Become a Maternity Nurse in 3 Steps
Start Your Career as a Maternity Nurse in Three Simple Steps
Maternity nurses are healthcare professionals who assist individuals during their reproductive phases, including family planning, gynecological exams, pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Known as labor and delivery or obstetric nurses, they support patients through routine and complex pregnancies and birth experiences.
If you're passionate about aiding families in welcoming new life, maternity nursing may be your ideal career. This guide outlines how to become a maternity nurse, addressing:
Defining a maternity nurse Roles and responsibilities of maternity nurses Work environments for maternity nurses Types of maternity nursing specialties Three steps to becoming a maternity nurse Additional maternity nurse requirements Salary expectations and career prospects for maternity nurses
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Defining a Maternity Nurse
Maternity nurses specialize in medical care for pregnant individuals and their newborns during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. Consequently, maternity nurses care for both the parent and the baby simultaneously.
With millions of births annually in the U.S., accounting for a quarter of all hospital admissions, maternity nurses play a vital role in healthcare.
Essential Traits of Successful Maternity Nurses
Successful maternity nurses possess advanced knowledge of women's health, pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care.
Key tasks and expertise required include:
Knowledge of prenatal, perinatal, and infant conditions and care Conducting prenatal evaluations, including vital signs, lab tests, ultrasounds, and fetal heart monitoring Guiding and coaching laboring individuals through vaginal and surgical births Assessing newborns and performing screenings, such as APGAR scores and genetic tests Effective communication for coordinating care among healthcare team members This brief overview highlights the essential work maternity nurses perform. Above all, they must enjoy supporting families during a joyous and challenging period.
Roles and Responsibilities of Maternity Nurses
Maternity nurses play a pivotal role throughout the patient journey, from sexual education and family planning to childbirth and newborn care.
A Typical Day for a Maternity Nurse
Various maternity nursing roles exist. A labor and delivery (L&D) nurse typically begins the shift by receiving a report from a colleague. L&D nurses often attend to one or two patients depending on their condition.
The L&D nurse evaluates the patient, including pain management, vital signs, and fetal monitoring. Discussions may include birth plans concerning cord clamping, breastfeeding, and pain relief.
Throughout their shift, the nurse monitors patient progress through cervical examinations, fetal descent, membrane rupture, and pain management observations.
If distress is detected, the nurse may adjust the patient's position or administer oxygen, monitoring closely for further support needs.
When delivery is imminent, the nurse prepares the delivery room with necessary instruments, providing guidance to aid in a safe birth.
Post-delivery, the nurse assesses the newborn and supports early breastfeeding if desired. The postpartum unit receives the patient a few hours later, where the nurse briefs the postpartum nurse.
Common Conditions Managed by Maternity Nurses
Maternity nurses address a range of conditions related to reproductive health, pregnancy, and newborns.
They may assist:
Individuals with high-risk pregnancies needing extended hospital stays for monitoring, surgery, or early delivery Those experiencing recurrent miscarriages or recovering from stillbirth Surrogates carrying a baby for another family or navigating adoption Newborns with growth restrictions, jaundice, or congenital anomalies Individuals recovering from cesarean sections or birth-related trauma
Work Environments for Maternity Nurses
Maternity nurses work with patients before, during, and after pregnancy in settings like:
Outpatient OB/GYN clinics Birthing centers Hospitals Community public health roles involving vaccination, pregnancy wellness visits, and classes on breastfeeding, labor, and newborn care
Types of Maternity Nursing Specialties
Maternity nurses have diverse career paths, including:
Outpatient obstetrical or women's health clinics Fertility clinics High-risk pregnancy clinics or units Labor and delivery units Postpartum units Lactation nursing, either in hospitals or in outpatient settings Specialty units for prenatal and perinatal issues Maternity nurses enjoy career flexibility, often transitioning between specialties.
Three Steps to Becoming a Maternity Nurse
Maternity nursing is a competitive field that requires careful planning. With preparation, you can pursue a career as a maternity nurse.
Step 1: Become a Registered Nurse
To start, earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and pass the NCLEX.
Pursue a BSN
Various pathways exist to obtain a BSN, including traditional four-year programs, accelerated BSN programs for those with a bachelor's in another field, and bridge programs like ADN-BSN and RN-BSN.
