How to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse

Labor and delivery nurses provide medical care for pregnant women and newborns immediately after birth, assisting during labor, birth, C-sections, and high-risk pregnancy care. To become a labor and delivery (L&D) nurse, the steps include education, testing, and licensing, after which labor and delivery nurses can pursue employment. Below, we’ll detail the steps to follow, how long it takes to become a labor and delivery nurse, and where to start.

Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse in 5 Steps

Labor and delivery nursing education provides the knowledge needed to monitor both mothers and babies as their bodies prepare to give birth. State licensing is required to practice as a labor and delivery nurse, and specialty certifications highlight experts in this field.

Schooling Requirements for Labor and Delivery Nurses

Labor and delivery nurses can practice with a few different levels of education, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and an Associate Degree in Nursing. However, general healthcare hiring trends favor nurses with a bachelor’s degree.

A survey by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing found that over 70% of healthcare employers want new nursing hires to hold a BSN. The National Academy of Medicine announced a goal in 2010 for 80% of RNs to hold a BSN degree by the year 2020. By 2020, at least 65% of nurses held BSN degrees, but in 2023, the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey reported that number rose above 70%.

Associate Degree in Nursing

An Associate Degree in Nursing, or ADN, is the quickest option to become a labor and delivery nurse with no previous university education. ADN degrees can take 18 months to two years to complete and may require some prerequisites before an application can be accepted.

Labor and delivery nurses with an ADN may receive lower pay and may not have their first choice of positions compared to a labor and delivery nurse with a BSN. However, the nursing shortage ensures a large pool of work for nurses with ADNs.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing gives future labor & delivery nurses a more well-rounded education experience than an ADN. Typically done over four years, the BSN curriculum covers the basics of nursing care and how the body works, but also teaches more specialized critical thinking skills.

A BSN prepares future labor and delivery nurses to handle a high level of care. Where an ADN focuses on quickly preparing future nurses for clinical situations, a BSN adds higher-level concepts like evidence-based practice, community health nursing, statistics used in research, nursing management and leadership, health informatics and analysis, healthcare ethics, and nutrition.

Labor and Delivery Nurse Licensing

Once a new nursing graduate has earned their degree, they must apply for licensure. Labor and delivery nurses must apply for a registered nurse license to practice. To become a licensed and practicing nurse in any state, all nursing graduates must pass the state licensing exam (the NCLEX-RN) and apply for a state license.

NCLEX-RN

The National Council Licensure Examination–RN (NCLEX-RN) is a computer-based exam with 85 to 150 questions. The exam takes anywhere from one hour to a maximum of five hours. Questions fall into four basic categories:

1. Safe and Effective Care Environment
2. Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Psychosocial Integrity
4. Physiological Integrity

Once completed, the state board of nursing sends test results within six weeks, usually by email. In the time leading up to the NCLEX-RN, it’s important for graduates to study practice questions to ensure a passing grade and many students take NCLEX prep courses to increase their likelihood of success.

Registered Nurse State License Application and Renewal

Each state in the U.S. has a unique registered nurse licensing application process. The state board of nursing will want to see proof of an NCLEX passing result and a diploma from an accredited nursing program. Most states require criminal background checks and fingerprinting, and some may want to see university transcripts.

After initial licensure, RNs must renew their license every two years in most states. Each state has varying requirements on continuing education and other documentation needed for renewal. If an L&D nurse wishes to work in a new state, they must apply for a license in that state. However, some states have a “compact” agreement in which one state’s license may be used in other states. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing offers a plethora of information on registered nurse licensing requirements by state.

Specialty Certification

Some labor and delivery nurse positions require certifications like Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). However, labor and delivery nurses can earn specialty-specific certification once they have some experience at the bedside. The National Certification Corporation offers the Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB) certification, which announces public health experience to potential employers and often garners higher compensation.

Where Labor and Delivery Nurses Work

Labor and delivery nurses can work in a few different settings and levels of care. A large portion of L&D nurses work in hospital labor and delivery units, where they triage pregnant patients, assist in vaginal births, and scrub in for birth-related surgeries. Others work in non-hospital-affiliated birthing centers. A smaller percentage may assist with home births.

FAQs: How to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse

   1. What education is needed to become a labor and delivery nurse?

Labor and delivery nurses must graduate with a nursing degree from an accredited college or university. They can pursue a two-year Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

   2. How many years does it take to become a labor and delivery nurse?

The time it takes to become a labor and delivery nurse depends on which degree one pursues, but may take anywhere from two to four years for an undergraduate degree.

   3. What are the steps to become a labor and delivery nurse?

To become a labor and delivery nurse, aspiring nurses must apply to and graduate from an accredited nursing school, pass the NCLEX-RN, and apply for and receive a nursing license in their state. After these steps, they may apply for labor and delivery nurse positions and pursue specialty certification and higher education.

   4. How much do labor and delivery nurses make an hour?

Labor and delivery nurses make a similar wage to any other registered nurse. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RNs earn an average of $45.42 per hour, which equals about $94,480 annually. Nurses with an advanced degree will be able to earn more.