What career step got you into OB?

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I really want to be an OB nurse!! (and so do LOTS of other nurses!!). My question for you is: What did you do in your career that enabled you to get into OB nursing?

I dont have acute care experience yet, which is a major stumbling block for me.

I hear about new grads being lucky and getting hired on, but apparently I was never that lucky!

My plan right now is to find a more acute job, and hopefully in a hospital, and then work in the OB direction by gaining experience and rubbing shoulders with the OB nurses.

Any other tips? I hear lots of nurses talking about increasing your certifications.... if you do not work for a hospital, how do you get certified in these areas? Do you take local classes or college classes? I would like to boost my resume, but most of the classes I see are ACLS or BLS.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Are you talking mother/baby or L&D, or does it matter to you?

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.

If you are looking at specifically L&D, start by taking a basic fetal monitoring courses (preferably AWHONN). NRP is also a good certification to look into. When I landed my new grad L&D position, I had experience as a tech on an adult liver/kidney transplant floor that gave me fabulous experience with lab draws, dressing changes, and foley catheters (techs were allowed to insert them on the floor). Also, since L&D wasn't an option for my preceptorship in nursing school, I chose OR. When I interviewed, the manager was providing lots of education for the current staff regarding circulating duties - I think my experience in the OR helped seal the deal. I also had great recommendations from my OB nursing instructors (theory and clinical) and the manager of the OR where I did my preceptorship.

Best of luck to you!

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Specializes in LTC.

This sounds like great advice because I think this is one area I definitely want to be. I don't like LTC.:)

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Specializes in OB.
I really want to be an OB nurse!! (and so do LOTS of other nurses!!). My question for you is: What did you do in your career that enabled you to get into OB nursing?

I dont have acute care experience yet, which is a major stumbling block for me.

I hear about new grads being lucky and getting hired on, but apparently I was never that lucky!

My plan right now is to find a more acute job, and hopefully in a hospital, and then work in the OB direction by gaining experience and rubbing shoulders with the OB nurses.

Any other tips? I hear lots of nurses talking about increasing your certifications.... if you do not work for a hospital, how do you get certified in these areas? Do you take local classes or college classes? I would like to boost my resume, but most of the classes I see are ACLS or BLS.

The career step which got me into OB (previously a psych nurse) was to take a job in a medically underserved area which was chronically short staffed enough to be willing to train me in return for a one year agreement. This involved moving myself and son halfway across the country to a remote reservation.This may not be an option for everyone, but it is doable. (And as it turned out I grew to love the area and rural nursing)

Other than this I'd advise getting any position in an acute care hospital and after becoming established ask to cross train to be able to float to OB (starting with Mother/Baby). Then when a position becomes available you would already be known and trained for it.

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Specializes in Couplet Care/Newborn Nursery.

I'm a new grad in California that was hired for couplet care. I would suggest NRP and Basic Fetal Monitoring. The director informed me that if an applicant didn't have NRP she wasn't even considering them.

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Specializes in OB, NICU, Nursing Education (academic).

OB was my 1st job after graduating.....day shift....I kid you not!

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