Labor and delivery is one of the most sought-after jobs in nursing. It requires a specific skill set plus compassion, dedication, and knowledge. If you are a nurse who is just starting out or is curious about transitioning into the world of labor and delivery nursing, there are a few essential things to consider before starting your career. From how to start your career as a labor and delivery nurse, the demands and rewards of the job, to the profit you can expect to make, we will discuss vital information to help you make an educated decision for your nursing career.
What Qualifications Do I Need to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse?
To become a labor and delivery nurse, you must first meet some qualifications. Nurses must graduate from an accredited nursing school, earn an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor in Science of Nursing (BSN), and pass the NCLEX licensing exam. Many nurses recommend that new graduate nurses start their careers in a medical-surgical unit to gain confidence and nursing skills. However, that shouldn’t deter nurses from applying to a labor and delivery unit if they are new graduates. If the nurse is the right candidate for the job, many hospitals will hire them and have them complete a training course or program of their choice.
Certification in Obstetric Nursing is another option for labor and delivery nurses to advance their careers. The National Certification Corporation (NCC) offers the Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB) certification. The RNC-OB works well for registered nurses (RNs) with two years of professional experience and a specialization in obstetric, gynecologic, or neonatal nursing. Nurses who earn this certification can move up the ladder to a management position and increase their salaries.
What Type of Training and Experience Do Labor and Delivery Nurses Typically Have?
Labor and delivery nurses typically have a more extensive orientation to their unit than, for example, a medical-surgical nurse. During these orientations, nurses undergo intense training and education specialized in the labor and delivery unit. Many hospitals even offer their new nurses a fellowship or nurse residency program. The fellowship or residency programs often last a few months to a year. Nurse residency programs allow nurses to gain confidence and use their critical thinking in real-life, hands-on nursing situations under the supervision of an experienced preceptor. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nurses (AACN), there are multiple benefits associated with new nurse residency programs, which include the following:
- Strengthens critical thinking skills and use of evidence-based practices to improve clinical judgment
- Builds competence and confidence in clinical decision-making
- Enables stronger clinical nursing leadership, communication, and practice safety
- Provides individual development plans for new nursing roles
- Improves professional commitment, nurse satisfaction, and team interactions
Job Outlook for Labor and Delivery Nurses
With almost a million nurses coming into retirement by the year 2030, the nursing shortage is here to stay. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing states that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2021-2031, the RN workforce will likely grow by 6% over the next decade. Statistics suggest the RN workforce will increase from 3.1 million in 2021 to 3.3 million in 2031, a growth of 195,400 nurses. Accordingly, nurses who want to specialize in labor and delivery have an excellent opportunity to land the career of their dreams.
In addition to the aging workforce and nursing shortage, the number of births in the country will continue to grow, providing labor and delivery nurses with job security. In 2022, the number of babies born in the United States was over 3.7 million, according to UNICEF. With the birth rate steadily increasing each year, the need for nurses working in maternal/newborn units will also continue to rise.
Nurses who want to specialize in labor and delivery have a few options regarding their place of work. Some of the areas where a labor and delivery nurse can work include the following settings:
- Labor and delivery unit at a hospital
- NICU
- Postpartum floor
- Birthing centers
- Obstetric clinics
Salary Guide for Labor and Delivery Nurses
Labor and delivery nurses often earn a higher income than the average registered nurse working in another area of a hospital or clinic. Health eCareers states the average salary for a registered nurse is around $73,000. In contrast, the average salary for a labor and delivery nurse is nearly $80,000. National hourly wages vary by state, but on average, a new graduate nurse with less than a year of experience can expect to earn around $29. Nurses with five years of experience average $32, and nurses with over ten years of experience can earn upwards of $40 an hour, making labor and delivery a very lucrative area of nursing.
Physical Demands and Rewards of Becoming a Labor and Delivery Nurse
Labor and delivery nursing can be a physically demanding job. You must be able to help patients reposition, assist them to the bathroom, and be quick on your feet. Nurses who work in a labor and delivery setting often work 12-hour shifts.
Although the job is physically and mentally challenging, working in a labor and delivery unit has many rewards. Many nurses love that they share such an exciting and personal experience with their patients. Helping patients during childbirth is one of the most thrilling and joyful experiences that labor and delivery nurses get to be a part of. Some other tasks that labor and delivery nurses encounter during a shift include monitoring the fetal heart rate and contractions, administering medications, and reporting to obstetricians. Another rewarding aspect of labor and delivery nursing is education. Many nurses love teaching patients and their families about different options for childbirth, newborn care, and breastfeeding. These reasons help draw nurses to the labor and delivery field.
Attributes of a Great Labor and Delivery Nurse
To become a great labor and delivery nurse, you must have specific characteristics and attributes. Nurses must be empathetic and genuinely show that they care about the patients they serve. They must also think on their feet and communicate efficiently with patients and providers, especially when there are complications. Labor and delivery nurses should be excellent at critical thinking to make the best decisions regarding patient care. Another attribute that labor and delivery nurses should strive to have is cultural sensitivity. Labor and delivery nurses care for patients of all races and ethnicities. Each ethnic group has its own cultural views and rules on birth, and nurses must be sensitive to those views.
Being a labor and delivery nurse can be a wonderful career with opportunities for advancement, a higher salary, and rewarding work. Nurses will work with many different specialties and departments within the hospital. From Anesthesia to Radiology, ER to Reception, admissions, and countless other healthcare team members, labor and delivery nurses will need to communicate and collaborate to ensure they are delivering the best care possible to the mothers and families they serve. With the current trend of the nursing shortage, now is a great time to enter the labor and delivery nursing field.
Author Bio
Shelby Allan, RN, BSN is a nurse, a mother to four young kids, and a wife to a busy farmer/cattle rancher. She and her husband live on a farm in Central Nebraska. Shelby is passionate about educating women and mothers with evidence-based research so they may make the best decision for themselves and their families.
