What is a Labor and Delivery Nurse?
A labor and delivery nurse, also known as an L&D nurse, is a registered nurse (RN) who specializes in caring for patients during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. This profession requires a balance of strong clinical skills and a high level of compassion, as L&D nurses support patients and families through one of life’s most challenging, and joyful, milestones.
You might be drawn to labor and delivery nursing if you want to support mothers through contractions, assist during birth, monitor both mom and baby’s vital signs, and provide postpartum care. It’s a fast-paced and meaningful career for nurses who thrive under pressure and want to play an essential role in welcoming new life into the world.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about labor and delivery nursing; including what L&D nurses do, education and certification requirements, salary expectations, and what a typical shift looks like.
What Does a Labor and Delivery Nurse Do?
A typical day for an L&D nurse is anything but ordinary and includes patient care pre- and post-birth. Their duties and responsibilities generally include:
- Monitoring mom and baby: This includes assessing maternal vital signs, fetal heart rate, and contraction patterns throughout labor.
- Administering medications and interventions: L&D nurses manage IV fluids, pain relief, oxytocin, and epidural support while watching for side effects.
- Providing labor support: These nurses help support the mother’s breathing and comfort during contraction, as well as guide the baby’s positioning during birth.
- Facilitating communication: L&D nurses act as a bridge between patients, families, and providers, advocating for the mother's needs and keeping the medical team informed.
- Assisting with delivery: This includes supporting physicians or midwives during vaginal and cesarean births and helping prepare sterile instruments or surgical fields when needed.
- Postpartum care: In addition to birth support, L&D nurses watch for complications such as hemorrhage, support recovery, and provide education on newborn care and maternal health.
- Newborn care: L&D nurses help assess Apgar scores, initiate skin-to-skin contact, support breastfeeding, and monitor babies during their first hours of life.
- Responding in emergencies: They also have to act quickly in urgent situations like preeclampsia, shoulder dystocia, or fetal distress.
- Providing compassionate support: This is at the heart of every labor & delivery nurse’s role. Alongside clinical expertise, they support patients and families through the intensity and joy of childbirth.
How to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse
To become a labor and delivery nurse, the first step is to earn either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
After completing your degree, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a licensed registered nurse (RN). Once you’re licensed, you can start applying for nursing positions, including in labor and delivery.
How Long Does It Take to Become an L&D Nurse?
An associate degree typically takes about two years to complete, while a bachelor’s degree usually takes four years. Some nursing schools offer flexible options such as part-time, evening, or weekend classes.
Then, it typically takes a few weeks to a couple of months to pass the NCLEX-RN exam after finishing your nursing degree (assuming you start studying right away). Here are some things to keep in mind for the NCLEX:
- You can schedule your exam as soon as you graduate with your nursing degree and receive approval from your state nursing board.
- Many new grads spend about one to two months preparing for the NCLEX (however, the exam itself only takes one day).
- Once you pass the exam, you’ll receive your RN license, which officially lets you start practicing in your registered state!
It’s possible to begin your career as a labor and delivery nurse right after nursing school, however. However, most hospitals prefer candidates who have some prior clinical experience, so many nurses transition from Med-Surg to L&D after a few years.
Additionally, new graduate RNs may be hired directly into L&D units through nurse residency programs or structured training programs that provide mentorship and hands-on learning.
If you’re ready to make this transition or find your next role in L&D nursing, explore open jobs through Gifted Healthcare today, or apply to speak with a recruiter! We have a variety of L&D nursing positions available around the country, including travel, local, and permanent positions.
Other Requirements & Certifications
Hospitals expect L&D nurses to have BLS (Basic Life Support) at a minimum. Many also prefer or require ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program), and sometimes RNC-OB (Inpatient Obstetric Nursing) and/or C-EFM (Electronic Fetal Monitoring), depending on the unit and patient population.
- BLS & ACLS: Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support prepare you to respond to cardiac emergencies in mothers and newborns.
- NRP: NRP teaches essential neonatal resuscitation skills, including airway management and chest compressions.
- RNC-OB: This certification confirms your expertise in antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care.
- C-EFM: C-EFM focuses on interpreting fetal heart rate patterns and uterine contractions.
- PALS: This advanced certification teaches nurses how to manage critically ill infants and children. It’s sometimes required for L&D nurses, depending on the facility.
How Much Do Labor and Delivery Nurses Make?
Based on averages from current and past L&D nursing jobs listed on Gifted Healthcare, pay typically ranges from $1,500 to $3,500 per week. However, rates vary by agency, position type—travel, permanent, per diem, or local—and location, with urban hospitals generally offering higher pay than rural facilities. Travel assignments also typically pay more than other nursing jobs.
Where Can Labor and Delivery Nurses Work?
According to the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), labor and delivery nurses most commonly work in:
- Private hospitals: Full-service hospitals that handle everything from routine births to high-acuity deliveries.
- Public hospitals: Facilities that serve a diverse patient population with a wide range of birthing needs.
- Freestanding birth centers: Centers that are focused on natural, low-intervention births and prioritize patient choice.
- Private practice offices: Independent or small-group practices where prenatal care, patient education, and routine procedures are provided in a more personalized setting.
- High-risk/perinatal units: Specialized units that specialize in complicated pregnancies that require close monitoring and advanced interventions.
- Home births: Births that take place in a family’s home.
- Travel or per diem positions: Flexible, short-term nursing assignments in hospitals and clinics around the country.
Frequently Asked Questions About Labor and Delivery Nurses
What are the benefits of becoming a labor and delivery nurse?
The primary benefit of becoming a labor and delivery nurse is the fulfillment it brings. Few jobs let you witness moments as powerful as bringing new life into the world. It also provides stability in the nursing field because skilled L&D nurses are always in demand, giving you reliable career opportunities and growth.
Find your next L&D nursing job through Gifted Healthcare.
Can you become a labor and delivery nurse as a new grad?
Yes! Hospitals generally prefer some bedside experience first, though some units do hire and train new grads. If you’re passionate about women’s health and newborn care, consider applying for nurse residency programs.
Labor and delivery is a high-stakes, fast-paced specialty. A residency program can provide you with mentorship and hands-on experience as a new nurse. It also helps you build confidence in your nursing skills and stand out during the job application process.
Can you become a traveling labor and delivery nurse?
Absolutely. Travel labor and delivery nurses are in high demand, and these assignments offer a great way to refine your skills while experiencing new places. Plus, you can choose assignments that fit your lifestyle and career goals.
Connect with a Gifted recruiter today to find your next L&D travel nursing assignment!
What are the requirements for becoming a traveling L&D nurse?
The most important requirement to become a travel nurse is to have an active Registered Nurse (RN) license. In addition, you should apply for the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) because it allows you to obtain a multistate license and practice in any state that is part of the compact.
What is the minimum experience needed to become a travel L&D RN?
Most travel nurse agencies and hospitals require at least two years of recent L&D nursing experience before accepting travel assignments. Gifted Healthcare typically requires at least one year of experience in your preferred specialty.
Learn more about how to start travel nursing, including specific requirements, steps, and the benefits of this rewarding career path.
Explore Labor and Delivery Nursing Jobs Through Gifted Healthcare!
Gifted Healthcare provides healthcare professionals with exceptional, high-paying career opportunities, including labor and delivery nursing.
We’ve earned recognition as a Best Travel Nurse Agency by The Gypsy Nurse, the world’s largest online community for travel nurses, and as a Top 20 Travel Nursing Company by BluePipes, the leading professional networking platform in healthcare.
Connect with a recruiter to join the Gifted Family today! Apply here.
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