How to Become an Obstetrics Nurse

One of the most rewarding experiences is helping to bring a new life into the world. An obstetrics nurse does just that, helping expecting mothers through pregnancy and ultimately helping with the delivery process.

Obstetrics nurses have to go through schooling, licensure, and eventually certification once they obtain job experience. A career in obstetric nursing is a great choice for a compassionate person eager to help others. It requires empathy, scientific understanding, patience, and dedication to get through long hours and late nights.

An OB-GYN nurse helps patients throughout pregnancy, ultimately assisting with labor and delivery. Over time, an obstetrics nurse might take on additional responsibilities, managing teams or helping with particularly difficult pregnancies.

After gaining experience, many obstetric nurses pursue a master’s degree in nursing to specialize as certified nurse midwives (CNM). These nurse practitioners have the authority to independently practice, often overseeing obstetrics nurses themselves.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Accreditation is the process of certifying that a school meets certain educational standards. Organizations that provide accreditation, called accrediting bodies, are licensed by the U.S. Department of Education. It is important to make sure you attend an accredited program, as nurse licensing bodies require a degree from an accredited program.

Obstetrics nurses must have a valid nursing license. License requirements vary from state to state, but certain NLC states recognize each other’s licenses.

Additional certification is not required to work as an obstetrics nurse. However, certification can make it easier to find specialized work or allow for easier career advancement.

On average, tuition for a four-year degree at a public institution was $9,400 in the 2020-21 school year, while a two-degree cost $3,900, according to the NCES. The NCLEX-RN licensing exam costs $200 to sit for, while the National Certification Corporation certification exam costs $325 to sit for.

As of 2021, Payscale reports an average salary of $62,300 for obstetrics nurses. Nurses earn the most in California, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, D.C, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To become an obstetrics nurse, you need a nursing degree. This can either be a two-year ADN or a four-year BSN. Then, you need to pass the NCLEX and earn nursing licensure in your state. After that, you can practice as an obstetrics nurse.

You can obtain further qualifications after beginning work as an obstetrics nurse. You can take certification exams to prove your expertise as an obstetrics nurse. Additionally, if you choose to pursue a master’s degree in nursing, you can study to become a nurse midwife and practice independently.

The fastest way to become an obstetrics nurse is to earn an ADN. An ADN is a two-year degree and is the minimum required degree to practice as a nurse.

After that, you need to take the NCLEX and get a nursing license in your state. Some states have additional licensing requirements.

You can practice once you have obtained a degree and license. As such, the quickest you can become an obstetrics nurse is a bit over two years.

An OB nurse (obstetrics nurse) can assist in labor and delivery and may act as a labor and delivery nurse. However, an obstetrics nurse does more than just labor and delivery, whereas a labor and delivery nurse solely focuses on those areas.

In addition to labor and delivery, an obstetrics nurse helps patients throughout their entire pregnancy. This can include regular exams, providing prenatal care, answering patient questions, and keeping records of changes in pregnancy.

Obstetrics nurses do not perform surgery on their own. However, an obstetrics nurse may assist a doctor, usually an OB/GYN, in a surgical delivery (cesarean section). While this isn’t an everyday occurrence, this means that obstetrics nurses need to be familiar with surgical safety and comfortable with blood.

Payscale reports an average salary of $62,300 for obstetrics nurses as of 2021. However, the top 25% of earners can earn more than $99,000.

Obstetrics nurses can maximize their income through education, certification, and experience. If you have a BSN instead of an ADN, you may be able to earn a higher salary. You can also earn a higher salary by earning a certification in obstetrics nursing.

Some obstetrics nurses go on to earn a master’s degree. With a master’s degree, they can practice as a nurse midwife and earn a higher salary.