med surg or inpatient experience it's been harder than I thought it would be getting to l&d. I have my maternal newborn certification, npr and fetal monitoring certification also because I thought it would help. Four years later and I'm still in outpatient antepartum. I ended up just networking and schmoozing with some higher ups and volunteering for some big events like breastfeeding week. I let everyone important know I was looking to move to l&d. When a position opened up in l&d, the assistant nurse manager of postpartum emailed me to let me know. I finally got an interview with l&d last week and I was so highly recommended by the department heads that I'm really confident I got the job. So my advice is, network with the big wigs in the OB department because ultimately it's always who you know, not what you know.

MommyandRN · Oct 11, 2013

I have a ton of experience with adults too, and have been applying for a few years years. Took AWHONN fetal monitoring course and a breastfeeding course. No jobs. I really think I might walk into a hospital and hand the nurse manager my resume myself, and just give a 1 minute summary of myself. Good luck!

Simplyroses · Oct 12, 2013

Here's how I broke into L&D as a new grad: I volunteered. The American Red Cross will sponsor RN's who hold an active RN license to volunteer in the military hospitals. I asked in the volunteer office at Madigan Army Medical Center if I could volunteer in Maternity. The NM at the time was very open to volunteers on her floor. I worked as an RN for the L&D floor 4 months full time. I did anything they wanted me to do, asked for every opportunity to gain skills. They basically put me through a full residency in L&D and then hired me. I considered it free education.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Oct 13, 2013

Look into cross training so you can go over to the L&D department when things are slow in your department and things are busy over there. Have you talked to the manager of the L&D department at the hospital you work at? Ask what you have to do to get transferred