What work background gives you the greatest chance of working in L&D?

[cheesewhiz, LPN]

I currently work in a hospital (non clinical service) and am working towards my RN. My goal is to work in some field of OB (more particularly L&D). Oftentimes the open jobs relating to OB are internal positions, so I have the option of applying for them; including nurse techs, postpartum unit coordinators, etc. My question is, say I am not able to get one of those jobs, what other units would be nice to work on to gain experience that they look for when hiring OB nurses? I have read somewhere before that they aren't too interested in hiring in people from med-surg (but that may be completely wrong).

So, what kind of jobs and experiences should I aim for before graduating with my RN and applying for OB positions?

[schack]

I think it depends on what the unit needs. I was hired into OB at a small facility that needed staff with critical care experience. I had some ICU/tele and post op experience. Sometimes it's just being what they need.... Good luck to you!

[RaziRN]

I was told by the director of OB to get a year of med/surg experience and then come apply to OB. So here I am truckin' along in a job I hate so that I maybe just might have a chance of getting into OB which has been my passion since I was 15. *sigh*

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

I work with an older nurse who was in OB for several years and then went to O.R. for ten years before coming back. She says that having been an O.R. nurse has really given her an advantage when she has to go down for an emergency c/s. She already knows the ropes of the O.R. so she can do things that many L&D nurses are not trained to do and she feels comfortable while the rest of us often sweat bullets.