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What is the process of becoming a RN Labor and Delivery Nurse
I'm a 9th grader and I'm interested in becoming a Labor & delivery nurse. I would like to know the steps in becoming one and what I would have to do.
#registered-nurses #nurse
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Raquel’s Answer
It's great that you're already looking into careers you are interested in. There are two ways to become an RN. You can go to a junior college and get an associates degree that has a program for registered nursing, or you can get a bachelors degree in nursing. Though at the moment nurses are a hot commodity and hospitals are taking whatever they can get, it is highly recommended and sometimes required to have a bachelors.
No matter which program you go with you'll need to take a variety of prerequisite classes to apply to a nursing program. These include basic general education classes as well as specific science classes. You'll need entry level biology, anatomy & physiology, microbiology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and math (most programs require statistics, a fair amount require precalculus). Some programs have other required classes that are unique to their program, for example mine required an interpersonal communications course.
Once you graduate school you'll have to take the NCLEX exam to get your license as a registered nurse. Once you get your license you can work as a nurse.
As a general rule, hospitals don't like to hire new graduates to specialty fields, they want you to gain at least one to two years experience on a medical, surgical, or telemetry floor first. However, in more recent years more and more programs are partnering with hospitals to create nurse apprenticeship programs. These programs pair nursing students with floors in hospitals where they get to work in the role of a nurse but in a limited capacity and under supervision of a licensed nurse, similar to nursing school clinical. The nice part about these programs (aside from gaining more experience) is that they put students in the specialty fields. Many apprenticeship programs have positions in ICU, L&D, postpartum, ED, and NICU. It gives you experience in those specialty fields as well as gives an opportunity to be hired on the unit after graduating. There is no guarantee of hire on whatever unit you apprentice at, it does increase chances.
So whether you get a few years of experience first or you're able to get onto L&D right away you can easily become a L&D nurse once you get your RN license. Best of luck!
No matter which program you go with you'll need to take a variety of prerequisite classes to apply to a nursing program. These include basic general education classes as well as specific science classes. You'll need entry level biology, anatomy & physiology, microbiology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and math (most programs require statistics, a fair amount require precalculus). Some programs have other required classes that are unique to their program, for example mine required an interpersonal communications course.
Once you graduate school you'll have to take the NCLEX exam to get your license as a registered nurse. Once you get your license you can work as a nurse.
As a general rule, hospitals don't like to hire new graduates to specialty fields, they want you to gain at least one to two years experience on a medical, surgical, or telemetry floor first. However, in more recent years more and more programs are partnering with hospitals to create nurse apprenticeship programs. These programs pair nursing students with floors in hospitals where they get to work in the role of a nurse but in a limited capacity and under supervision of a licensed nurse, similar to nursing school clinical. The nice part about these programs (aside from gaining more experience) is that they put students in the specialty fields. Many apprenticeship programs have positions in ICU, L&D, postpartum, ED, and NICU. It gives you experience in those specialty fields as well as gives an opportunity to be hired on the unit after graduating. There is no guarantee of hire on whatever unit you apprentice at, it does increase chances.
So whether you get a few years of experience first or you're able to get onto L&D right away you can easily become a L&D nurse once you get your RN license. Best of luck!
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Jean’s Answer
Yessica, Most RN's upon graduation are required or strongly urged to do a year on a Medical/Surgical floor. This is where you will learn the basics in patient care. After that I would suggest you inform your supervisor or Human Resource personnel that you would like to be considered to become a L&D nurse. I would suggest taking some continuing education classes that involve Labor and Delivery content. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Ashley Anders
Labor and Delivery/Postpartum/Stable Newborn/Gynecology Registered Nurse
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Ashley’s Answer
Hey Yessica! 5 year Labor and Delivery nurse here. Glad you have such a clear picture of what you want to do at such a young age! So so impressive. There are a few paths to take to get to your end goal. I would definitely start by recommending talking to your guidance counselor/career counselor (whomever is in charge of your education planning at your current high school. Let them know your goals and they can put your in the best classes to help you get to your end goal faster. Some high schools do have LPN programs available which would be a good stepping stone for you. If not they may have A CNA program for you to take which also could get your foot in the healthcare/patient care setting.
If prior to attending college you have been able to receive you LPN you can look at a bridge program from LPN to RN. Which most community colleges have. If you don't, no worries! From there you really have two options, directing aiming for a BSN or Bachelors of Science in Nursing or going through an ADN or Associates Degree in Nursing program and then potentially going back later to receive your Bachelors. Bachelor's degree nurse are typically more sought after in the workforce but technically to become a Registered Nurse all you have to have is an Associate's Degree and then sit for your Nation Certification exam. I recommend looking at your financial status i.e. who will be paying for your schooling, willing you be able to receive financial aid, etc. and deciding on which path would work best for you.
Talk to career counselor in high school
Look up high school CNA/LPN programs in your area
Look up schools you are interested in attending.. community college vs. larger university
If prior to attending college you have been able to receive you LPN you can look at a bridge program from LPN to RN. Which most community colleges have. If you don't, no worries! From there you really have two options, directing aiming for a BSN or Bachelors of Science in Nursing or going through an ADN or Associates Degree in Nursing program and then potentially going back later to receive your Bachelors. Bachelor's degree nurse are typically more sought after in the workforce but technically to become a Registered Nurse all you have to have is an Associate's Degree and then sit for your Nation Certification exam. I recommend looking at your financial status i.e. who will be paying for your schooling, willing you be able to receive financial aid, etc. and deciding on which path would work best for you.
Ashley recommends the following next steps: