Successfully take the licensing examination for RNs called the NCLEX-RN. To be eligible to take the RNC-OB exam, the RN must have 24 months of experience in the field. Currently there is no certification in place for Labor and Delivery Nurses. Coordinates maternal patient care holistically, advocating for physical, emotional and psycho-social needs. The nursing professional must have a solid knowledge of delivery, signs of complication and sterile techniques, postpartum care and newborn nursery procedure. This requirement may vary based on the institution of employment. Adept at interpreting fetal heart monitoring and EKG readings, Provides appropriate nursing care for childbearing women from teens to advanced maternal age, Provides advocacy, education and care from pregnancy through to postpartum phases, including fetal and infant care, Advocates for room-in or single-room, family centered care philosophy. The labor & delivery nurse will usually be the nurse who takes the mother’s vital signs, performs the initial vaginal examination, time’s contractions and monitors the mother and fetus’ vital signs throughout the labor. Jobs are forecasted to continue to grow in this field, as our population, and indeed the world's population, continue to grow. In many hospital settings, the mother in labor will have one nurse who remains throughout the labor and delivery process. The labor & delivery nurse helps the mother and family through the sometimes-lengthy process. L&D nurses remain calm when patient tensions run high and discomfort mounts, and often engage family members and spouses in how to bring comfort to their laboring partners. Because, the labor & delivery nurse position is well paid and highly sought after, the higher the educational achievements of the nurse applying, the better the prospects for the nurse are in landing a job. Our convenient, LIVE instructor led test-out program allows you to learn at an accelerated pace and earn college credit-by-examination which then is eligible to be transferred to an ACEN accredited nursing school or 100's of universities nationwide.Learn More. This can be done by passing the RNC-OB exam. Labor & Delivery Nurse Education Requirements, Certification, and Schooling Programs, Labor & Delivery Nurse Salary and Career Outlook. With No Waiting List to get started, Free Books, and Low Cost financing options available, this is the perfect way for LPNs, and LVNs to earn your Associates or bachelors Degree in Nursing and your RN license. Discover the …, The nursing field has seen explosive growth in recent years, and this …, Learn how to become an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) and about the …, Is becoming a long-term Care Nurse a viable career for you? Nurses wishing to specialize in labor and delivery or switch focuses may wish to take continuing education courses to help bolster their resumes and experience in labor & delivery. Refers patient(s) care to ancillary support staff and specialists. Every nurse must pass the state's NCLEX-RN examination for licensure in order to be considered as a 'registered' nurse. + Search for Nursing Programs Currently Accepting Applicants, 18 Best Nursing Career Choices in 2020 [Infographic], 9 Tips to Write a Strong Nursing Cover Letter with No Experience, 5 Great Nursing Schools to go to in the U.S. in 2020-2021, All Online BSN-DNP / Doctorate of Nursing Programs, The 20 Nursing Career Specialties : Demands, and Salaries. The minimum education for the L&D RN is typically an ADN degree. NursingSchools4u.com is an advertising-supported site. Childbirth can be stressful without adequate support from nursing staff and family. Not to be confused with a midwife or a doula, the Labor and Delivery nurse requires a degree from an accredited ADN or BSN program - a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing is considered highly competitive for job application. Nurses work in hospitals, birthing centers and as community resources. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. The average salary of the L&D RN is $55,426, with a range of $46,225 - $86,709. Working closely with the obstetricians and gynecologists in the ward, L&D nurses work in a hospital setting with other support staff to ensure that mothers and their birth team have a safe experience both laboring and delivering babies. With that in mind, it's important to recognize that each woman's experience is unique, and has its own potential pitfalls as the patient and healthcare teamwork to bring a new life into the world. This is a position that is well paid and has a high level of satisfaction for the nurse who chooses to pursue a career in delivery room and labor. At present, field-specific continuing education and certification programs that are offered for Labor and Delivery are through the National Certification Corporation (NCC), which cover the stages of labor in depth, best practices for Caesarian section birth, best practices in labor and delivery for various segments of the population, as well as anesthetics and pharmacology. In addition to experience as a postpartum nurse, Labor and Delivery nurses require certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Evaluates patient care and plans according to best patient outcomes and facility resources. Home / Nursing Careers & Specialties / Labor and Delivery Nurse. There are many specialty areas in the field of nursing. Online Nursing Programs All Online RN to BSN Programs All Online RN to MSN Programs All Online MSN Programs All Online Nurse Practitioner Programs All Online BSN-DNP / Doctorate of Nursing Programs All Online LPN to RN Programs, Are you considering a career as a neonatal intensive care? High risk L&D facilities are more common in teaching hospitals and urban areas.". Smaller hospitals may have the OB nurse assisting in the delivery of the infant and even performing the Apgar tests and moving the baby to the nursery. To become a Labor & Delivery Nurse, either an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is required. The labor & delivery nurse is a sought after position for many nurses. In many hospitals, the OB/GYN nurse will prep the mother for delivery and accompany her into the delivery room. Working with a low patient ratio, some Labor and Delivery nurses work in the general ward, while others choose to specialize in working with high-risk groups - mothers with high-risk pregnancies, advanced maternal age, or those having issues with fetal development. Nurses returning for a Master Degree can elect to specialize in OBGYN care. Experienced nurses need at least 1 year of bedside nursing experience and are often required to work as a Postpartum Nurse prior to transitioning into the L&D role. Jobs for Registered and Licensed nurses are projected to grow at the rate of 21% -23% through the year 2018. Nurses returning for a Master Degree can elect to specialize in OBGYN care. Monitors, documents, and communicates mother, fetal and infant status to members of the interdisciplinary team. During nursing school, the aspiring labor room nurse should take electives in maternal care, labor and delivery or plan on taking further courses after graduation to prepare for this career. L&D nurses often have a strong interest in obstetrics and gynecology, and view themselves as strong advocates of mothers and their children in the healthcare setting. The labor & delivery nurse will monitor the mother throughout the labor process providing information, support and direction in breathing and relaxation techniques as necessary. Senior nurses may opt to specialize further in this type of care and support, augmenting their training and experience to study issues like lactation and healthy birth and maternal outcomes in the community. Evaluates learning needs of patient and partners, and provides education appropriate to circumstances. Labor and Delivery nursing is by no means a niche role given how common medical intervention is for birthing throughout the world. It's also required to become licensed. The average salary of a labor & delivery nurse is $75,000 per year. Labor & Delivery Nurse Job Description & Scope of Practice.