RN needs guidance

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I have been working as an OR nurse, per-diem, for 2 years. Currently I am enrolled in my Master's towards my FNP. My hospital, a small one, is opening an L&D unit. I phoned the nurse manager and asked if I could float to learn the basics and get some experience.

She responded, "You have to take an L&D course, fetal monitoring and NRP before you can float"

My hospital does not offer any of this, meaning I would have to go outside. I have looked locally for an L&D course and it does not seem to exist. When I call local hospitals that offer it is only for their new employees. I am feeling frustrated, because I want to get the experience, but there are road blocks constantly.

The ED nurse manager told me I could float to bring up my assessment skills and ED would be incredible experience also. But I really want that L&D experience also

Suggestions?

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Specializes in ACNP-BC, Adult Critical Care, Cardiology.

Hi welcome to allnurses!

Sorry you're having issues with trying to gain the experience you want. Part of being successful in a nursing career is coming up with a strategy just as you are doing. On the bright side, the ED manager is allowing you to float in the emergency area and this in my opinion, is more valuable than L&D if you are looking into a primary care career as an FNP. I worked in the ED while in NP school, there are OB-Gyn patients there though fetal monitoring is done by nurses asked to come in from OB.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

ED all the way! Great experience for FNP, and you will have women in labor and babies and kids. Once you get some ED experience, try to apply to an L&D job. In my opinion, the L&D nurse manager didn't sound like she was interested in you for whatever reason. It doesn't sound reasonable for a nurse to have to take fetal monitoring and an L&D course before starting work in L&D. Those are things that the job is supposed to provide. Requiring NRP, I can understand, but not the others.

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Yeah, I have the OB doctors bugging me everytime they see me in OR. They want me to work with them. Oh well

I found this website has anyone heard of it?

INP - Self Assessment Continuing Education Modules — National Certification Corporation

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