OB/GYN Nursing

An OB/GYN staff nurse is a registered nurse who provides direct care to women. OB-GYN nurses may work in hospital labor and delivery and post-partum units, as well as at birthing centers and maternity or outpatient clinics. Their duties include admitting patients, taking medical histories and assisting physicians during procedures. They may administer medications, apply fetal monitoring devices or perform ultrasounds. They may also lead childbirth preparation classes or educate women individually about sexually transmitted diseases, birth control or prenatal care.

Gynecology/Obstetrics Nurses care for women from puberty to menopause. Not only do they help women during pregnancy, labor and childbirth, they can work with women who have health issues with their reproductive system. They may also lead childbirth preparation classes or educate women individually about sexually transmitted diseases, birth control or prenatal care.

Work Environment

OB/GYN nurses can work in a doctors office, pre or postnatal floor, OR and the labor ward. Many nurses who want to work in labor and delivery will often start off on the pre/postnatal floor, then move to L and D once an opportunity arises. It is normally expected that you will cross train, to enable you to work in all areas. This is a huge specialty and for the purpose of this article, it is impossible to touch on all areas where an OB/GYN nurse has the potential to work.

Opportunities

You do not have to have nursing experience to work as an OB/GYN nurse, jobs can be few and far between for inexperienced nurses, and some facilities can require previous nursing experience. Many facilities will offer 6 - 12 months orientation for the inexperienced nurse.

There will be extensive on the job training for new OB/GYN nurses.

There can be lots of opportunities for advancement for nurses with L & D background, including lactation specialist, Certification as a Nurse Midwife, NP in women's health.

Education and Requirements Depending on department

• Registered Nurse
• LPN
• BLS/NALS/PALs/NRP
• Fetal monitoring
• Experience in Lab/Delivery
• Analytical Ability
• Visual, hearing and sensory touch acuity

Responsibilities can include but is not limited to

• Care of the laboring woman
• Antenatal care
• Post natal care
• Monitoring FHR
• Monitoring contractions
• Support
• Pain management
• Cervical exams
• Induction of labor
• IV infusion therapy
• Documentation
• Education for the new parent
• Contraception
• Breast feeding education
• Scrubbing for C/Section
• Care of the newborn
• Sexual health education

Salaries

L&D RN salaries are on a par with other nursing specialties with a median salary of $64,690 as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. RN salaries may be as low as about $44,000 and as high as $95,000 depending on several factors including work experience, state, employer, and specific nursing role

Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses

Staff Nurse - RN - Obstetrics Salary | Salary.com