SPECIALTIES
Obstetrics Nurse

WHAT IS A Obstetrics Nurse

Obstetric (OB) nurses guide, support, and deliver care to women who embark on the exciting journey of motherhood. These same nurses are often introduced to women starting in their teens when women first require attention to their gynecological health. Obstetric nurses participate in pelvic exams, offer education and guidance on birth control methods and sexually transmitted diseases, and explain the need for mammograms in later years. 

 

During pregnancy, an obstetrics nurse assists with prenatal exams, monitoring weight gain and lab work, and educating a new mother on her expectations. When a woman is in labor, the obstetrics nurse tracks a woman’s progress and alerts the delivery team when the mother is ready. After delivery, obstetric nurses attend to the new infant, who requires cleaning, vaccinations, and monitoring while assisting the new mother in her recovery from labor. 

 

In a hospital, new mothers are cared for by obstetric nurses in a maternity ward. Here obstetric nurses coach and teach the new mother about her new role, guide her in lactation techniques, and provide postpartum care.

 

Obstetric nurses often receive advanced training to improve their skills in maternal care. Some become advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) either as obstetrics nurse practitioners, women’s health nurse practitioners, or certified nurse-midwives.

WHAT DOES A Obstetrics Nurse Do?

Obstetric nurses perform some of the same activities as other nurses, but they are mainly focused on women’s health. OB nursing can be separated into prenatal, labor and delivery, post-delivery, and postpartum care. Each area has specific roles: 

Prenatal: 

  • Pregnancy care of monitoring weight, collecting lab work and urine for prenatal screening
  • Assist the physician or NP during pelvic exams
  • Provide counseling and education during pregnancy

Labor and Delivery: 

  • Monitor the mother and baby during labor, prep the woman for delivery, and keep the    physician or CNM abreast of her status
  • Attend and assist during delivery
  • Labor coaching and pain management

Post Delivery:

  • Assess newborn immediately after birth
  • Monitors mom and newborn vital signs for any change in status

Postpartum: 

  • Assist mother with lactation and post-delivery personal care
  • Assist with bonding and newborn teaching
  • Attend to incisions, provide ice, or pain medications
  • Provide counseling and education

WHAT SKILLS DOES A Obstetrics Nurse NEED?

Obstetric nurses need to accurately assess women in any stage of labor. They also must be able to guide the woman and other team members down the path towards a successful delivery and beyond. Critical thinking skills, a strong ability to coach, and knowledge of other medical conditions that may interfere with a smooth birth are crucial.

Obstetric nurses know how to perform cervical exams, operate fetal monitors, and titrate medications to control labor.  

They must be able to essentially care for two patients, the woman and her infant, at the same time.  

Work settings for Obstetrics Nurses

Obstetric nurses often work in hospital maternity and labor and delivery wards, community clinics, and OB/GYN doctor’s offices but also work in birthing centers and even the U.S. armed forces.

Common Cases Obstetrics Nurse Encounter

Obstetric nurses care for women and teenagers of every socioeconomic level who need OB/GYN care. They also provide care of the newborn after delivery.

How to Become a Obstetrics Nurse

  1. Complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree: takes two-to-four-years based on the program
  2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for your RN license after graduation
  3. Apply as a new grad or from another nursing discipline to an inpatient or outpatient OB setting 
  4. Become certified as an Inpatient Obstetrics Nurse (RNC-OB) after meeting the prerequisites and gaining work experience.

HOW TO ADVANCE YOUR CAREER AS Obstetrics Nurse

OB nurses must be BCLS certified, and it is highly encouraged they become OB certified after gaining experience. 

An Inpatient Obstetrics Nurse (RNC-OB) needs to have worked for 2,000 hours in obstetrics for 24 months before taking the exam. 

You can also advance by getting an MSN or doctoral degree with a woman’s health or OB/GYN focus as a CNM. Alternatively, you can become an Obstetrics-Gynecology Nurse Practitioner (OGNP) or a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP).

Education requirements & Helpful Certifications

Obstetric nurses must be BCLS certified, some facilities also want ACLS certification, and it is highly encouraged that they become OB certified after gaining experience. 

 

An Inpatient Obstetrics Nurse (RNC-OB) needs to have worked for 2,000 hours in obstetrics within the last 24 months before taking the exam.

 

There are several other certifications through the National Certification Corporation divided into categories of: Core, Nurse Practitioner, and Subspecialty certifications. Some are focused on the care of the mother and others on the care of the neonate.

 

How to Advance Your Career as an Obstetrics Nurse

You can advance your career by getting an MSN or doctoral degree with a woman’s health or OB/GYN focus. Alternatively, you can become an Obstetrics-Gynecology Nurse Practitioner (OGNP), a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), or train to be a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM).

Average salary for Obstetrics Nurses

Obstetric nurses typically make between $63,225 - $95,643, with a median salary of $76,331, according to Salary.com.

The May 2021 Bureau of Labor and Statistics report shows which states have the highest and lowest wages for nurses. They do not list by nurse specialty, but obstetrics nurse salaries would likely follow suit. The highest-paid states are California, Hawaii, and Oregon. The lowest-paid states are South Dakota, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Ideal Personality Traits

  • Thrives on unpredictability and a fast-paced environment
  • Flexibility and willingness to change course quickly
  • Ability to take emotional outbursts from patients without insult
  • Loves caring for babies

The Pros of Being an Obstetrics Nurse

  • Rewarding to be part of a family’s new life event
  • Involved in all stages of a woman’s pregnancy
  • Care for both the mother and her infant
  • Enjoy teaching and coaching new mothers and families

The Cons of Being an Obstetrics Nurse

  • Fatigue due to focused attention during labor and delivery
  • Care of OB patients may limit exposure to other medical conditions
  • Concern if there is a negative birth outcome
  • Staffing levels unpredictable

Specialty groups and communities

Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
Cost:
$96, annually.

