Nurse Manager for Labor & Delivery Job Information
Labor and delivery nurses are specialized in assisting physicians in the delivery of infants. These nurses provide medical support to mothers to ensure that the infant delivery goes as safely and smoothly as possible. These nurses are also responsible for caring for the mother after the infant has been delivered in the event that complications occur. Overseeing the labor and delivery nurses are nurse managers of labor and delivery.
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Function
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Nurse managers of labor and delivery are responsible for aiding in the development of nursing staff within the labor and delivery unit. They must be able to balance the dual needs of ensuring nurse satisfaction and quality job performance to create a nursing unit that is not only effective but also likely to remain intact. The manager is responsible for handling budgetary concerns, according to Odell and Associates. Whenever new procedures are developed that are related to labor and delivery, these managers are responsible for educating the nursing staff in these developments. The manager is also responsible for serving as a consultant to nurses whenever questions arise, according to Clinical Management Consultants. Some managers might also participate in infant deliveries such as communicating to the mother important health information before and after the delivery, consoling the mother during post-partum depression and providing for any other needs that the mother might have.
Conditions
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Managers of labor and delivery spend considerable time on their feet traveling throughout the labor and delivery department. Many managers have to work night and weekend shifts since many hospitals operate 24 hours a day, especially since infant labor can occur at any time. The nurses in the labor and delivery department are often exposed to harmful chemicals, so safety precautions must be taken to prevent injury.
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Qualifications
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The educational background of a nurse manager of labor and delivery is the same as that for other registered nurses. The manager must complete an associate program, bachelor's program or a hospital training program. He or she must also become registered by passing the National Council Licensure Examination, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to Odell and Associates, the manager must also have at least five years of experience in the labor and delivery department and at least three years of managerial experience. Some hospitals prefer that these nurses have a master's degree in nursing.
Outlook
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The need for registered nurses is expected to grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. This growth is driven by the development of more sophisticated procedures, which require more staff members to carry out these procedures. As these procedures become more complicated, managers are needed to assist in training nursing staff members to administer these procedures.
Earnings
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Payscale.com reports that clinical nurse managers earned between $50,868 and $91,042 in 2010. Entry-level nurse managers sometimes earned as much as $72,770.
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References
- Photo Credit baby image by Yvonne Bogdanski from Fotolia.com
