OB nursing Vs Labor and Delibery nursing

klone, MSN, RN · Oct 27, 2017

OB nurse is a generic term that encompasses all aspects of pregnancy - labor and delivery and postpartum/mom-baby (and can also refer to a nurse who works in a prenatal clinic). Labor and delivery nurse is just that.

As a labor and delivery nurse, you would not be delivering the baby. That is done by the OB/midwife.

babeinboots, MSN, NP, CNM · Oct 29, 2017

I would say it depends on how the hospital you work for defines it. At one hospital I worked at they hired all their nurses as OB nurses (new grads) and train them in postpartum/nursery the first year and L&D/antepartum the 2nd year, after that they are able to work in both sun-specialties but are able to put in a preference.

I had assumed that was how most hospitals worked, big mistake. When I apply to another hospital, they asked me which department I wished to interview for, I said OB. At this particular hospital, OB was Antepartum, postpartum, and nursery. L&D was considered a completely different department. Let's just say I was surprised and disappointed.

I am now about to start a L&D job at another hospital. When applying, the job description said OB nurse, so I assumed it was for postpartum. During the interview they gave us an opinion of doing the OB postpartum training track or the OB L&D training track. I choose L&D.

Sorry for my long post but the moral of my story is, OB nurse can mean different things at different facilities. I would advise you to ask when applying. Good luck!

Mc111901 · Oct 29, 2017

Thank you! Yes i have noticed that it really does depend on the hospital. I think i'm more interested in the postpartum part of it.