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Working as a labor and delivery nurse can allow you to be present for life-changing moments every single day. These nurses care for mothers and newborn babies during labor and childbirth. If you’re interested in this nursing specialty, it may help to know more about what labor and delivery nurses do and where they work.

In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know, including how to become a labor and delivery nurse, what skills they have, and how to know if it’s the right specialty for you.

What Do Labor and Delivery Nurses Do?

Labor and delivery nurses care for patients before, during, and shortly after childbirth. They work closely with physicians and other healthcare team members to help pregnant patients and babies during labor and birth.

Registered nurses (RNs) who specialize in labor and delivery nursing may have different responsibilities, depending on where they work. can include:

• Monitor patients’ vital signs and contractions before childbirth
• Start IVs and administer medications as needed
• Help patients understand what may happen during labor
• Teach patients about breathing, positioning, or other comfort measures
• Assist physicians with childbirth
• Provide supportive care to newborn babies and mothers after birth
• Educate patients and families about follow-up care

Nurses who specialize in labor and delivery nursing may also be trained on other procedures or interventions. For example, in many maternity wards, RNs receive training in fetal heart rate monitoring to help identify potential complications during labor.

Where Do Labor and Delivery Nurses Work?

Many labor and delivery nurses work in hospitals, generally in maternity wards or labor and delivery units. In hospitals, nurses commonly work with physicians, obstetricians, pediatricians, and midwives to care for mothers and babies.

Some nurses specializing in labor and delivery can work in birthing centers. There, they work with doulas to help make patients comfortable during labor and delivery. Others may attend home births, providing additional support to midwives or physicians.

What Skills Do Labor and Delivery Nurses Need?

In their roles, labor and delivery nurses use a combination of clinical knowledge and soft skills. They need to communicate with other healthcare team members and provide support to mothers and babies. Some helpful skills for this role include:

• Critical thinking
• Compassion and empathy
• Communication
• Clinical assessment
• Medication administration and management
• Patient education
• Teamwork

How to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse

The path to this nursing specialty involves education, training, and experience. Here are the steps you can take to :

1. Complete a Nursing Program

To pursue any nursing specialty, you first need to complete a nursing program. Labor and delivery nurse schooling can take between 2 and 4 years, depending on the path you choose. Your options include:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN): An ADN program can help you learn core nursing skills to prepare for RN licensure. It takes about 2 years, though ¹ú²úÖ÷²¥â€™s ADN program can be completed in as few as 20 months.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN): In a traditional BSN program, you prepare for RN licensure and gain experience in more advanced nursing concepts, such as ethics and public health. You can earn a BSN in about 4 years, or as few as 39 months with ¹ú²úÖ÷²¥â€™s Accelerated pace option.
• Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing (DEMSN): If you already hold a degree in a non-nursing field and want to change careers to become a labor and delivery nurse, you can opt for a DEMSN program, which allows you to pursue RN licensure and a Master of Science in Nursing at the same time. ¹ú²úÖ÷²¥â€™s DEMSN program can be completed in approximately 2 years.

2. Pass the NCLEX-RN

All RNs, including labor and delivery nurses, must pass the (NCLEX-RN) and become licensed in their state. This exam tests your knowledge of fundamental nursing concepts and practices, including safe and effective care environments, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity.

Most likely, your nursing program will include NCLEX-RN preparation as part of the curriculum. For example, WCU’s BSN program offers NCLEX sessions and bootcamps, individualized support, and additional resources, such as tutoring and a virtual library.

3. Gain Nursing Experience

After you graduate with a nursing degree and become licensed, you can begin to apply for nursing jobs. You may begin your career in a labor and delivery unit, or you may work in other areas, like women’s health or pediatrics, before transferring into this specialty.

4. Consider a Certification

To specialize in labor and delivery nursing, your employer may prefer or require you to get a certification. Becoming certified can show your expertise in caring for mothers and newborns.

The , offered through the National Certification Corporation, is one recognized credential for labor and delivery nurses. You’re eligible to earn this certification if you meet these requirements:

• Hold a current, active RN license
• Have 24 months of specialty experience as an RN, with a minimum of 2,000 hours in direct patient care, education, administration, or research
• Have been employed in the specialty within the last 24 months
• Pass a certifying examination

Is Labor and Delivery Nursing Right for You?

Working on a labor and delivery unit can come with rewarding and challenging moments. You’re there to celebrate with families as they welcome their little ones. At the same time, you may need to support patients through difficult births or complications.

Ask yourself these questions as you consider a specialty in labor and delivery nursing:

• Are you interested in pregnancy and childbirth?
• Are you compassionate and empathetic, with a good bedside manner?
• Do you enjoy supporting mothers, babies, and families?
• Can you stay calm in tense or stressful situations?
• Do you enjoy educating patients about postnatal care?

If you answered yes to those questions, then labor and delivery nursing may be a good fit for you.

Discover a Path to Labor and Delivery Nursing with WCU

Labor and delivery nurses provide care to mothers and newborns during childbirth. It’s a specialty that requires a blend of clinical knowledge and emotional intelligence, as well as education, training, and experience. The path to becoming a labor and delivery nurse depends on where you’re at currently in your nursing journey.

¹ú²úÖ÷²¥ offers nursing programs designed to meet you where you are. We offer both an ADN and a BSN program for students who want a traditional path into nursing. For those looking to make a career change into nursing, our Direct-Entry Master of Science in Nursing program can help you prepare to enter the field at a graduate level.

Interested in learning more about WCU’s nursing programs? Reach out today to schedule an information session!

WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.