A labor and delivery nurse is a registered nurse who provides care to expectant mothers. Becoming a labor and delivery nurse comes with several advantages, both personally and professionally. Knowing the reasons to become a labor and delivery nurse can help you make a well-informed career decision. In this article, we explain what a labor and delivery nurse does, list the reasons to become a labor and delivery nurse, and provide tips to help you pursue this profession with ease.
What do labor and delivery nurses do?
A labor and delivery nurse is a type of registered nurse who provides care to pregnant women and their infants before, during and after labor. While a labor and delivery nurse’s duties may vary by location and hospital size, here are some of their common duties:
-
Meet with pregnant women for prenatal visits
-
Provide care to women with both normal and problematic pregnancies
-
Monitor the fetus, including its heartbeat and overall growth
-
Assess the length and strength of labor contractions
-
Coach women through labor and help with complications
-
Administer medications during delivery as needed
-
Perform tests on newborns after delivery
-
Educate mothers on infant care and best recovery practices
8 reasons to become a labor and delivery nurse
Here are some reasons to become a labor and delivery nurse:
1. Being a part of an important life event
Working as a labor and delivery nurse means you get to help patients during a life-changing event. As opposed to other medical procedures, patients often feel excited about welcoming a new life into the world. Whether you care for a mother expecting her first child or one who’s adding to their family, it’s often a happy occasion for all involved. Knowing you helped them during a memorable time in their life can improve your morale and help you feel like a valuable member of their care team.
2. Earning a lucrative salary
Labor and delivery nurses make a national average salary of $123,146 per year. Your salary as a labor and delivery nurse may vary based on your experience level, your geographic location, and your employer. You may also receive overtime and employee benefits, such as a 401(k), disability insurance and health care coverage. Keep in mind that, like your salary, your employee benefits depend on your employer.
3. Helping new mothers
As a labor and delivery nurse, you often work with new mothers. This allows you to provide them with the knowledge and confidence they need as they start to care for their new infants at home. Labor and delivery nurses often teach mothers various aspects of newborn care, such as feeding. They also emphasize the importance of proper nutrition and postpartum care.
4. Having plenty of employment opportunities
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t report employment data for labor and delivery nurses specifically, it has data for the overarching role of a registered nurse. According to the BLS, registered nurses can expect an employment growth of 9% from 2020 to 2030. The BLS also expects about 194,500 job openings for all registered nurses each year in this decade. Many of these job openings may come from people leaving the workforce or changing careers. Ultimately, the BLS expects employment for this profession to rise because of the growing need for health care.
5. Being able to pursue a variety of specialties
Since there are many aspects of childbirth, you have a variety of specialties to pursue as a labor and delivery nurse. Pursuing a specialty essentially allows you to focus on a particular area of childbirth and learn skills based on that area. For example, you can work as an antepartum nurse and help mothers who require hospitalization before childbirth or work as a postpartum nurse and care for mothers after delivery.
6. Having the chance to travel
When you pursue this profession, you have the option of becoming a travel nurse. As a labor and delivery travel nurse, you can take short-term assignments in locations of your choosing. Doing this can help you learn about different parts of the country. It also gives you a chance to explore new locations. Since some regions offer higher salaries for this profession, you may earn higher pay as a travel nurse than a regular, full-time labor and delivery nurse. You may also receive stipends to help you pay for housing and food.
7. Enjoying your job
As a labor and delivery nurse, you have the opportunity to provide patients with care and comfort during a potentially scary time. Showing empathy and advocating for your patients can help you build a strong relationship with them. Being a trusted advocate and source of encouragement through the childbirth process can help you feel more valued in the workplace and satisfied with your job.
8. Having long periods off
While labor and delivery nurses often work long, 12-hour shifts, this also means they have long periods off. Having this time can help you find a greater work-life balance. You can also use this time to pick up overtime hours and earn additional income.
Tips for starting a career as a labor and delivery nurse
Use these tips to help you pursue a career as a labor and delivery nurse:
-
Shadow a nurse. Before becoming a labor and delivery nurse, consider shadowing one in your spare time. Shadowing lets you learn from professionals in the workforce, which can help you decide whether to ultimately pursue the profession.
-
Pursue additional training. Consider taking continuing education or training courses as a labor and delivery nurse. These courses can help you develop your skills and may impress hiring managers.
-
Join a relevant association. Become a member of a relevant nursing association to help you connect with other professionals in your field. These associations can provide you with networking opportunities, which may make it easier for you to find a job later on.
I hope you find this article helpful.
Leave a Reply