Gynecology and obstetrics are separate nursing disciplines but they can also be combined and work as one. Gynecology/obstetric nurses provide care and treatment to women in regards to their reproductive health at all stages of their lives. It is also their job to educate and support their female patients when it comes to any number of reproductive issues that may arise. Many gynecology/obstetric nurses choose to specialize in a particular area, such as perinatal nursing or labor and delivery.
The reproductive nurse is concerned with a woman’s life and health from the start of menstruation until after menopause is over and beyond. This is not a general area of nursing but is a specialty that requires additional education and experience. These nurses perform a variety of valuable functions for women and their babies. They provide necessary medical care during pregnancies while they also assist with both labor and delivery during childbirth. During the postpartum period these nurses can also provide to their patients medical assistance and the education they require to be the best mothers they can be.
Education and Training
If you love babies and want to help women with their reproductive lives then becoming a gynecology/obstetric nurse may be the specialty for you. In order to be a reproductive specialist nurse you first must become a licensed registered nurse (RN). To do this you must take and pass your state’s board of nursing (NCLEX) examination. You then must go to university and graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN should take anywhere from four to six years to complete. This includes spending one to two years studying in a pre-nursing program and four years studying in nursing school.
Gynecology/obstetric nurses must also obtain additional certification in a variety of areas. You can do this through the National Certification Corporation (NCC). They include gynecology, obstetrics, labor and delivery, perinatal nursing and neonatal nursing. All of these specialties are necessary components of becoming this type of nurse. It is also essential for these nurses to get plenty of clinical obstetric nursing experience in order to become an expert in the field.
Education is important for gynecology/obstetric nurses and so is obtaining the proper licensing. An obstetric nurse must also be an effective communicator and be approachable, understanding supportive and encouraging. She also must be able to establish rapport with her patients that are from any number of different backgrounds, as well as cultures, races and ages.
Salary of a Gynecology/Obstetric Nurse
Staff registered nurses (RNs) in the US earn a median base salary of approximately $41,642. An estimated half of all RNs in the country earn in the range of $38,792 to $44,869.The median annual salary for gynecology/obstetric nurses is $70,000. The potential in the gynecology/obstetric field of nursing is tremendous.
Nursing is a profession that is greatly in demand and requires dedicated and committed individuals who want to help their patients in every way that they can. The salary potential for gynecology/obstetric nurses is very lucrative. Be aware that nursing salaries are contingent on a variety of factors. They relate to the level of your nursing degree as well as your nursing education. They also have to do with your years of experience and the city and state you reside in. If you love babies and new life then with gynecology/obstetrics you have chosen the right specialty!
