So I thought I would ask if you guys can share...

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I'm interested in knowing how all of you wonderful post partum/ob/l&d nurses got your first job in your specialty, and how long it took you? I would like to hear the stories...please share :)

Specializes in L&D, mother/baby.

I was hired into an L&D/mother-baby program immediately after school, but I originally graduated right in the middle of a nursing shortage in my area....back in the time of sign-on bonuses, lots of openings, etc. some of the things that helped my application and interview, though, was that when I did reports and papers in school I tried to center them around OB nursing and health issues. Not always possible, of course, but it was enough to both give me something to talk about during my interview and to show my passion in that particular field. I lasted 2 yrs before my personal life became too overwhelming. I am going back to mother/baby at the end of this month after an 11 year hiatus and I couldn't be more excited. I couldn't believe how giddy I was when the unit educator emailed me my unit orientation schedule yesterday. LOL!

RaceMom, what a transition from hospice! I admire anyone who can do that job. I hope your return to mother/baby is a good one for you. :)

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I graduated in May 2012 and started on a cardiac floor. I just got hired to an L&D floor and I start October 5th!! Im so excited/nervous. It took me about 6-8 months of looking in the NYC area to get this job. It was hard to find someone to hire me with no OB experience!

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Specializes in Postpartum, Med Surg, Home Health.

I graduated in December 2008, couldn't get a job for the life of me, for first job at snf in 2010, also worked HH and clinic later. For my first acute care job on med surg/tele in march this year, and FINALLY after many years got a job offer just this Friday for post partum! Yay I'm soo excited I start late sept or early oct!!

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Graduated early may. Applied may 31st, got interviewed july 9, got the job offer july 22 passed the nclex 2 days later. I've been working full time in mother/baby for about a month now, in a new grad residency :). I worked as an aide in this hospital on a different floor, did my clinical in l&d and preceptorship in m/b at this same hospital. Its a great place to work, so I made sure to let the clinical placement coordinator know where i wanted. Next step is l&d.

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I graduated in May 2015 applied July 2015 and started L&D September 2015. I did have to move from Massachusetts to New Mexico. It has been worth the move.

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Specializes in Women's health & post-partum.

I moved because of my husband's job to a small town The (less than 100-bed) hospital needed a night nurse in OB. They hired me when I showed up to apply for a job with my 4-month old son in tow!

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New grad who works on a mother-baby unit. Graduated and moved back home & applied to the only hospital in my area that had a new grad residency program that included mother baby. Got hired 3 hours after my interview, I think having my senior capstone/preceptorship on a mother-baby floor helped

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Graduated in September, had baby 5 days later, took NCLEX in October ... then love a few months off with baby. Got hired on an LDRP unit with start in January as my first nursing job and I LOVE it!!!

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I got hired into Postpartum as a new grad!! :)

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I graduated in May 2012 and started my first L&D job in June 2012 in a new state at a mid size teaching hospital and it was a great first year. I then moved back to my home state and got a job at a large academic/teaching hospital in their L&D and have been there since.

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I was pregnant when I got accepted into nursing school & knew I was very interested in L&D. Throughout the program, I was in line to be paired with a L&D preceptor prior to graduation. At the last possible moment, someone in her family passed away and she said she was unable to precept. The instructors scrambled and found me someone in the ED. My heart sank as I knew not having that foot in the door in L&D would be a huge hurdle. I graduated with an ASN, secured an interview in L&D but was shown the door. I tried about 2x/year for nearly 5 years, working in med/surg/ortho the whole time. I went back to school for my BSN. I started working more actively with recruiters and just this past year Nov 20, 2015, I was offered (and accepted!) my 1st L&D position, complete with sign on bonus. I was also offereded a position to transfer in house to postpartum the same week after that interview, but obviously I chose L&D at a new facility, so it was a huge jump for me. I just finished hospital orientation and had my 1st week on the unit. All I can say is that it was worth the wait! I'm so glad I never settled, as opportunities arose for other areas and even NICU. I just kept at it. I love going to work. If I didn't need the money, I would probably do this for free/fun! I know there will be some tough days, but seriously, I can go the rest of my life without seeing another bedsore. It's just a different world. I'm in love

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Specializes in Postpartum, Med Surg, Home Health.
I was pregnant when I got accepted into nursing school & knew I was very interested in L&D. Throughout the program, I was in line to be paired with a L&D preceptor prior to graduation. At the last possible moment, someone in her family passed away and she said she was unable to precept. The instructors scrambled and found me someone in the ED. My heart sank as I knew not having that foot in the door in L&D would be a huge hurdle. I graduated with an ASN, secured an interview in L&D but was shown the door. I tried about 2x/year for nearly 5 years, working in med/surg/ortho the whole time. I went back to school for my BSN. I started working more actively with recruiters and just this past year Nov 20, 2015, I was offered (and accepted!) my 1st L&D position, complete with sign on bonus. I was also offereded a position to transfer in house to postpartum the same week after that interview, but obviously I chose L&D at a new facility, so it was a huge jump for me. I just finished hospital orientation and had my 1st week on the unit. All I can say is that it was worth the wait! I'm so glad I never settled, as opportunities arose for other areas and even NICU. I just kept at it. I love going to work. If I didn't need the money, I would probably do this for free/fun! I know there will be some tough days, but seriously, I can go the rest of my life without seeing another bedsore. It's just a different world. I'm in love

Congratulations!! It took me about 6 years until I was able to get into postpartum. I am so glad I am finally here, and I love it!

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