Becoming a L&D nurse is a rewarding and challenging career choice, but it can be made easier with the right information.
The first step to becoming a L&D nurse is to get the right education. If you’re looking to become a L&D nurse, you’ll need to become certified in your state as a registered nurse (RN). Once you’ve done that, you can look into getting additional training through a hospital or online program.
After you’ve got your RN certification, then it’s time to take the next step: getting licensed as an L&D nurse. This will require passing an exam that’s usually offered by your state’s Department of Public Health. It’s important to note that this exam may differ depending on where you live—so make sure you check with your local health department before signing up for any courses or programs!
And after all that work? You’re finally ready to begin your career as an L&D nurse! The best way to get started is by talking with other nurses who work in the field and learning about what they do every day. You’ll also want to make sure that hospitals in your area are hiring before making any final decisions about where
How To Become L&D Nurse
Labor and delivery (L&D) nurses are unique among the different types of nurses because they have a very specific job: to help deliver healthy babies and get moms through the process safely. In essence, they are doing what some might consider the most important nursing job of all — bringing new lives into this world. Read on to find out how to become a labor and delivery nurse, the education requirements, the average labor and delivery nurse salary, and more.
PART ONEWhat is a Labor and Delivery Nurse?
L&D nurses begin as Registered Nurses (RN) and may become Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) such as OB/GYN Nurse Practitioners, but ultimately, they pursue some level of specialty training to help women deliver babies.
Unlike many general staff RN jobs, where the kind of patient care you administer runs the gamut, labor and delivery nurses have a very specific function – to work with women who are about to give birth.
While most labor and delivery nurses work in hospitals, there are more and more birthing centers opening throughout the country.
For anyone who’s interested in becoming a labor and delivery nurse, the good news is that position will always be in demand, whether it’s in a hospital, birthing center, or clinic. By gaining experience as a Registered Nurse and then specializing in L&D, you can choose this fulfilling and gratifying career track.
Why I Love Being a Labor and Delivery Nurse
“As a labor and delivery nurse, I am a part of someone’s birth story three nights a week. Whether it is the most joyful moment or one full of sorrow and grief, it is my job to step into their vulnerability and provide the best care. This specialty is full of ups and downs, but the connection that I have with my patients will continue to be my why.”Shelby Root, RN, BSN, @shelby.root
PART TWOWhat Does a Labor and Delivery Nurse Do?
L&D nurses work with just a few patients per day, monitoring their progress, and handling whatever new development comes their way.
After birth, they continue to care for the mothers until they are released from the hospital. This care is more complex for mothers who give birth via C-section, or who have some other medical complication.
Some of the primary responsibilities of an L&D nurse include:
- Monitoring both the baby’s and mother’s vital signs, including heart rate and blood pressure
- Timing contractions
- Identifying and assisting with handling complications
- Helping to administer medications and epidurals
- Aiding in inducing labor
- Coaching new mothers throughout the duration of the labor and delivery
- And, of course, there’s also a lot of hand-holding, encouragement, and comforting going on in birthing rooms as well.
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PART THREELabor and Delivery Nurse Salary
The median annual salary for all RNs is $77,600 per year, or $37.31 per hour according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2021, though conditions vary by area. Labor and Delivery nurses will typically earn around that salary, with some earning more, depending on the location and type of institution. Those with advanced skills and experience can earn more as well.
Highest Paying States for Labor and Delivery Nurses
| New Jersey | $121,423/yr or $58.38/hr |
| Tennessee | $116,890/yr or $56.20/hr |
| Massachusetts | $116,594/yr or $56.05/hr |
| Hawaii | $115,911/yr or $55.73/hr |
| Nevada | $115,257/yr or $55.41/hr |
Source: Ziprecruiter
PART FOURHow to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse
1. Become a Registered Nurse
Before you can specialize or choose to remain in a particular hospital unit like L&D, you must first become a Registered Nurse. To do so, you have to graduate from a program of study that is approved by your State Nursing Board, either a bachelor’s degree or associate degree program.
2. Pass the NCLEX
Upon completion, you have to pass the NCLEX-RN. From there, you can begin practicing and look for opportunities to gain experience in L&D units.
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3. Advance Your Education
To advance in this career, additional education is required beyond the RN degree program. Some choose to become Nurse Practitioners in Obstetrics and Gynecology. These highly specialized nurses are needed to handle very high-risk patients and special circumstances and complications.
Another route L&D nurses can take is to become Certified Nurse-Midwives. That requires earning the Certified Nurse-Midwife and Certified Midwife designations through the American Midwifery Certification Board.
4. Earn Certifications
Another way to bolster your credentials as an RN is to earn a certification in your field of interest. For L&D nurses, that would usually be the Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB) certification through the National Certification Corporation. Becoming a Certified Labor and Delivery Nurse can give you an edge and make you more marketable.
>> Explore L&D Certification Review Materials*
PART FIVEWhat is the Career Outlook for Labor and Delivery Nurses?
With so many nurses coming into retirement age in the next decade, the nursing shortage is here to stay for a long time. And because L&D nursing is physically demanding, requiring long shifts, it’s particularly suited for new nurses who have to, in a sense, labor right alongside their patients.
In other words, as far as job prospects go, specializing in L&D will help power up your job security even more. To get an idea of just how many nurses will be needed, consider that the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the field to grow at a rate of 7 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