Perks:

Access to AWHONN Journals with free CE, educational tools & resources, 30+ webinars with CE and other easily-accessible forms of clinical education on key topics, new member recruitment rewards, AWHONN Career Center, and more.

Mission:

“Our mission is to improve and promote the health of women and newborns and to strengthen the nursing profession through the delivery of superior advocacy, research, education and other professional and clinical resources to nurses and other health care professionals.”

Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing (JOGNN)
Cost:
$258, annually.

Perks:

Receive free shipping around the world, full online access to your subscription and archive of back issues, table of contents alerts, access to all multimedia content( e.g. podcasts, videos, slides), and fully-optimized mobile browsing experience on your smartphone or tablet.

Mission:

“The mission of JOGNN is to advance the health and health care of women, childbearing families, and newborns through the publication of peer-reviewed nursing and interdisciplinary scholarship.”

Back to Nurses

Obstetrics Nurse

Women often first encounter OB nurses at their OB/GYN practitioner's office, where OB nurses help educate patients on sexual health, birth control, and assist with pelvic exams. 

Once pregnant, the OB nurse helps monitor a woman’s pregnancy and provides teaching and support. During labor, the OB nurse monitors the woman and her infant and coaches her during the delivery. After delivery, the woman and her infant are closely watched before going to the postpartum unit, where OB nurses teach about lactation and provide post-delivery care.

Education Requirements

Obstetric nurses must be BCLS certified, some facilities also want ACLS certification, and it is highly encouraged that they become OB certified after gaining experience. 

 

An Inpatient Obstetrics Nurse (RNC-OB) needs to have worked for 2,000 hours in obstetrics within the last 24 months before taking the exam.

 

There are several other certifications through the National Certification Corporation divided into categories of: Core, Nurse Practitioner, and Subspecialty certifications. Some are focused on the care of the mother and others on the care of the neonate.

 

How to Advance Your Career as an Obstetrics Nurse

You can advance your career by getting an MSN or doctoral degree with a woman’s health or OB/GYN focus. Alternatively, you can become an Obstetrics-Gynecology Nurse Practitioner (OGNP), a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP), or train to be a Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM).

How to advance/career pathway

OB nurses must be BCLS certified, and it is highly encouraged they become OB certified after gaining experience. 

An Inpatient Obstetrics Nurse (RNC-OB) needs to have worked for 2,000 hours in obstetrics for 24 months before taking the exam. 

You can also advance by getting an MSN or doctoral degree with a woman’s health or OB/GYN focus as a CNM. Alternatively, you can become an Obstetrics-Gynecology Nurse Practitioner (OGNP) or a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP).

RESPONSIBILITIES

OB nursing can be separated into prenatal, labor and delivery, post-delivery, and postpartum care. Each area has specific roles: 

Prenatal: 

  • Pregnancy care involves monitoring weight, collect lab work and urine for prenatal screening
  • Assist the physician or NP during pelvic exams
  • Provide counseling and education during pregnancy

Labor and Delivery: 

  • Monitor mother and baby during labor, prep the woman for delivery, and keep the physician or CNM abreast of her status
  • Attend and assist during delivery
  • Labor coaching and pain management

Post Delivery

  • Assess newborn immediately after birth
  • Monitors mom and newborn vital signs or any change in status

Postpartum: 

  • Assist mother with lactation and post-delivery personal care
  • Assist with bonding and newborn teaching
  • Attend to incisions, provide ice or pain medications
  • Provide counseling and education

MOST COMMON CASES

Obstetric nurses care for women and teenagers of every socioeconomic level who need OB/GYN care. They also provide care of the newborn after delivery.

How to become a

Obstetrics Nurse

  1. Complete an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree: takes two-to-four-years based on the program
  2. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam and apply for your RN license after graduation
  3. Apply as a new grad or from another nursing discipline to an inpatient or outpatient OB setting 
  4. Become certified as an Inpatient Obstetrics Nurse (RNC-OB) after meeting the prerequisites and gaining work experience.

The Pros

  • Rewarding to be part of a family’s new life event
  • Involved in all stages of a woman’s pregnancy
  • Care for both the mother and her infant
  • Enjoy teaching and coaching new mothers and families

The Cons

  • Fatigue due to focused attention during labor and delivery
  • Care of OB patients may limit exposure to other medical conditions
  • Concern if there is a negative birth outcome
  • Staffing levels unpredictable
smily face illustration

Personality Traits

  • Thrives on unpredictability and a fast-paced environment
  • Flexibility and willingness to change course quickly
  • Ability to take emotional outbursts from patients without insult
  • Loves caring for babies
piggy bank illustration

Average Salary

Obstetric nurses typically make between $63,225 - $95,643, with a median salary of $76,331, according to Salary.com.

The May 2021 Bureau of Labor and Statistics report shows which states have the highest and lowest wages for nurses. They do not list by nurse specialty, but obstetrics nurse salaries would likely follow suit. The highest-paid states are California, Hawaii, and Oregon. The lowest-paid states are South Dakota, Alabama, and Mississippi.

book illustration

Certifications

National Certification Corporation 

  • Inpatient Obstetrics Nursing (RNC-OB)
  • Obstetrics and Neonatal Quality and Safety (C-ONQS)
  • Certification in Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM)
location pin illustration

Work Setting

Obstetric nurses often work in hospital maternity and labor and delivery wards, community clinics, and OB/GYN doctor’s offices but also work in birthing centers and even the U.S. armed forces.