Being a part of new life by helping expectant mothers give birth is the greatest reward of a Labor and Delivery Nurse. Because this specialized nursing field is so exciting, it is without doubt one of the most popular. In addition to assistance with delivery, this type of nurse also provides the mother with postpartum medical care, as well as education and support.
Labor and Delivery Nursing Career, Role of a Labor and Delivery Nurse
Along with helping pregnant women go through the birthing process, a Labor and Delivery Nurse plays an even bigger role of assisting women who experience complications during pregnancy, as well as labor. In this case, this type of nurse would work closely with the doctor in times of the expectant mother needing an emergency cesarean section. This nurse would keep family notified of changes, problems, and even healthy births resulting from a C-Section.
Additionally, in the role of a Labor and Delivery Nurse, once the mother has given birth, postpartum care would be provided with both new mother and baby being monitored for potential complications such as bleeding, tearing, or something else. After birth the Labor and Delivery Nurse would also take the lead role in educating the new parents on proper care of the baby, as well as proper care of the mother’s stiches, whether from an episiotomy or caesarean section along with things to watch for after going home.
Because a Labor and Delivery Nurse is a part of new life during pregnancy and after, but also has the opportunity to educate people, it has proven to be a highly rewarding nursing position. In this role, the nurse would need to build a trusting relationship with the parents to be, have a good working relationship with the doctor, as well as other medical staff, and possess excellent communication skills.
Although the majority of pregnancies and deliveries experience no problems, there are always surprises. Because of this, a Labor and Delivery Nurse must be able to make fast but also accurate decisions during times of crisis. While some of this skill can be learned through earning a college degree, most comes from experiences as a general Registered Nurse. For this reason, it is common for a Registered Nurse to start out assisting in an operating room environment, which provides excellent training to work as a Labor and Delivery Nurse. This position also requires long hours since some expectant mothers take a while to deliver so the ideal person would be in good shape and able to deal with the physical demands of the job.
Labor and Delivery Nurse Educational Requirements
Being a specialized nursing career, someone who wants to become a Labor and Delivery Nurse would need at minimum a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree although today, more and more hospitals, medical care facilities, and birthing centers require the individual to have a Master of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Regardless, coursework, classroom time, and hands-on training should focus on birthing.
Additionally, it is common for the person wanting to be a Labor and Delivery Nurse to complete other courses to include those focusing on pediatrics and midwifery. Typically, these courses consist of teaching on postpartum, newborn care, and antepartum management, among other things. Of course, any candidate for a nursing career such as this would need to have a current Registered License from the state board for the state working.
Labor and Delivery Nurse Salaries
A Registered Nurse working as a Labor and Delivery Nurse would make approximately $50,000 a year while someone with a Master’s degree and several years of prior experience would make more. Along with this, salary could vary somewhat depending on the state in which the nurse works, the type of facility he or she works in, and other factors.
Labor and Delivery Nurse Opportunities
The most recent study shows that of all nursing careers, that of being a Labor and Delivery Nurse is by far the fastest growing. In fact, of all medical professions, nursing in general surpasses all other career opportunities. Even with growing interest in nursing as a whole, there continues to be a nationwide shortage. Experts believe that through the end of 2016, the nursing sector will experience a 10% growth and as far as future opportunities specific to a Labor and Delivery Nurse, this area will always be in need of caring, devoted, and qualified nursing professionals.
