soon to be newgrad needs advice!!

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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Hello! I graduate with my BSN in Febuary. I am currently a PCT/tech on a medsurg/renal/GU floor and have been for about 6 months.

What are your opinions and advice as to me trying to go straight into any OB related floor (pre partum, post, L&D) right out of school? Do these specialties look for nurses with RN medsurg experience? or would they rather take someone new so that they can train them the way they want their nurses to work?

any advice or opinions based on your experience would really be appreciated!

Thank you!

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adult Oncology.

Any experience I think is a plus for you. However, your best bet is to look into new grad programs for that specialty. Obviously, they are designed for new grads and it is expected that you won't have any experience. Be open to other specialties that you may not necessarily want but they will give you experience and then you can transfer. Hope this helps!

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Thank you!

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Specializes in Postpartum/Labor and Delivery/ NICU.

Definitely be open to other opportunities! Try for new grad opportunities first, but sometimes those are few and far between, especially for this specialty. Nurse managers can also be a little picky as well, since it is a very competitive field. But don't give up! If you don't end up getting a new grad opportunity, try med/surg - especially a telemetry unit since you are continually reading strips, this skill will be useful!

Good luck! :)

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I was a PCT on a med-surg unit during nursing school and went straight into L&D as a new grad. I had a wonderful orientation that lasted 18 weeks, almost entirely with the same preceptor who was very experienced with orienting.

In the area I live in, getting jobs as a new grad in women's health can be rare, and some will only hire into post-partum to start. Fortunately my hospital's pretty new grad friendly in that area. This year, my hospital hired 2 postpartum, 5 L&D, and 6 NICU new grads this year between the 2 new grad residency start dates. I haven't really seen a common background in L&D hires for experienced nurses with no L&D experience, though most have spent some time in an acute care setting.

Some areas may have volunteer opportunities as birth companions, volunteer doula programs (though would involve you having to take your own training course to be eligible to be a doula, but there may be scholarships available), etc, if labor and delivery interests you and you want to try getting some experience. There are no guarantees, but if you are doing something you love, hopefully there is no drawback. I met a nurse when my friend was having her baby who wasn't able to get into L&D as a new grad, so went into med-surg and became a doula and volunteered for a non-profit organization, and then was able to get into L&D after she had a little nursing experience.

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