Helping bring new life into the world is one of the most exciting career paths nurses can pursue. Labor and delivery (L&D) nurses serve a vital role in hospitals. From providing medication administration to emotional support to monitoring the baby, L&D nursing is a sought-after path. The labor and delivery travel nurse job outlook & salary are impressive, causing a huge draw to this specialty. As your trusted nurse staffing agency, Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health is here to explain the job outlook and salary for this career and help you find the best travel assignment for your goals and aspirations.
The Role of a Labor and Delivery Travel Nurse
Labor and Delivery nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who specialize in caring for women throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the immediate postpartum period. They play a crucial role in guiding women through the birthing process and ensuring the health and safety of both mother and baby. During the active labor phase, when contractions become longer, stronger, and closer together, the delivery nurse closely monitors the mother's vital signs, contraction pattern, fetal heart rate, and progress of cervical dilation.
They provide physical comfort measures such as massage, encourage the mother in her efforts, and administer medications as prescribed by the obstetrician. During delivery of the baby, the nurse continues monitoring vital signs and watches for any signs of distress. After delivery, they assess the newborn and may clamp and cut the umbilical cord. The nurse also helps initiate breastfeeding and monitors the mother's bleeding and uterine tone.
Some of their responsibilities include:
- Monitoring fetal heart rate, blood pressure, and contractions during labor
- Providing pain management and emotional support to patients
- Assisting physicians during delivery procedures
- Caring for mothers and babies post-delivery
- Educating parents on newborn care, breastfeeding, and more
- Documenting patient health information
- Communicating with the healthcare team
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What Do Delivery Nurses Do within the Medical Team?
Labor and Delivery nurses work closely with other members of the medical team to provide coordinated care. They can't do their jobs without assistance from other healthcare professionals who are also working in the labor and delivery department. Some of the ways L&D travel nurses work with other team members include:
- Work alongside obstetricians, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and surgical technicians during delivery
- Communicate with the patient's primary care provider and notify them of the delivery
- Consult with lactation specialists to support breastfeeding initiation
- Collaborate with neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurses if needed
- Interact with the hospital lab, blood bank, and pharmacy when testing or medications are required
Benefits of Labor and Delivery Travel Nursing
L&D travel nursing can provide you with experiences that you might not normally get in a traditional role. You can choose an assignment in a location that you want to explore more and spend your days off sightseeing and learning more about the place you're currently living. You'll be able to work in medical facilities that have diverse patient populations, allowing you to gain valuable experience as a nurse. Some of the key benefits associated with labor and delivery travel nursing jobs include:
- The opportunity to gain experience in different hospital settings and procedures
- Flexible schedules and lengths of assignments (8-26 weeks)
- Higher pay rates than staff nursing positions
- Housing and travel stipends
- Ability to choose job assignments by locations and schedules
What is the Job Outlook and Salary for a Labor and Delivery Travel Nurse?
The job outlook for labor and delivery travel nurses is excellent. With the ongoing nursing shortage, hospitals across the country are in need of experienced and qualified nurses to assist in their labor and delivery units. This high demand, coupled with the flexibility and often higher pay rates of travel nursing positions, makes specializing as a labor and delivery travel nurse an appealing career path for many registered nurses.
What is the Average Salary for a Labor and Delivery Travel Nurse?
Nurses are compensated well, but the average travel nurse salary is typically higher than the salary of a staff nurse. The average labor and delivery nurse salary is competitive. According to Payscale, the average hourly pay is $30 per hour, with some L&D nurses making $46 an hour or more. Based on these numbers, the average annual salary for an L&D nurse ranges from $62,400 to $95,680 when working the traditional 40 hours per week. A labor and delivery travel nurse salary is competitive, even at a lower rate.
However, actual salaries may be higher or lower depending on:
- Geographic Location: There are generally higher pay rates in regions with higher costs of living.
- Experience Level: More experienced nurses can earn higher pay.
- Certifications: Nurses with specific certifications pertaining to labor and delivery might earn a higher wage.
- Shift Differentials: Evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts often have bonus pay incentives.
- Overtime Hours: Time and a half pay can add significantly to total earnings.
- Type of Facility: Specialized hospitals and medical facilities may offer higher rates.
In addition to the base hourly rate, labor and delivery travel nurses receive a stipend to cover housing and travel, which is usually $1,500-$2,000 per week. Depending on your assignment and the agency you work with, benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, and referral bonuses may also be included.
How Does the Pay Vary Across Different States?
