Transplant ICU experience to WHNP/CMN?

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Hi all! Im a New Graduate Nurse (4 months in) working on a transplant/surgical ICU- primarily liver and kidney transplants. It's a great experience so far and I'm learning SO much. With that being said, my true passion lies in womens health. Being a minority, I recognize the disadvantage many women of color are facing when it comes to receiving adequate womens health care. I would love nothing more than to provide for those women and lessen that disparity.

I live in California and Im feeling slightly discouraged that I wont be able to pursue that goal unless I transfer to an L&D unit or work somewhere that I'll get womens health experience. I love my unit and the fast pace of this ICU exposes me to a lot of critical thinking.

How would you recommend I transition onto a path/timeline that would lend itself to WHNP?

Thank you!

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Specializes in Dialysis.

get your 1 year of experience then apply for a transfer if you're still interested in women's health

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Like Hoosier said, it's best to have at least a year on your current unit before you look to change jobs (even better if you can make it a full year post-orientation, which your managers may appreciate).

Even though they seem unrelated, I think that your ICU experience will be advantageous in L&D. L&D is one of those settings where everything can be going great until it suddenly goes sideways; former ICU nurses tend to have a lot of experience keeping calm during crises. There are rare occasions where pregnant women become critically ill (i.e. severe pre-eclampasia, HELLP syndrome, hemorrhage) and straddle the line between needing L&D vs. ICU admission. I'd imagine your ICU background would be quite helpful in those scenarios.

Honestly, the people in the L&D/OB specialty forum might have more insight than the student NP forum regarding the timeline for applying to grad school once you start to get L&D experience.

If you're feeling super-enthusiastic to get started now, you could look into becoming a doula during your free time. It might help strengthen your applications for L&D positions as well as CNM school (although I don't know if there would be any issues working as a doula and also being a nurse, as the doula role is specifically non-medical). Just something to consider.

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Really appreciate the advice guys. Thanks for that. Im going to look into working as a doula during my free time as soon as I'm off orientation. Youre right, I'll absorb as much as I can right now and gain more experience then talk to some L&D nurses.

Thanks for the ideas! ?

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