 |
|
|
|
What Does a Labor and Delivery Nurse Do?
Labor and delivery nurses provide care to pregnant women in several different ways. Not only do they assist in the actual birthing process, but they also provide crucial pre- and post-delivery care. The main avenues of work as a labor and delivery nurse include:
Labor and delivery nurses can also work in hospital nurseries, caring for newborn infants. Some may become educators, developing the skill sets of those who are training to become labor and delivery nurses. Others receive advanced education and go on to become clinical nurse specialists or advanced practice nurses. Most labor and delivery nurses work in hospital settings.
Additional duties performed by labor and delivery nurses include formulating care plans for mothers and their newborns, and monitoring patients. One of their most important roles is to provide emotional and psychological support to patients and their families. Having a baby is a joyous time for many, but it can also be frightening to new mothers. Labor and delivery nurses provide a critical layer of comfort and support throughout the entire pregnancy process. Labor and delivery nurses typically work with patients throughout the course of pregnancy and childbirth, and many forge strong bonds with their patients--whom they might see again in a year or two.
What Are the Steps to Becoming a Labor and Delivery Nurse?
Labor and delivery nurses must meet the same educational requirements as those in other advanced nursing positions, mainly by completing a bachelor's or master's of science degree in nursing from an accredited college or vocational institution. Labor and delivery nurses then receive additional on-the-job training, typically in a hospital setting, under the guidance of more experienced peers.
Bachelor of Science in nursing programs usually take four years to complete at traditional colleges, while Master of Science degrees can typically add two years to the length of study. Certain hospitals administer diploma programs that can provide nursing students with proper credentialing in about three years. However, while there are hundreds of accredited degree courses from colleges and universities, and vocational and online schools, there are relatively few hospital diploma programs.
Education is crucial to advancement in nursing and that holds true for labor and delivery nurses. Career options can be limited for nurses with lower levels of education, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. Advanced practice nurses, such as nurse midwives who work in hospital delivery and care for newborns, must hold at least a master's degree. Additionally, labor and delivery nurses--like all registered nurses--must be certified by passing a national licensing exam known as the National Council of Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-RN.
How to Become a Great Labor and Delivery Nurse
Like those in all nursing specialties, labor and delivery nurses must have good communication skills. They provide vital information to mothers, particularly first-time mothers, as well as crucial care. Because labor and delivery nurses provide assessments of mothers and babies and develop specialized plans of care, they must also be independent and critical thinkers. Additional traits that can serve good nurses throughout their careers include:
Labor and delivery nurses often supervise others and, therefore, must be able to provide clear direction to a team. They also should be well-grounded in their careers and in their own personal lives in order to successfully take on the additional emotional burdens patients present. A desire to continually learn can lead to more career options, as most advanced-level nursing positions require additional training and certification.
According to Salary.com, certified nurse midwives throughout the U.S. earn a median annual salary of $91,093. Nurse midwives in the lowest 10 percent of national wage earners still received more than $76,000 per year, while the top 10 percent got more than $105,000. Wages vary greatly by employer, region and city size. For example, nurse midwives in the Greater Los Angeles area averaged more than $100,000, while their counterparts in Billings, Montana earned about $80,000.
Resources for Labor and Delivery Nurses
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
Request info from multiple schools, by clicking the Get Info links.
Copyright © QuinStreet, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
