Why Am I so confused!!

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Oct 5, 2015

You have to realize that there is no nursing shortage for new nurses & that while I commend you on your dream, it may take awhile to get to your dream. Or you may find out during clinicals it's not everything you thought it would be.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Oct 5, 2015

If you wanted to work with babies, wouldn't you prefer to work a mother/baby unit? L & D is mainly involved with the labor and birth process. Once the baby is born, they usually go to mother/baby or a specialty unit, correct?

I'm not an L & D nurse, so please anyone correct me if I'm wrong!

ahs2015 · Oct 5, 2015

The first thing you need to do is get a nursing degree. You can get an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), however, many hospitals in TX are aiming for 80% of their nursing staff to have a BSN by 2020. Decide which degree you want to pursue and then research the schools in your area that offer a nursing program. It's likely there are pre-requisite courses you will need to complete before you can formally apply to a nursing program. Given the number of candidates applying for nursing programs it's highly competitive. You will need to ensure your GPA and other requirements make you a strong candidate. Check the education programs approved by the TX Board of Nursing to find schools in your area.

Once you receive your nursing degree you will need to take the NCLEX test. Upon passing, you will be a Registered Nurse and can look for a job in a field of your choosing.

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2015

Every since I was a little girl I wanted to work with babies, but every time I google how to be a labor and delivery nurse nothing specific pops up.I'm only 19 from Houston Texas and I would love know any information about this. Please no rude or immature comments. Thank you!

Just curious - why are you automatically expecting "rude or immature comments"? Seems a strange way to introduce yourself to a forum full of nurses.

p.s. It's "ever since" not "every since." Hope that's not rude, because learning how to appropriately express yourself is a big step in your quest to be a nurse. As is the ability to take constructive criticism.

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2015

Just curious - why are you automatically expecting "rude or immature comments"? Seems a strange way yo introduce yourself to a forum full of nurses.
p.s. It's "ever since" not "every since." Hope that's not rude, because learning how to appropriately express yourself is a big step in your quest to be a nurse.

Opening a can of worms, I see...

To OP: I would do a bit more research on nursing. It's not a warm, fuzzy profession, and you're not always guaranteed a position in the specialty you want after you graduate.

As PP said L&D, is not dealing with kids too much. Peds or NICU may be more of an area of interest for you.

dec2007 · Oct 5, 2015

Maternity nursing or neonatal intensive care may be what you are looking for. Also, there are some CNP Midwifery programs, although I would have to research where these are available. If you choose to continue on to a CNP program, family nurse practitioners are frequently hired to perform well-baby care in clinics. Hope this helps.

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2015

Opening a can of worms, I see...

Well, you must admit that it's a little different to introduce yourself to a professional forum by assuming the worst.

Not to mention the fact that no one, not even the Original Poster, gets to dictate other folks' responses on the Internet.

cracklingkraken, ASN, RN · Oct 5, 2015

Well, you must admit that it's a little different to introduce yourself to a professional forum by assuming the worst.
Not to mention the fact that no one, not even the Original Poster, gets to dictate other folks' responses on the Internet.

No, I agree completely. It's usually responses like that though that brings out the hostility. Hopefully that won't be the case this time.

anh06005, MSN, APRN, NP · Oct 5, 2015

As PP's have said there's no specialty nursing school. You go for a degree in nursing (ASN or BSN), graduate, pass your boards, then find a job in whatever area you wish. Nursing school teaches you to be a nurse generalist. You specialize later on.

PLEASE NOTE: there are also programs that don't lead to degrees. There are technical programs to be a LPN and diploma programs to be a RN. Many places are seeking mostly BSN students, though, and RN diploma programs are dwindling. Also LPN's sometimes aren't hired onto certain specialty units.

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 6, 2015

If you wanted to work with babies, wouldn't you prefer to work a mother/baby unit? L & D is mainly involved with the labor and birth process. Once the baby is born, they usually go to mother/baby or a specialty unit, correct?
I'm not an L & D nurse, so please anyone correct me if I'm wrong!

What Horseshoe said. I work L&D and my exposure to babies is very limited once they are born!

Coffee Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2015

Yeah, you probably want a postpartum unit or the NICU if you want to work with babies, not L&D (although that is hugely rewarding in its own right). Look into postpartum if you want cuddly healthy babies and lots of parent education. NICU is also baby-centric but a faster-paced, higher-intensity unit, and (depending on the level of unit) you can go a long time without taking care of a baby well enough to cuddle.