Nursing Careers: How to Become a Maternity Nurse

For maternity care, various type of nurses are employed such as:

• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
• Registered Nurses (RNs)
• Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
• Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs)
• Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs)

These maternity nurses work under the supervision of a gynaecologist and obstetrician as a part of labour and delivery team. The nurses with higher education and wider experience and training can work individually to handle pregnant women. The basic role of maternity nurses have been described below:

• LPNs assist gynaecologist in labour and delivery settings, monitor vitals of the patient, helps in performing procedures related to childbirth.
• NPs, CNSs and CNMs are advanced practice nurses that offer private services. Many of them work medical offices.
• RNs are involved in as policy makers, researchers and educators with community health centres and obstetric planning patient care in delivery room, nurseries and health care room.

Requirements to become a maternity nurse

Educational requirements

• LPN training and programs are offered by many community colleges and vocational schools. This program is completed within an year and students receive both classroom lessons and hands-on learning experience.
• For becoming an RN, one need to earn two-year associate's degree or four-year bachelor’s degree from an institute approved by the state. Training period includes nursing and life science programs along with rotational shift in hospitals or health care centres.
• For gaining an advanced nursing degree, one must do a master's course or doctorate followed by certification in a nursing speciality. After graduation, one may need complete 2-5 years of post graduate study. 

Training

Those who wish to become maternity nurses must do clinical rotations in labour and delivery units of a hospital. On-the-job training offers both hands-on experience and salary to new nurses. This training typically ends in three months and may be extended by 6-8 weeks in case one wishes to get more experience.

Licensing

• LPNs and RNs must have license from all states. A candidate must have a minimum degree from a recognised training institute and pass the NCLEX examination.
• NPs, CNSs and CNMs or advanced practice nurses should obtain a certificate in their area of specialisation.

Required skills and qualities

• Nurses needs to know their work in and out.
• Maternity nurses should have excellent organisational and managing skills.
• She should have interpersonal skills.
• Nurses should have empathy for a patient's conditions.
• Maternity care nurses need to educate patient's family regarding her condition.
• Must have strong critical thinking abilities.
• Must have knowledge of diagnosing symptoms of neonatal diseases.
• Must provide safe and healthy environment to the patients.

The field of nursing is expected to witness a job boom. According to a recent employment data and study, job opportunities for LPNs and RNs are expected to grow by 22 percent and 26 percent by 2020. The salaries of nurses depend on the organisation they work with, responsibilities, speciality (if any) and past work experience.

Visit our official website to get nursing careers: http://www.nursejobs-mp.co.uk/