What can I do now to get into L&D?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Hi, I am a nursing (BSN) student right now but I would like to get into L&D as soon as possible. What route would you recommend I take? Also is there anything I can do now to build experience? I can't become a CNA (not enough time while in school) but would it help any to volunteer with a birth center/hospital even if it's not direct patient care?

Any other advice on this :)

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Specializes in ED.

Can you precept in L&D? That is what a lot of students do at my school. Don't you also do a clinical rotation through L&D? You might find out about any aid or tech jobs this way.

The main hospital here doesn't employ patient care techs/aids for L&D but yours might.

Otherwise, you may just need to ask your clinical teacher for any recommendations that might help.

m

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I hope this isn't a stupid question, but what is precept? We should do clinical rotations (I just got accepted to the program, haven't started yet) so I'll ask about jobs then too.

Thanks!

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some BSN degrees have a leadership class the sr yr that allow you to shadow a mgr, see if you can get with the L&D manager.

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Specializes in L&D.

It's hard to answer your question not knowing what your nursing program is like and where you are located b/c things vary so much, but I do agree with the other replies. Most BSN programs have some sort of leadership rotation at the end, so if yours does, try your best to get this rotation to be in L&D. At the least, this will help you get more familiar with obstetrics. Volunteering always helps if you have the time to do it. Basically, anything that can get you involved in something OB related will only help you get closer to your "dream job". Although many hospitals claim they don't hire new grads into L&D, this is not always true, so don't give up. Persistence pays off.

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I went straight into L&D after graduating in May 2008. You are not going to like my answer, but the ONLY reason I got in to L&D right away was that I was already working for the hospital during nursing school (not as a CNA but in patient registration) and my manager and director both knew I wanted to do L&D and gave great recommendations of me to the director of that clinical area. That was two years ago, and new grad jobs are even harder to come by now that it was then. In the region I live in, most new grad jobs are now filled by internal hires. I KNOW working during nursing school is tough, but it seems that it is the best way to get a job after graduation, ESPECIALLY if you have your heart set on a specialty. I have 4 kids and was working during nursing school, so I know it's doable (just really busy). I know you don't want to work, but I also know how much I wanted to do L&D and that I appreciated that someone gave me the advice to get my foot in the door while I was still in school.

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