A BSN is advantageous as it often leads to higher pay and greater career opportunities.
Pass the NCLEX-RN
After earning your BSN, you must pass the NCLEX-RN, a national exam verifying your competency to practice nursing safely.
Upon passing, apply for a nursing license in your desired state and seek your first maternity nursing position. Explore our resources for career assistance.
Step 2: Gain Experience
Valuable Skills and Experience
Aspiring maternity nurses should pursue continuing education in women's health, pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care.
Nursing students should aim to complete their senior practicum in L&D or postpartum units. Consider working in outpatient clinics to build relevant experience.
Changing Specialties to Maternity Nursing
Nurses from other specialties, especially those with critical care or women's health experience, are excellent candidates for maternity nursing roles. Many hospitals offer fellowships for nurses transitioning to L&D.
Nursing is a flexible career, allowing exploration of new specialties if desired.
Step 3: Obtain Certifications
Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) are essential, alongside other certifications based on your career goals.
Certification for maternity nurses is through the National Certification Corporation, requiring at least 24 months of practice, 2000 hours of maternity nursing, and passing a specialty exam.
Available certifications include:
Registered Nurse Certified in Maternal and Newborn Nursing (RNC-MNN) Registered Nurse Certified in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB) Registered Nurse in Inpatient Antepartum Nursing (RNC-AN) Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM) Additional certifications exist for neonatal care, such as Neonatal Resuscitation Certification (NRC) and Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC).
Nurses focusing on breastfeeding can become International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants by completing 95 hours of lactation coursework and gaining 300-1000 hours of breastfeeding support experience.
Additional Requirements for Maternity Nurses
Aside from delivering excellent care, maternity nurses need skills like:
Strong communication Patient education Compassion for women's health Self-care is crucial due to the emotional demands of maternity nursing, which can involve challenging cases like infertility, miscarriage, or serious postpartum complications.
Some patients have complex conditions, including homelessness, substance abuse, mental health issues, or serious medical problems. Maternity nurses must protect themselves from emotional strain.
Salary and Career Prospects for Maternity Nurses
Maternity nursing is a highly sought-after field. While the average RN salary is $82,750, those with additional certifications can earn more. The RN career outlook is a 6% growth from 2021 to 2031, indicating a strong future for maternity nursing.
The average maternity nurse salary is $68,854. The top 5 cities for salaries are:
City Salary Sunnyvale, CA$86,998 Greenwich, CT$85,945 Santa Rosa, CA$84,095 Cambridge, MA$81,547 Vacaville, CA$79,980
Our free salary estimator can help estimate potential earnings. Remember to consider benefits like paid time off and childcare support.
Job Satisfaction
While maternity nursing can be demanding, many nurses find working with new families rewarding.
Although specific data on maternity nurse job satisfaction is limited, a recent study showed that 94-96% of RNs are satisfied with their jobs. Another survey indicated that nurse-midwives experience above-average satisfaction with career opportunities and stress levels.
Next Steps
Maternity nurses have numerous career advancement options. Some pursue additional certifications and training for management roles, while others enter research or teaching.
Some nurses advance to nurse-midwife roles or become International Board Certified Lactation Consultants, specializing in hospital or outpatient lactation support.
Ready to explore maternity nurse positions in your area? Create a profile with Goodwork and discover your next career move!
Top jobs 🏥 Nurse Manager – Mother BabyAntioch, CA | $115,000 to $145,000 /year🏥 Registered Nurse – Lactation ConsultantSomerville, NJ | $70,920 to $117,990 /year🏥 Registered Nurse – Mother BabyNew Brunswick, NJ | $70,920 to $117,990 /year🏥 Registered Nurse – Mother BabyDecatur, GA | $60,000 to $100,000 /year🏥 Registered Nurse – Mother Baby DirectorNew York, NY | $73,450 to $127,500 /year
Sources \"How Nurses Feel About Their Jobs.\" Advisory Board. Maternity nurse salary. ziprecruiter.com. National Certification Corporation. \"Neonatal Resuscitation Certification.\" ACLS.org. \"Nurse Midwife Overview.\" US News and World Reports.
