OB/GYN Nursing

Gynecology/Obstetrics Nurses care for women from puberty to menopause. OB/GYN is a huge specialty and covers women reproductive health and issues connected with the reproductive system. OB/GYN have numerous areas they can work in and it can be a stepping stone to advance degree programs.

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

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madwife2002

About madwife2002, BSN, RN

RN with 26 years of experience many of those years spent in dialysis. I have worked in acute care, home, ICHD as a CN, FA, and currently a director.

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My second priority in being a RN: an Ob Nurse. First is Pediatric. Thanks for this information

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NRP is needed also on L/D and PP.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.
NRP is needed also on L/D and PP.

Thank you I added it

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I'm going to be finishing up school this spring and would love to work OB, in fact it was my best class grade wise :) Any tips on what I should or could do to make myself more appealing to an employer? Any special classes I should take? Thanks!

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Same here- Pediatric first, Ob second, after that I think I'll take what I can get!

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Great article, I would love to eventually work in L&D!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I finally got into OB and LOVE it. I now couldn't image doing anything else.

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I am a RN and I have OB/GYN experience while I was in Africa. Now I want to join the OB/GYN. How could I get the opportunity? I did try to apply for such postings but no body contacted me yet. Am working in nursing home for now. Any suggestions, am around Boston area and I have ADN. Any suggestion will be helpful

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Specializes in TCU, Post-surgical, Infection Prevention.

Are NALS and NRP the same thing? Or are they similar? I know what they stand for, however I cannot really find NALS courses in my area, just NRP.

Please advise.

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This is a very informative article. Thank you!

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