The pay for a travel labor and delivery nurse varies from state to state. In states and areas that have a higher cost of living, like metropolitan areas, the pay tends to be higher to compensate for the higher cost of living. On the other hand, lower cost of living areas will have a lower wage compared to the more populated areas.
In addition to the cost of living, the pay can vary depending on competition between healthcare employers, and how high the demand is for L&D nurses. The key is to compare earnings to factors like housing costs and taxes. Experienced delivery travel nurses working with top agencies can find the most lucrative contracts nationwide.
What Does the Job Growth Rate Look Like for This Career Path?
The job outlook for labor and delivery nurses overall is excellent. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 7% from 2020-2030, faster than the average across all occupations. With the nationwide nurse shortage, the demand for more RNs, including specialized labor and delivery nurses, will only continue to increase.
As hospitals increasingly rely on travel nurses to fill gaps in staffing, the demand for labor and delivery travel nurses specifically will remain strong. Nurses with obstetrics training and experience should have excellent job prospects.
That said, securing a labor and delivery travel nurse position still requires relevant expertise. Maintaining obstetrics clinical skills through continuing education and seeking certifications like Inpatient Obstetric Nursing can help nurses stand out when applying for labor and delivery travel assignments and assist with career development. Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health is dedicated to assisting you grow in your career with Work Study programs, Clinical Ladder, and more.
Education and Other Requirements for Labor and Delivery Travel Nurse Jobs
Becoming a travel labor and delivery nurse doesn't happen overnight. Obtaining your registered nursing (RN) license is the first step. You can get your Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). From there, gaining work experience in various medical facilities, specifically in labor and delivery and critical care, will help you land a great job assignment and increase your earning potential.
To work as a delivery nurse, RNs must have the following:
- An active and unencumbered registered nursing license
- 1-2 years of recent experience in labor and delivery nursing
- Current BLS/CPR certification
A relevant professional certification can also add to your earning potential when applying for travel assignments. To make your application stand out and potentially increase your travel nurse pay, you might want to consider additional certifications like:
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program Certification (NRP)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification (ACLS)
Beyond your education, work experience, and certifications, becoming a labor and delivery nurse requires excellent communication skills, compassion, emotional intelligence, critical thinking skills, and the ability to multitask and work under high-stress situations. Remaining calm and providing emotional support while still being able to perform job duties will allow you to be successful in this career path.
It's important to note that every travel assignment might have a different job description and requirements. While having a valid nursing license and the general duties being the same across the board, some health systems or healthcare professionals are looking to hire those with a specific amount of working experience, certain certifications, etc. As a nurse nominated top 10 travel nursing agency, Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health can guide you through the process of starting your L&D career and help you find success as a travel L&D nurse.
Jumpstart Your Labor and Delivery Travel Nurse Career with the Help of Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health
Health Carousel Nursing & Allied Health takes a nurse-centric approach to travel nurse positions. Day one as a traveler with us, you get a Full Circle of Support. This approach allows us to provide personalized Career Coaching and guidance as you navigate the world of travel nursing. Our large network allows us to work closely with major health systems throughout the nation so you can work in an area that you're ready to explore. The benefits of working with us are abundant, but some that you can take advantage of include:
- Comprehensive and Tailored Job Matching: Our recruiting teams take the time to find specific openings with a job description that adequately matches your skills and experience. This not only leads to you being happier with your job but also saves you time filtering through jobs that aren't exactly what you're looking for.
- Licensing and Credentialing Assistance: We want to make your transition into travel nursing as seamless as possible. We can assist you with all the necessary licensing, credentialing, and certifications so you can get started with your new position faster.
- Professional Career Growth: We want to help people become the best healthcare professionals they can be. We offer opportunities to nurses like Work Study and Clinical Ladder. In addition to those programs, we offer Career Coaching to help guide you.
- 24/7 Clinical Support: While you're on your travel assignment, you'll have access to our CNO-led team, who can provide you with guidance, and mentoring, and answer questions you might have while you're on your assignment.
Check out On Demand, our powerful web app, where you can search and apply for labor and delivery travel nurse jobs nationwide.
FAQs
Is being an L&D nurse stressful?
There can be stressful moments while working as a labor and delivery nurse, but more often than not, it's an exciting job, thanks to being able to assist with the delivery process.
What's the difference between a maternity nurse and a labor and delivery nurse?
Maternity nurses might work in OB offices and provide care throughout the pregnancy while L&D nurses focus specifically on labor, the delivery process, and right after.
