Starting out in an area you aren't interested in

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Just wondering if others have had this type of experience. I really want to be a nursery resource nurse - well I'm not sure if that's what it's called in all hospitals, but the nurse who goes to the deliveries to help with the babies. I think it's the coolest job ever. (I guess I should mention I'm still a student, graduating in 9 weeks). Anyway, I was told in order to have that job I first need to work in the NICU. So I am going to do my preceptorship in the NICU, starting next week. THEN I am told, in order to work in the NICU, I need to do mother-baby. I have to say, I am SO not interested in working with the moms - checking for lochia and massaging the fundus. Not to mention hormones and whatnot! So my thinking is, I will do what I need to do, but I'm just wondering if this is common, and if anyone has experience in working in an area they don't want to be working in!

Thanks for any advice/opinions/stories!

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I've been working as an LPN in a LTC/SNF for over a year now and what I really want to do is work in an ER. I am graduating in 4 weeks and during my last clinical rotation I've been rotating to the ER and guess what? I have spoken to several RNs who started out as LTC LPNs and were hired immediately to the ER as new grad RNs. So there is hope. I think you should take the Mother/baby position and the time will likely fly since you will be learning no matter where you go first.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Do you know for certain that this position actually exists?

I've worked in NICU, well-baby nursery and LDRP settings in 5 hospitals, and never encountered a job description that was devoted solely to attendance at deliveries. It is usually a function that is shared as a daily responsibility by the NICU, nursery and/or L&D staff.

I agree that NICU or nursery experience is critical to developing the skills necessary to delivery attendance.

I would also caution you that having such a narrow job description may not be in your best interests, especially in a depressed economy. If I were a manager who had to trim my budget, I would probably see this position as expendable, since virtually any experienced NICU, nursery or L&D nurse could take it over, while you may not have the skills to accept a more wide-ranging nursing position within maternal-child health.

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I am sure the position exists in the hospital where I did my OB rotation . . . I suppose it may *not* exist in every hospital. You have some good points. I am not worried about job security overall, as I intend to continue my schooling and pursue my master's degree (NP) so that I will have more job security and more flexibility overall. Maybe I will focus on neonatology in my schooling if that is available, and I am still interested in this area as time goes by.

I guess overall I don't get why one is basically forced to do maternal care if you really want to care for neonates. They are very different!

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU.

Is there no other hospital where you can do a straight NICU internship? I'm sure you've considered it but I think you are right. Other than give you the perspective of the mother's experience, I don't know what it will teach you about caring for critical babies.

You can go on to become a neonatal nurse practitioner but you will need serious NICU experience before you can do that. Good luck with your job hunt- it is not my area at all :)

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

26 years ago my sister was a new graduate and she started out on mourge duty !! of course i thought it was funny bit she didn't. that was an area she didn't want to start out in. but she did it for a few months and moved up to med/surg and that was like a dream to her...lol..

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Hmm.. "starting out in an area you aren't interested in" sounds pretty standard when the economy is down and new grads are scrambling for work and most job vacancies want experience. Sometimes a so-so job is better than no job at all.

You sound like you have landed a wonderful internship. Do not be too quick to prejudge working with moms. You will learn much and might even like it.

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Specializes in cardiac electrophysiology, critical care.

Hi,

Have you spoken with nurse recruiters at hospitals yet? Did they tell you that they only hire RN's into the NICU once they've had postpartum experience?

As a nursing student I did my preceptorship in a NICU in Maryland and noticed that several RN's there had been hired as new grads. Now I work as a RN in Boston and know that the NICU at my hospital also hires new grads (although lately with the economy, they haven't been hiring anyone at all!). So my point is, there are hospitals out there that hire new grads into the NICU. It sounds like NICU is where you want to be if you want to attend deliveries and eventually be a NNP. I also agree with what all the above posters said about new grads being lucky to find ANY job given the economy- nursing is not "recession proof" after all.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
just wondering if others have had this type of experience.

yep, i want to be an emergency trauma nurse. i am not starting out in trauma however; i am working in areas where i can gain the skill set and experience to enhance my ability to get into trauma at some point. i agree with the others, look at the position you can get in a positive way by gaining skills that relates to the position you wish to have some day. nursing is nursing.... time will go by, you will be experienced, and an opportunity will open up.

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Specializes in ICU/CCU, Med/Surg, OB, PACU, Radiology.

First, you need to change your mind. There are many aspects of mother-baby that will help you in your final destination. Be willing to learn in what appears to you to be a hostile environment. Think of it as training for those very challenging times in L&D.

I understand you feelings as I have been in places I didn't want to be. But the experiences you will get will pay for themselves later. As I look back at over 30 years, I can see that the "bad" helped me later in life, and I was and am a much better nurse for those experiences.

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

I started out in med/surg thinking it was an area I wasn't really interested in. Now I love it! :D I too have heard of new grads being hired in NICU. Go for it! :)

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When I was in school i knew I wanted to work in L&D/Mother Baby or anything int that area. I have been a nurse for 2 years working on a PCU - tele/resp floor. I am glad I went this way to gain the experience. I can always go work at an agency or per diem as a tele nurse if i decide to work L&D full time. I also like having the option. I can work med surg if i want to. When i did my practicum in L & D, a lot of nurses did have a clue as to the health status of the patient outside of delivery a baby. Some of the patients had some serious cardiac issues and many of the nurses would say "I wouldnt have a clue what to do if anything happened." While this is not the case often, the unfortunate can happen in these areas and it would be in your best interest to know how to respond. Even just having the basic skills would be good.

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