A labor and delivery (L&D) nurse is a registered nurse who supports expectant parents and newborns—as well as other healthcare professionals, such as obstetricians and nurse midwives. A labor and delivery nurse has many responsibilities related to the monitoring and care of the mother and baby during labor, delivery, and in the postpartum period.
What Does a Labor and Delivery Nurse Do?
Labor and delivery nurses may be registered nurses or nurse practitioners, also referred to as advanced practice nurses (APRNs). Nurse midwives also work in the labor and delivery setting but typically do not function in the same role as a labor and delivery nurse. The labor and delivery nurse’s credentials and state practice laws determine the scope of practice permitted. Specific duties may also be determined by the hospital or birthing center in which they work.
Labor and delivery nurses have many responsibilities and priorities to balance, since they often care for more than one patient at a time. In a single shift, a labor and delivery nurse’s patient assignment may include caring for several patients who are at various stages of labor and delivery.
Such care includes caring for both the mother and baby and providing support for the patient’s significant other. Labor and delivery nurses have specialized training to identify any potential complications before, during, and after delivery and to intervene quickly and appropriately when needed.
Labor and delivery nurses may also provide extensive coaching and one-on-one support to help the patient with pain management throughout the labor process. They may also be responsible for care of the newborn after delivery.
The duties of a labor and delivery nurse may include:
Patient admissions
Obtaining patient history
Assessing and monitoring the status of the mother and baby
Monitoring contractions
Administering medications
Inserting intravenous lines and catheters
Performing various procedures—such as vaginal exams to assess cervical dilation
Operating and monitoring medical equipment
Assisting the physician or midwife
Assisting in the operating room if cesarean delivery is required
Educating and coaching patients
Providing emotional support
Providing postpartum and newborn care
How Much Does a Labor and Delivery Nurse Make Per Year?
According to salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for registered nurses was $77,600 in May 2021—with half of nurses earning more than that amount and half earning less. Wages of nurses in the lowest 10 percent were less than $59,450. Wages of nurses in the highest 10 percent were over $120,250.
The median annual wage for nurse practitioners was $120,680 in May 2021. The median annual wage for nurse midwives was $112,830 for the same time period.
The BLS does not provide a pay breakdown according to specialty but does provide median annual wages for registered nurses according to general categories of work location.
Since labor and delivery nurses care for patients in hospitals or birthing centers, the BLS median annual wage of $85,020 for registered nurses working in general medical and surgical hospitals (as of May 2021) may apply, depending upon the employer. BLS reports a median annual wage of $128,190 for nurse practitioners and nurse midwives working in state, local, and private hospitals for the same time period.
The salary of a labor and delivery nurse is also influenced by factors such as education, experience, and geographical region of the country.
The path to becoming a labor and delivery nurse depends upon the credentials involved. Labor and delivery nurses are registered nurses and must attend an accredited nursing program that leads to a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an associate’s degree in nursing, or a nursing diploma.
RNs must also be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure can be obtained by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and meeting any additional requirements of the state’s board of nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers a resource to determine state-based nursing licensure requirements.
Labor and delivery nurses who are advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, are licensed registered nurses who obtain at least a master’s degree in their specialty role, pass a national certification exam, and hold an APRN license in their state.
A labor and delivery nurse can also obtain specialty certification by meeting eligibility requirements and taking the exam to become certified in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB®). According to the National Certification Corporation (NCC), the exam “tests specialty knowledge and the application of that knowledge for licensed registered nurses in the US and Canada with a minimum of two years of specialty experience in providing care to hospitalized pregnant women during the antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn periods.”
Additional certifications are also available, such as that provided by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) for labor and delivery nurses interested in receiving certification demonstrating their expertise in breastfeeding support.
What Is the Difference Between a Labor and Delivery Nurse and an Obstetrics (OB) Nurse?
Although the roles and duties of obstetrics nurses and labor and delivery nurses may overlap, obstetrics nurses care for patients before, during, and immediately after their pregnancy under the direction and supervision of an obstetrician. Such care may be provided in a variety of settings, including the physician’s office or clinic, as well as a hospital or birthing center.
However, a labor and delivery nurse supports expectant parents and newborns—as well as other healthcare professionals, such as obstetricians and nurse midwives—in the hospital or birthing center before, during, and after birth.
What Are the Benefits of Being a Labor and Delivery Nurse?
There are many benefits to being a labor and delivery nurse, since this is typically such a joyful event for the patient and family.
WebMD describes the benefits of being a labor and delivery nurse in the context of the powerful impact they make: “Labor and delivery nurses are some of the most memorable healthcare providers. Almost every parent remembers the nurse that was there when they gave birth. As a labor and delivery nurse, you have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on a family at one of the most important moments of their lives.”
Additional Resources About Becoming a Labor and Delivery Nurse
To learn more about becoming a labor and delivery nurse, these additional resources may help:
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