Volunteering for a midwife will it help my changes of getting a L&D grad job.

Published

Hi,

I am on my final year of nursing school, I want to work in Labor and Delivery when I graduate, I know the market is tight so I have been looking for opportunities to volunteer. The best opportunity I have found so far is interning for a small midwife practice, that primarily does home birth. I haven't had any success with try to get a L&D nurse assistant job and the only hospital volunteer jobs are serving tea and coffee. So, do you think working with a practice that dose home birth will help me get a grad job, or will it hurt my chances because it is too controversial?

Thanks :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

I would investigate carefully the role you will be expected to take on. Does this midwife practice have 2 attendants present at deliveries to manage the posibility of emergencies involving both mother and baby? Are these CNM's or state-recognized and licensed direct-entry midwives? Do they have back-up from reputable practitioners and hospitals?

If this is a well-run, safety-conscious practice, I think it would be a wonderful experience.

If there is the possibility of legal liability related to unsafe or unlicensed practice, it could be career suicide.

Let us know what you learn.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

They are CNMs and state-recognized and licensed. There are always 2 attendants and back up physicians.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Since the CNMs are liscensed and able to practice in the home setting, I don't see why this wouldn't be an excellent opportunity for you to learn.

Getting an L&D job is hard (since it's a specialty), but not impossible. I was able to secure an L&D job directly out of school through a summer externship on the unit, work as a doula and experience volunteering in a midwifery clinic providing health education.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB/Gyn, L&D, NICU.

I was wondering the same thing. I would like to go back to work for the CNM who delivered my daughter and for whom I worked previously. She is under a physician's direction and always has a partner with her. I thought it would be a good way to get experience for my resume once I have graduated, since my previous experience as a non-nurse won't count. I suppose it would not be a good idea to work for any of the direct entry midwives here in town unless it is just taking vitals at a prenatal appt :o(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion