Can LPNs work in the delivery room or maternity?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2015

I would say it's theoretically possible but unlikely. No hospitals in my city hire LPNs to work on the floors, some will hire them in clinics. The community hospital I worked at had LPNs working on the floors but they were grandfathered in and they didn't hire new LPNs into acute care positions.

OrganizedChaos, LVN · Jan 12, 2015

I wish they did. Which I why I thought it was weird we had clinicals in L&D since I knew we couldn't get a job there.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2015

As stated above, go to the hiring managers of the hospitals where you might want to work and ask. Maybe you could start working in an L&D position now, which should help you get hired there as a nurse in the future.

Do you want to be an RN eventually? What keeps you from going this route now if you do want it?

Best wishes to you.

AlexwoodyRn · Jan 12, 2015

In San Antonio LVN's work in L&D, so I guess it depends on where you live.

VeniVidiVici · Jan 12, 2015

We have LVNs on our unit but they don't take active laboring pts. They can do inductions before they become active, mag holds, pretermers etc.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jan 12, 2015

We do not hire LPNs for patient care in L&D, although I suppose L&D tech might be possible with an LPN license. I say 'possible' because I don't know it for fact.

We have an LPN that worked L&D then mother/baby for years, and now with magnet status they have her working as a tech in the nursery.

phuretrotr · Jan 12, 2015

In my hospital, LPN's do not take any L&D. On only very rare occasions, we will have a LPN float to our unit to take mom-babies, but even then, the LPN's only get to do care on moms; no babies. So while there may be opportunities out there, I wouldn't rely solely on getting in that unit or even if you do, being able to fully care for the patients as your scope/hospital may limit you on what you can do.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 12, 2015

I wish they did. Which I why I thought it was weird we had clinicals in L&D since I knew we couldn't get a job there.

I thought of it as good info; I knew classmates who ended up being doulas, so it helped that they had that education.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jan 12, 2015

Unfortunately, LPNs in my area are rarely in the L&D setting; they may do postpartum visits, but nothing else.

You will learn about L&D; I think that having coursework in the PN program continues because there may be clinical settings outside of the hospital where it may have it's place; also, knowing the full scope of nursing and the role of the LPN, albeit limited ensures the LPN to fully know their role.

The knowledge is also essential when returning to school in an ADN or BSN program. :yes:

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 12, 2015

I passed by becoming an LPN because not ONE hospital I saw, heard of, or wanted to work in, would hire LPNs in L/D or Postpartum--- and had not for a long time (this was back in the 1990s). I worked L/D 14 years; never once saw an LPN and that was in 5 hospitals in 2 states.

I saw exactly ONE LPN over my 14 years grandfathered in and she was there til she retired.

My advice? For more career mobility and choices, get the RN.

Calinurse4 · Jan 12, 2015

We hire LVN's at my hospital as OB techs only.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jan 12, 2015

I've seen a couple of LPNs employed as well-mother/baby postpartum nurses, providing care to healthy couplets who are in stable condition.

I also saw an LPN working as a postpartum tech. She performed heel sticks to check for hypoglycemia and phenylketonuria, and took portraits of the newborns using a mobile photo lab kiosk on wheels.