Labor and Delivery Nurse Jobs Overview
Labor and delivery nurse jobs are some of the most specific roles in healthcare. These professionals help bring new life into the world, supporting mothers before, during, and after labor, as well as taking care of their newborns.
They work in hospitals and birth centers alongside doctors and collaborate with midwives and doulas as well. Because of the unpredictable nature of pregnancies, they might work during the day, at night, on weekends, and on holidays alike.
As a labor and delivery nurse, you’ll perform a variety of tasks to take care of expectant mothers, such as:
- meeting patients for prenatal visits and general pregnancy care
- monitoring patients before, during, and after labor
- administering medication as needed
- delivering childbirth preparation classes to future mothers
- undertaking immediate care of newborn tests
- informing and guiding mothers about everything they need to do to recover and care for their newborn
Not looking for a labor and delivery nurse role? Check out similar healthcare support jobs including:
Education and Skills for Labor and Delivery Nurse Jobs
Aspiring labor and delivery nurses need to become licensed registered nurses to begin with. You can achieve that with an Associate Degree in Nursing (AND) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BNS), then pass your state’s NCLEX-RN examination. Depending on the healthcare provider you want to work for you will also need one year of travel nursing experience or various experience in general nursing.
Essential certifications to access the profession include the Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). Throughout their careers, labor and delivery nurses must also follow additional training courses from the National Certification Corporation (NCC). Once they spend some years in the field, labor and delivery nurses can pursue various types of roles in hospitals from administrative positions to supervisory roles.
To be a successful labor and delivery nurse you’ll also need a variety of soft and hard skills such as:
- communication
- attention to detail
- compassion
- problem-solving
- teamwork
- labor, delivery, and post-partum care
Update Your Labor and Delivery Nurse Job Resume
Knowing how to write your resume effectively is crucial to making a good first impression on recruiters and companies, and ultimately winning an interview. Start with a simple and easy-to-read structure or, if you prefer, you can simply download our labor and delivery nurse resume sample and fill in your details.
Remember to list your experiences from the most recent to the oldest and describe your achievements in a quantifiable way, rather than simply stating your duties on the job. For instance, you could mention how many babies you delivered through risky pregnancies or how many women with certain conditions you assisted. It’s also always a good idea to include a summary. This helps you to highlight your qualifications and credentials at the very top of your document.
Finally, resumes should be nice and short, so avoid going over two pages. For additional details about your application and explaining your motivations write a nursing cover letter as well.
Interviewing for a Labor and Delivery Nurse Job
Nursing jobs are in high demand, however, you should still always prepare thoroughly for the job interview. You’ll have to be able to show you possess both technical skills and knowledge, as well as the emotional intelligence required to deal with women in one of the most delicate periods of their life.
Take a moment to prepare for behavioral questions, as managers love to test you with these. Check out our extensive list of the most frequent interview questions for nurses and practice your answers ahead of time.
How Much Do Labor and Delivery Nurse Jobs Pay?
The salary for a labor and delivery nurse reaches $89,043 per year on average. However, additional education, years of experience and location can have an important impact on your wage. Take a look at Monster’s Salary Tool to find out in which cities your role is more in demand in and where you would be better remunerated. It will also suggest the skills you could acquire to strengthen your career prospects.
Want to Learn More About a Company You’re Interested In?
Before applying for any role, it’s always a good idea to learn a bit about your potential employers and their work environment. This helps you to pick a place that hopefully meets your needs and provides for your aspirations. Head to Monster’s company section, browse through the hospitals and healthcare provider profiles and discover useful information to make your decision, such as:
- company presentations
- employee’s benefits
- job openings and locations
Get the Right Push from Monster to Find Labor and Delivery Nurse Jobs
Can’t wait to help future mums bring new life into the world? Jump onto Monster, set up a profile and upload your most recent resume. We will help you find your next role by advertising your profile to partner hospitals and clinics. To increase your chances, don’t forget to also activate the customized job alerts.