The delivery of a baby can be a very intensely emotional and stressful occasion. OB nurses are trained to handle labor and birth emergencies and are highly trained to provide assistance to the doctor, the mother and her family before, during and after childbirth. Labor and delivery is considered a type of critical care. The environment is fast paced, yet very rewarding.
OB nursing job duties include preparing the mother for the delivery of her baby, prepping the delivery room with all the tools and orienting the mother’s family. She is also in charge of taking care of the baby and the mother and teaching the new parents about after-delivery care. Many times, the OB nurse also cares for women with postpartum depression. Because the OB nurse helps in bringing a baby into the world, her job is a fully rewarding one.
If you’re interested in starting a nursing career in obstetrics and gynecology, know that you must undergo rigorous nurse training and education. If you don’t have time to attend a lot of classes, you can begin by enrolling in a great online nursing school - these programs are convenient and affordable, and will give you all of the education you need to open doors in this rewarding career.
Here’s how to become an OB nurse:
- Complete your nursing degree. There are three pathways toward an OB nursing career. You can enroll in a licensed practical nurse (LPN) program; get an associate degree or bachelor degree in nursing. An LPN nurse program takes one year to finish, while an associate degree takes two. A bachelor degree, on the other hand, is usually completed in four years. Although it takes longer to finish and has stricter requirements, a bachelor degree can provide you with better nurse career opportunities. But in case you decide on an LPN program or an associate degree, you can still choose to advance your educational credentials by getting a bachelor degree if and when you are capable. Keep in mind that RNs provide the bedside care for laboring mothers, watch the fetal monitors and provide medications for pain relief. LPNs assist the RN in keeping laboring mothers comfortable and help provide newborn care after the babies arrive.
- Specialize in OB. You can begin nursing training in your specialty, OB in this case, while you are in school. So while learning the basics, such as first aid, bedside care and CPR, you also need to expose yourself to the actual child delivery and procedures of caring for mothers and babies.
- Pass the NCLEX. To be able to practice your profession, you need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). When you pass the NCLEX, you will be awarded with a nursing license and be eligible for taking a position in a hospital or other medical settings.
- Gain experience. Before you can become an OB nurse, you might need to have actual experience in the departments of labor and delivery, nursery and postpartum. As a new graduate, you may need to complete a year of nursing on a medical surgical floor before being allowed to work in labor and delivery. This way you are well prepared to handle any emergencies that may arise on the job. After you gain experience, you can apply for optional certification as an OB nurse to boost your employment opportunities and salary. After working at least 2,000 hours in obstetrics you may apply for certification with the National Certification Corporation as an Inpatient Obstetrics Nurse. Another good membership to have is from the Association for Women’s Health Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses. This group can assist your practice in all areas from caring for pregnant women all the way through the neonatal or newborn period with babies.
- Try applying at various facilities. Your primary preference might be to apply for obstetric nursing jobs in a hospital, but remember not to limit your employment options. Aside from hospitals, you can also try applying in birth centers, clinics and other similar agencies. Although some agencies have low turnover rates, you can expect to get a job for as long as you satisfy all the credential requirements and display your competency.
You can increase your employability by developing more skills and completing graduate studies. The latter is particularly recommended if you want to assume a higher position. Current data shows that employment opportunities for OB nurses are good and growing. So if you want to be an one, trust that your career is secure. - Understand the salary and job growth for this career. As an OB nurse you can expect to make an annual salary of around $55,000 to start and up to $80,000 with experience and/or certification in this field. You can expect to grow with this career and further your education to become a Certified Nurse Midwife and actually provide prenatal care and deliver babies.
OB nursing can be a fast paced and exciting work environment. The miracle of birth can be an attractive area to work in and if you find childbirth fascinating and have a desire to help women have a safe and comfortable experience, then OB nursing may be the right job for you.