Would working as a doula help me get into infertility nursing?

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Career change-I a have worked 5 years in hospice and home health nursing. Through personal experience, I wish to pursue infertility nursing as ultimate goal. I have years of experience in GYN health and disease through cytology career 10 y before that. I have applied twice to obgyn office positions and have had only 1 interview no successful job offers.... I am wanting to know what education can assist me with this dream to help me land a better foot in the door... would you recommend working as a doula to get birth/lactation experience help? and or advanced degree with clinicals in REI? does infertility preclude midwifery model if these patients are viewed as higher risk? 

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Professional Development 

  • The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) offers courses for nurses in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. This would give you a more targeted approach and demonstrate your dedication to the specialty.
  • Consider joining the NPG (Nurses' Professional Group). The NPG is a professional group under ASRM dedicated to supporting fertility nurses with education and resources. It could potentially connect you with potential mentors and job opportunities.

Advanced Practice Roles

Consider pursuing an advanced practice role with clinical training in reproductive health or infertility. Many programs offer specific coursework in women's health, OB/GYN, and fertility care. For more information, check out the Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH ).

Can Infertility Preclude a Midwifery Model?

It really depends on the situation. While many infertility patients may be considered at higher risk, it doesn't necessarily preclude a midwifery model of care, especially if the patient does not require complex reproductive interventions (e.g., IVF, IUI). However, high-risk infertility cases may require a more medical approach, which may take the patient out of a traditional midwifery model and require obstetrical care. Midwifery often focuses on low-risk pregnancies, so patients undergoing infertility treatments could be viewed as higher risk in some cases, depending on their specific health concerns.

Strategies to Break Into the Field

  • Networking. Try networking with people working in fertility clinics or attending infertility nursing conferences.
  • Targeted applications. Since you've applied to OB/GYN offices with limited success, consider tailoring your resume to emphasize your relevant experience in GYN health and any specialized training in infertility or reproductive health that you pursue. Also, make sure to include transferable skills from your hospice and home health nursing work.
  • Shadowing. If possible, try to shadow someone working in a fertility clinic or with a reproductive endocrinologist to better understand the day-to-day work and strengthen your resume with that experience.

By combining some advanced education and relevant clinical experience, you'll be in a much better position to transition into infertility nursing successfully. 

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

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