How to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse

Labor and delivery nursing is a deeply rewarding specialty that plays a vital role in guiding mothers through one of life’s most significant moments: childbirth. It is a field that offers the opportunity to hone diverse clinical skills, pursue advanced certifications, and enjoy meaningful career growth.

With a projected job growth rate of 6% for registered nurses and 7% for nurse midwives between 2023 and 2033, labor and delivery nursing promises both job stability and professional fulfillment.

Labor and delivery nurses not only provide essential medical care but also emotional support during childbirth, creating a safe and compassionate environment for both mothers and newborns. 

If you are considering a role in this specialty, here is what you need to know about the journey ahead.

Key Responsibilities of a Labor and Delivery Nurse

Labor and delivery nurses are a critical part of a multidisciplinary team responsible for monitoring and caring for mothers and newborns before, during, and after birth. Under the guidance of OB/GYNs, their key responsibilities include:

• Assessing labor progression through examinations and timing contractions
• Educating expectant mothers about the birthing process
• Preparing patients for emergency C-sections and other urgent procedures
• Administering epidurals and other medications and monitoring for potential complications
• Tracking vital signs for both mother and baby, escalating concerns to the care team
• Providing emotional support and coaching on breastfeeding and newborn care

Labor and delivery nursing offers numerous specializations, including neonatal care, high-risk obstetrics, advanced maternal age, anesthetics, postpartum care, and Cesarean section deliveries.

To succeed in this specialty, labor and delivery nurses should demonstrate empathy and the ability to build trust and rapport with patients quickly. They must also embrace teamwork, learn to prioritize and make quick decisions under pressure, and use deductive reasoning skills to apply medical skills and knowledge to the labor and delivery space.

Steps to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse

To start your career in labor and delivery nursing, there are a few key milestones you will need to reach.

Step 1: Obtain a Nursing Degree

A nursing degree prepares you for work in this specialty by teaching foundational clinical skills, as well as patient assessment and pharmacology. On this path, you may consider pursuing two types of degrees.

The first is the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). This two-year degree focuses on building core knowledge in patient care and clinical skills. It provides nurses with the benefit of jumpstarting a career as a registered nurse while preparing them to pursue more advanced education if desired.

You can also earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This four-year bachelor’s degree teaches foundational patient care and clinical skills but also offers advanced coursework in leadership, research, health policy, community health, and ethics. Both degrees allow nursing students to sit for licensing exams.

Over 2,500 colleges and universities offer ASN or BSN programs nationwide. According to U.S. News and World Report, Emory University, Duke University, and the University of Pennsylvania have some of the top-ranked programs in the nation.

There are also online degree options, such as those offered by Purdue Global and Western Governors University. Some programs also provide RN to BSN or LPN to RN pathways for working nurses to earn a more advanced degree.

Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN

Passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) is essential for applying for licensure and kickstarting your nursing career. The exam covers much of what you will have learned in your nursing program, so thorough preparation is key.

Familiarizing yourself with the exam before taking it can boost your confidence, as you'll know what to expect. The NCLEX is an adaptive test with 75 to 145 questions, with the easiest presented first. With a five-hour time limit, the test includes multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop, and illustration-based questions. Some tips for preparing to ace your licensing exam include:

• Taking practice tests to determine where your strengths and weaknesses lie
• Giving yourself ample time to study the material – but avoid waiting too long to take the exam to keep your learnings fresh in your mind
• Participating in study groups to clarify concepts and get questions answered
• Listening to recorded lectures to help you learn and retain information

Your NCLEX-RN score is good for the lifetime of your career, even if you move to another state and need to transfer your license.

Step 3: Gain Clinical Experience

For L&D nurses, practical experience is a crucial part of transitioning from nursing education to a professional setting. Internships and residencies offer hands-on experience that can improve your clinical judgment and competency, introduce you to experienced mentors, and increase your confidence, all of which will result in better patient care.

Shadowing experienced nurses on delivery units during their shifts is another way to gain relevant clinical experience. You might also consider seeking a role in alternative healthcare settings, such as birthing centers.

Step 4: Pursue Certification

Certifications validate your expertise as a labor and delivery nurse. They can also lead to significant career advancement, as they show employers that you can meet rigorous standards and are committed to continuous learning.

There are several certifications you can pursue that are unique to the labor and delivery field, with one of the most popular being Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB). This certification covers topics like fetal monitoring and assessment, maternal risk factors, labor management, and postpartum and newborn care. Other standard certifications for L&D nurses include:

• Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification (C-EFM)
• Maternal Newborn Nursing Certification (RNC-MNN)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Lactation Consultant Certification (IBCLC)

As you consider certifications, choose those that directly align with your professional goals.

Career Path: From Entry-Level to Specialized Roles

Labor and delivery nursing offers a dynamic career path with diverse opportunities for specialization and growth. You might choose to become a childbirth educator, guiding expectant parents through the birthing process, or a lactation consultant, a role that requires specialized certification to validate your expertise and enhance your skills.

As you gain experience in labor and delivery nursing, you may also decide to pursue advanced roles by earning a master’s degree, opening doors to careers such as:

• Nurse Midwife: Providing comprehensive care for mothers before, during, and after childbirth
• Clinical Nurse Specialist: Diagnosing and managing health conditions while contributing to research and improving healthcare practices
• Nurse Practitioner: Diagnosing illnesses, developing treatment plans, and supervising nursing teams to ensure quality patient care

These advanced roles often come with increased responsibilities, leadership opportunities, and higher earning potential. 

Resources for Aspiring Labor and Delivery Nurses

There are a number of membership organizations and associations that provide professional development, conferences, networking, and resources for L&D nurses, including:

• Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
• Academy of Neonatal Nursing (ANN)
• American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association (APSNA)
• American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM)
• National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN)
• National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH)

You may be able to access certification exam study guides online from the certifying organization, such as the National Certification Corporation, which issues the RNC-OB. Some private companies, such as Springer Publishing, also offer physical and digital study guides for various nursing exams.

If you are considering applying for a job as a labor and delivery nurse, GHR can help match you with job opportunities in this specialized field.

Partner With GHR for a Rewarding Career in Maternity Care

For those wondering how to become a labor and delivery nurse, pursuing a nursing degree, passing the NCLEX-RN, and gaining clinical experience will put you on the right path. As you progress in the profession, specialized certifications will deepen your expertise and open doors to more specialized roles.

Are you ready to pursue a career that is equal parts exciting and rewarding? Explore labor and delivery nursing opportunities with GHR Healthcare and find out how you can land a position you love.