Career Questions and Answers
What are the steps to take to become a labor and delivery nurse?
Asked by Brianne M
I've been in veterinary medicine for 8 years. For the past year, I've been considering trying to move to human medicine as a nurse, for a lot of reasons, some major and some minor. I've always been interested in being an L&D nurse or a NICU nurse and I think I'd like to do labor and delivery. My question is: how do I do this? Where do I start? What kind of schooling does this involve? And are there any L&D nurses out there who'd like to share any pros and cons of the profession, words of wisdom, etc.?
Asked by Brianne M
I've been in veterinary medicine for 8 years. For the past year, I've been considering trying to move to human medicine as a nurse, for a lot of reasons, some major and some minor. I've always been interested in being an L&D nurse or a NICU nurse and I think I'd like to do labor and delivery. My question is: how do I do this? Where do I start? What kind of schooling does this involve? And are there any L&D nurses out there who'd like to share any pros and cons of the profession, words of wisdom, etc.?
A:
Best Answer:
You need to become a Registered Nurse to work in L&D. You can do this with a minimum of an Associate's Degree in Nursing, which is a 2 year program, however you will need to complete pre-requisites prior to starting, so it will likely take longer than that, not to mention RN programs are competative and impacted and it could take more than one year of applying before being admitted. You could also go straight for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which is 4 years (full time). You do pre-reqs during the first two years, apply to the nursing program during the second year and hopefully enter the program during the Junior year. RN programs teach you to care for all patient populations in several clinical settings, and once you hold the RN licensed you are considered to hold the minimum qualification for any RN job. L&D is highly specialized and despite touching on the area in school, you will have a lengthy orientation when you are hired to this area. Many L&D units will prefer you have at least a year of work experience in any other med/surg-type area of the hospital, but some might consider new grads. Pros - one of the happiest areas of nursing to work. Cons - when things go bad, they are DEVASTATING I work in high risk antepartum with women on hospitalized bedrest for various conditions, and I also do L&D and postpartum care. I absolutely love my job. I love getting to know the families, helping them create the birth experience that they desire, educating them about all that's happening and advocating for them to get the support they need. It's hard at times when you see women come in who so obviously shouldn't have children (chronic drug abusers, welfare manipulators, women who were told not to get pregnant because it is endangering their life, etc.), but you have to do your best not to judge and find what you can do in that short 8 hours you are with them to make things better for them and for this baby who is coming whether we approve or not. If you really enjoy your work, you can specialize with a Master's Degree or Doctorate in Nurse Midwifery, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner in Women's Health, etc. There is also a special certification recognition for RNs who work in the specialty for at least 2 years and who pass a competency / expertise exam, the RN-C OB, which I am preparing to take this summer. Best of luck to you!
RN, BSN, OB, L&D
Answered by Jill
You need to become a Registered Nurse to work in L&D. You can do this with a minimum of an Associate's Degree in Nursing, which is a 2 year program, however you will need to complete pre-requisites prior to starting, so it will likely take longer than that, not to mention RN programs are competative and impacted and it could take more than one year of applying before being admitted. You could also go straight for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which is 4 years (full time). You do pre-reqs during the first two years, apply to the nursing program during the second year and hopefully enter the program during the Junior year. RN programs teach you to care for all patient populations in several clinical settings, and once you hold the RN licensed you are considered to hold the minimum qualification for any RN job. L&D is highly specialized and despite touching on the area in school, you will have a lengthy orientation when you are hired to this area. Many L&D units will prefer you have at least a year of work experience in any other med/surg-type area of the hospital, but some might consider new grads. Pros - one of the happiest areas of nursing to work. Cons - when things go bad, they are DEVASTATING I work in high risk antepartum with women on hospitalized bedrest for various conditions, and I also do L&D and postpartum care. I absolutely love my job. I love getting to know the families, helping them create the birth experience that they desire, educating them about all that's happening and advocating for them to get the support they need. It's hard at times when you see women come in who so obviously shouldn't have children (chronic drug abusers, welfare manipulators, women who were told not to get pregnant because it is endangering their life, etc.), but you have to do your best not to judge and find what you can do in that short 8 hours you are with them to make things better for them and for this baby who is coming whether we approve or not. If you really enjoy your work, you can specialize with a Master's Degree or Doctorate in Nurse Midwifery, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Practitioner in Women's Health, etc. There is also a special certification recognition for RNs who work in the specialty for at least 2 years and who pass a competency / expertise exam, the RN-C OB, which I am preparing to take this summer. Best of luck to you!
RN, BSN, OB, L&D
Answered by Jill
A:
Being a labor and delivery nurse can be a very lucrative career, and it will be good working with a wide variety of people and different responsibilities. Some of the following points might be able to help you with becoming one.
1) Experience with women and their babies. Look into getting some volunteer work with Lamaze training, Breastfeeding Education, and some other jobs like this.
2) Do some face to face informational interviews of some of the Labor and Delivery and NICU nurses out there, and see if there are experience and other duties that you would like to experience.
3) Do your RN training
4) Explore your options in this area, and you will definitely be surprised.
Hope that this helps you!:)
Answered by mtwaites
Answered by mtwaites
A:
Jill's answer is great. I will just add on with the different ways of becoming a nurse:
An LPN takes less than 1 year of school usually. You will have restrictions as to what you can do because of the shorter schooling. Each state's board of nursing decides the limitations for LPN. Pay is usually less for LPNs also and advancement can be difficult. This kind of nurse is not as popular anymore.
You can get your associates degree in nursing. While this is a two-year program at most schools, it may take you longer than that if you need prerequisite classes such as math and English. Being that you are coming from a vet medicine program, you may have some those such as chemistry etc. The two-year part is strictly nursing classes. If you get your associates, and pass the NCLEX (exam after school), you become and RN.
A BSN is a bachelor of science in nursing. It is a traditional 4-year degree. You also become and RN with a BSN. The difference between an associates and bachelors degree is the amount of room for advancement in the workplace you have, such as management positions. Some areas of the country pay nurses who have their BSN more.
If you ever want to get your masters degree (become a midwife, nurse practitioner, professor etc), you will need a BSN.
Answered by Shannon RN, BSN
Answered by Shannon RN, BSN
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