What Kind of Nurse Delivers Babies?
Nurses are highly trained medical professionals that can work in various specialties, such as internal medicine or gerontology. Although nursing students are trained to assist in childbirth as part of their degree requirements, there are specific nurses that work solely as delivery nurses.
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Function
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Delivery nurses are trained to assist in childbirth, as well as educate and monitor women from the beginning to the end of their pregnancy. They perform tests, such as physicals and ultrasounds, and provide educational information to mothers during and after pregnancy.
Types
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Labor and delivery nurses and nurse midwives are the two types of delivery nurses. Labor and delivery nurses typically need two to four years of nursing education plus some training in a labor and delivery ward, while nurse midwives are required to complete approximately four to six years of education in pregnancy and childbirth. Nurse midwives focus on all-natural births, while labor and delivery nurses use medicine to help mothers during pregnancy and delivery.
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Geography
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Labor and delivery nurses and nurse midwives can typically be found in hospitals or private practices.
Considerations
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Both types of delivery nurses should be able to handle stress well. Though not all pregnancies are complicated, these nurses must be prepared to provide a stress-free environment for mother and baby.
Potential
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Labor and delivery nurses can expect to make an annual salary of between $40,000 to $90,000, according to Edudecisions.com. Certified nurse midwives make an annual, median salary of $90,082, according to Salary.com. Actual salary will vary by experience, job location, hours worked and job duties.
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References
- Photo Credit baby image by Fabio Barni from Fotolia.com
