would this be a specialty?

[UPanRUNNIN]

Hi everyone!

I am in my second semester of pre-reqs and have searched this sight before for information but maybe some of you know the answer to my question.......I want to work in the postpartum care of women after labor and delivery. I had a really good experience with an overly kind and caring nurse after I had an ER C-section years ago, and I knew that was what I wanted to do. But technically what field is that? And do I have to get a special degree?? Is this a field that I could go directly into after graduation or would I have to work other places in the hospital before I can move up into that department. I guess I just dont know how to get there and what its called. I have had some people say I have to do med surge first before any other department and some say just go into the field you want. I dont know what to think. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated THANKS A BUNCH!!

[mcs1505]

You don't need a special degree, but you can get your masters in midwifery if you want to specialize. I've heard of nurses who get in to L&D right out of school and some who have to get experience before they're allowed to work there, it depends on your hospital and on what experience you managed to get in that setting as a PCA or whatever.

I plan on applying (and getting into) a nurse residency program for Pediatric ER (double specialty) right out of school. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't :wink2:

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

UpanRunnin,

The "Mother-Baby" areas of a hospital are called a lot of different things - so no worries if you don't know exactly what to call it. In some hospitals, it is an LDRP (labor-delivery-recovery-postpartum) all-in-one unit, and nurses are cross-trained to work in every area. Other hospitals have a more traditional approach, with separate units for each function.... and there's everything in between.

In nursing school, you'll have the opportunity to 'fall in love' with many different clinical areas - so you may even end up deciding on another one in the end.My organization certainly brings new RN grads into our OB internship programs.. 12 weeks long. So, don't worry - concentrate on your pre-reqs and getting into a program. It's all good.