Career Guide: Labor and Delivery Nurse
Here鈥檚 what you need to know.
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Labor and Delivery Nurse Overview
Childbirth is a significant, special and exciting milestone in a parent鈥檚 life. However, it can also be stressful and painful, and that鈥檚 where labor and delivery nurses come in.
Often referred to as L&D nurses, these individuals are quick on their feet and calm under pressure, especially in emergency scenarios. They鈥檙e a driving force who play a critical role in labor and delivery units.
If you鈥檙e interested in a nursing career and passionate about supporting women during childbirth, becoming a labor and delivery RN (registered nurse) may be the career path for you. This guide is a comprehensive look at what to expect in this role, as well as the qualifications to get there.
What Does a Labor and Delivery Nurse Do?
Sometimes known as maternity nurses, L&D nurses support expecting mothers from labor through postpartum care. During labor, they monitor vital signs, contractions and various other elements that signal the health of the mother and newborn and when it鈥檚 time for delivery. They play a critical role in assisting doctors and midwives during delivery and provide postpartum support and newborn assessments.
While an L&D nurse鈥檚 top priority is the mother and newborn, they also work closely with families and care teams to provide individualized support and care. This varies from providing emotional support to educating them on infant care, breastfeeding and more.
Where Do Labor and Delivery Nurses Work?
It seems that the most likely environment for an L&D nurse to work is a hospital, in maternity wards or obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) units. While this is primarily the case, sometimes, they work in birth centers and clinics or even in home birth environments alongside midwives. The environment varies, but no matter the setting, women鈥檚 health nurses should expect 24/7 shift work that includes nights, weekends and holidays.
Skills Needed For Labor and Delivery Nursing
An L&D nurse is essential, and in order to succeed in this role, you must have certain skills including:
- Empathy and emotional intelligence: An expectant mother and her family are often experiencing various emotions in the delivery room, so you鈥檒l need the ability to see when distress is occurring and to respond to it with kindness and understanding. You鈥檒l want to celebrate with the family in exciting moments and even offer support in unexpected or devastating moments.听
- Quick decision-making and multitasking: Sometimes, childbirth is a medical emergency, which requires you to respond rapidly and multitask based on the situation. Your ability to practice wisdom, swiftness and efficiency can generate positive and lifesaving outcomes in dire scenarios.听
- Teamwork and communication: You鈥檙e the liaison between the expecting mother and the obstetrician, so it鈥檚 paramount that you demonstrate clear and concise communication to ensure a safe delivery. This is not an individual endeavor, as you鈥檒l often collaborate with other nurses when additional support is needed.听
- Clinical knowledge: An L&D nurse is also an RN and hospital nurse, so you鈥檒l need to not only have the knowledge base required for that, but you鈥檒l also need to have a strong understanding of fetal monitoring, IV administration and emergency protocols.听听
- Physical stamina: Assisting with newborn deliveries requires the ability to work long shifts that demand physical energy. You鈥檒l need to be quick, responsive and ready to be on your feet for extended periods of time.听
How to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse
L&D nurses require similar nursing education to any RN; however, you鈥檒l also need specialized knowledge to assist with childbirth. You may see L&D nurses referred to as obstetric nurses or OB nurses when you鈥檙e looking for programs and roles.
- Nursing degree: Earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Sometimes a BSN is required to be an L&D nurse, depending on the individual facility.听
- Licensure: Pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed RN. This licensure is granted by state boards of nursing.听
- Experience: Spend time working in nursing roles where you鈥檒l get hands-on experience with maternal and child health. This is when you gain key skills needed to be an L&D nurse.听
- Certification (optional): Complete a specialized nursing certification like the Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB). This will boost your skillset and qualification for L&D nurse roles.听
Degree Options for Nursing Careers
番茄视频 offers affordable, CCNE-accredited and fully online nursing programs for when you鈥檙e ready to take your RN career to the next level with a post-licensure program.
Labor and Delivery Nurse Salary and Job Outlook
Similar to an RN salary, the average annual income for an L&D nurse is $93,600.*
RN demand is anticipated to grow 6% between 2023 and 2033, faster than average.*
Salary and Career Growth Opportunities
It鈥檚 important to note that an L&D nurse鈥檚 salary often involves factors like location, level of education, certifications and/or facility. Often, if you work nights, weekends and/or holidays, you鈥檒l be eligible for shift differentials 鈥� additional pay offered for working non-traditional hours. You might also earn more if you鈥檙e a travel nurse.
Additionally, an L&D nursing career is a strong foundation for future opportunities when you鈥檙e ready to advance into higher roles, which also come with salary increases. These roles often require advanced degrees like a Master of Science in Nursing or potentially a doctorate in nursing education.
You鈥檒l likely need a master鈥檚 degree to become a:
- Charge nurse: Lead nursing teams during shifts, supporting and overseeing fellow nurses.听
- Nurse manager: Recruit, supervise and oversee nursing teams to ensure safe, quality patient care.听
- Nurse practitioner (NP): Become an advanced practice RN (APRN) to assess, diagnose and treat patients. You鈥檒l also need to pass the national NP board certification exam.听
- Certified nurse midwife: Become an APRN who supports reproductive care and expecting mothers through examining, diagnosing and treating pregnancy-related needs.听
You鈥檒l need a specialized degree or a doctorate degree to become a:
- Nurse educator or clinical instructor: Transform your knowledge and experience by teaching the next generation of skilled nurses.听
FAQs
L&D nursing does come with certain challenges as it鈥檚 fast-paced and demanding. Also, there are sometimes deliveries that don鈥檛 go as expected and can be difficult to observe and participate in. However, it鈥檚 also a uniquely rewarding career where you’re part of a significant and special milestone.听
RNs without BSN degrees can be L&D nurses, but some healthcare facilities may require one.听
It typically takes two to four years to become an L&D nurse, as you鈥檙e completing education requirements and gaining experience. It can take less time if you enroll in fast-track programs.听
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