What Kind of Nurse Works in Labor & Delivery?
Labor and delivery is a well-respected field of nursing that focuses at all times on two patients: mother and child. Labor and delivery nurses may work with the mother long before labor occurs and, if the newborn is sick, weeks or months after delivery. Most commonly, these nurses are licensed registered nurses who have specialized in the area through further schooling.
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History
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Nurses didn't always care for women in labor; prior to the late 19th century, they were typically looked after by family or hired midwives. These midwives were not nurses, but women who were known in the community for experience with childbirth. The first formal program for further education in labor and delivery was at the University of Chicago in 1965. In the last 25 years, a number of certifications and specializations have further promoted education of nurses in this field.
Education
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In most cases, a registered nurse (RN) license accompanied by an associate's degree in nursing (ADN) is required to be a labor and delivery nurse. However, it is common for employers to require a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN). There are further certification programs a nurse can enroll in after two years of practice. These programs include fetal monitoring and postpartum nursing. To become a certified midwife, a nurse must complete master's level education in nursing.
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Roles
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Labor and delivery nurses perform many roles. They may work during all stages of pregnancy, including antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum and neonatal. By collaborating with midwives, physicians and other care providers, they develop a plan of care that works for both mother and child. In some hospitals, nurses are designated to a specific area--for example, they may work only with postpartum patients. In smaller hospitals, nurses may be expected to fulfill many roles.
Specialties
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There are many specializations of labor and delivery nurses. High-risk obstetrics, for example, prepares a nurse to care for pregnant patients with life-threatening complications such as eclampsia. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) certified nurses are taught to care for sick newborns that need special care. Circulating nurses may specialize to provide care in operating rooms during a cesarean delivery. Lactation nurses provide education and assistance for mothers preparing to breastfeed.
Settings
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Labor and delivery nurses may be most common in hospitals; however, they work in a variety of other settings as well. They may work at public health clinics to educate women about prenatal care, or at physicians' offices to provide care to women who are pregnant but not yet ready to deliver. Some communities have birthing centers that are staffed by nurses and midwives.
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References
- Photo Credit the newborn image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com
