Maternity Nurse Description
Maternity nurses are registered nurses, trained doulas or midwives who support mothers and their babies before, during and after childbirth. In the United States, these professionals typically work in hospital maternity wards and birthing centers. However, in countries such as the United Kingdom, maternity nurses take on a much larger role and provide patient care services inside the mother's home. As nurse, counselor, nanny and health adviser, maternity nurses help ease the transition for mothers after the birth of a new child.
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Function
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Nurses who provide maternity services in traditional hospitals work closely with obstetricians to care for women before, during and after the birth of a child. Maternity nurses monitor the mother and baby's health to screen for potential problems. They counsel new mothers on caring for their infants and provide advice on breastfeeding versus bottle feeding. Some maternity nurses, also referred to as maternity nannies outside the United States, are hired to work in the mother's home and assist the family with feeding, changing and bathing the baby. Maternity nurses may wash the baby's clothes, shop for food or run other errands if the mother is still in recovery. Though maternity nurses who work in hospitals are available to answer mothers' questions via phone after childbirth, maternity nannies provide guidance and support to mothers up to 12 weeks after a child's birth.
Education
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In the United States, all maternity nurses must complete a state-approved nursing program offered by a university, community college or hospital. Following graduation, students take the National Council Licensure Examination to become a registered nurse. During their nursing program, nurses receive training in anatomy, psychology, behavioral science, microbiology, nutrition and chemistry. Nursing students also complete clinical work in hospital maternity, psychiatry, pediatrics and surgery departments.
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Skills
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A maternity nurse must love to work with children, have a caring nature and be sympathetic to mothers and families who are learning to take care of a new child. These professionals should be detail-oriented, analytical and trained in breastfeeding consultation. They need leadership and teaching skills to supervise hospital staff and to instruct new mothers on certain tasks and responsibilities. Maternity nurses should also be trained in dealing with high-risk pregnancies and caring for newborn infants.
Salary
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As of May 2010, SalaryExpert.com reports that the average salary of a maternity nurse is $100,246 in Miami, Florida; $95,428 in Indianapolis, Indiana; and $92,114 in Nashville, Tennessee. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses earned a median wage of $62,450 as of May 2008.
Potential
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The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that overall job opportunities for registered nurses will be excellent during the 2008 to 2018 decade, but will vary by type of employment and geographic location. One factor driving demand is a relatively high turnover rate for hospital-based nurses, the BLS reports. The agency projects high demand for nurse-midwives--an advanced practice specialty--especially in inner-city and rural locations.
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References
- Photo Credit baby image by Diane Stamatelatos from Fotolia.com
