To become a labor and delivery nurse, you will need to earn a nursing degree, pass the NCLEX-RN exam, and gain clinical experience. Key skills include communication and adaptability. Certifications can help improve your resume. Mercer University offers accelerated programs to help you get started on your nursing journey.
Everyone has a birth story, and chances are that a labor and delivery (L&D) nurse was involved, working tirelessly to ensure everything went smoothly. These professionals play a crucial role in bringing babies into the world as safely as possible.
If you are curious about how to become a labor and delivery nurse, Mercer University can offer a pathway into this career. Mercer’s Second Degree Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track helps aspiring nurses earn a nursing degree in as few as 12 months. Mercer’s ABSN is a generalist nursing degree, which equips students with a comprehensive foundation in nursing and prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings and specialties, including pursuing a labor and delivery (L&D) nursing career.
What Does a Labor and Delivery Nurse Do?
Labor and delivery nurses help deliver care to patients during labor and childbirth, but what does a labor and delivery nurse do on a more granular level? These nurses typically work in the maternity wards of hospitals, collaborating closely with physicians to ensure safe childbirth. Every labor story is unique, with situations that require fast thinking and rapid responses. Labor and delivery nurses are a crucial part of the patient care team managing these situations. Their workday involves a variety of tasks, including:
- Providing direct patient care for both the mother and baby in the maternity specialty area, including fetal and infant care
- Offering advocacy, education, and care from pregnancy through the postpartum phase
- Monitoring heart rates and blood pressure for both the mother and baby and identifying potential risks
- Communicating birth complications and labor progression to the medical team and updating physicians
- Documenting and sharing mother, fetal, and infant statuses with the team
- Tracking the time between contractions and administering medications
- Assisting with procedures like epidurals and cesarean sections
- Offering emotional support to patients and their families
- Cleaning the baby after birth
The tasks you will take on in this role are vital for families and fellow professionals alike, and the variety helps to make every day feel unique.
Steps to Becoming a Labor and Delivery Nurse
The first step for anyone aspiring to work as a labor and delivery nurse is earning a nursing degree. You have several options for this, from an associate degree to a traditional four-year BSN program to a Second Degree Accelerated BSN track like Mercer’s.
If you have a previous bachelor’s degree in another field, Mercer’s ABSN track offers a pathway that allows you to earn your nursing degree on a faster timeline. It is all about finding the right fit for your personal timeline and experience.
As a Mercer ABSN student in Atlanta, you will learn through a hybrid accelerated curriculum consisting of:
- Online-based coursework providing flexibility in learning essential nursing concepts while still requiring students to meet regular assignment deadlines
- Nursing simulation labs and skills labs that allow students to hone their nursing skills and techniques in a safe, simulated clinical environment
- Clinical rotations across a range of practice areas at top healthcare facilities throughout the Atlanta metro area
Once you have earned your nursing degree, the next step is to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to obtain your state RN license. This computer adaptive test, developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, ensures that nurses have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to practice safely and competently.
While not required, earning certification can improve your resume and make you stand out in the job market. The National Certification Corporation offers several certifications for labor and delivery nurses, including inpatient obstetric nursing, electronic fetal monitoring, maternal newborn nursing, and low-risk neonatal intensive care nursing.
Find out what to expect in the Next Generation NCLEX Exam.
Skills Needed for Labor and Delivery Nursing
To advance your career as a successful labor and delivery nurse, you will need several key skills, including:
- Adaptability
- Communication skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Medical terminology knowledge
Top labor and delivery nurses have mastered these skills. Mercer ABSN students are able to regularly practice them, especially through clinical rotations, where they get the chance to put them into action.
See Mercer University’s Vision and Mission.
Career Opportunities for L&D Nurses
After completing labor and delivery nurse education and passing the NCLEX-RN, many career opportunities will be waiting for you. A nursing career can also be rewarding and flexible, with a median salary of $86,070 and opportunities across a wide range of states and metro areas.
This flexibility allows you to choose where you want to live and build your life. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing jobs will also increase by 6% from 2023 to 2033. If you enjoy traveling and are ready for a change of scenery, you can explore opportunities as a traveling nurse.
Additionally, there are plenty of opportunities for career advancement in labor and delivery nursing, such as pursuing nurse manager roles or even becoming a nurse midwife.
Take Your First Step with Mercer University
As each new life enters the world, there is an opportunity and significant need for labor and delivery nurses. Becoming a nurse to support safe delivery and childbirth begins with a drive to make a difference in the lives of countless patients.
If you are ready to start your journey today, reach out to Mercer University to begin the conversation.