Switching Specialties-HELP

[LEVELoneRN]

Hi AllNurses,

I don't think I've posted in SEVERAL years. Hopefully everyone is still as supportive as they were before. I need some help!

I've been an ER nurse for about 4 years. That's all I've done. I am interested in switching to Women's Health. Not so much L&D, but more so gyne, in a clinic setting. Places that do well women exams, paps, etc.

Now, how do I make this transition for resume purposes? What I've done so far is highlighted what women and reproductive issues I've encountered by being in the emergency depart such as educating patients on spontaneous abortions, assisting in pelvic exams, care of patient's with gynecological cancers, etc

How exactly do I set up my objective? How do I bullet these? I'm trying to make an easy transition and make my resume, I guess stick out. So how do people switch specialties with no experience in that specialty they want to deal with?

There is a specific job that I am applying to, and I'm revamping my resume now. This job also requires a cover letter with information about my views on reproductive health, why I'm applying etc.

Any help or suggestions?

Thank you!

[OCNRN63, RN]

Try joining the specialty organization(s) that deal with gyn nursing. You may need to do a search for that since there are probably several out there. If you join, you should see if there is a local chapter of the organization; you can do networking there and get CEUs from conferences.

Start doing CEUs that specifically relate to gyn nursing. Try to find some conferences you can attend.

If your hosp. has an OB department, try talking to the NM and see if she has any ideas/knows someone you can talk to for more ideas.

Good luck. I've done this more than once. Sometimes it comes easy, other times you really have to do some work in order to get what you want. That's what I had to do when I made the transition to outpatient oncology. It was hard, but it was worth it.