Maternity nurses use their nursing skills to help women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. She/he also looks after women who have had uterine surgery, as well as those who have had miscarriages or abortions. This last point is dependent on the hospital, and maternity nurses may only work with laboring and postpartum mothers in some cases, as well as provide some newborn care.
A maternity nurse is a registered nurse in general (RN). On the maternity floor, there may be licensed or practical nurses (LVNs or LPNs), but they are supervised by RNs and cannot provide the level of care that laboring and postpartum moms require. They are usually unable to administer medications or assist with deliveries, but they are able to take vital signs and record any machine readings.
This job usually requires more than an RN, despite the fact that it is very popular in nursing and jobs may be difficult to come by. To gain experience, a maternity nurse might look for work in urban areas with a high concentration of hospitals, or in alternative settings such as birthing centers. Most maternity nurses began their careers by applying for jobs in maternity departments at hospitals.
The maternity nurse is responsible for a variety of tasks. Nurses administer various medications on doctors’ orders while mothers are in labor, but they are unable to administer epidurals. An anesthesiologist is usually required for these procedures. They assess pain, check vital signs for signs of problems, and may occasionally check the uterus for dilation level. They may also make recommendations for natural pain relief. The nurse usually acts as a go-between between the patient and the doctor, carrying out the doctor’s orders and alerting him or her when labor time is approaching.
A maternity nurse is usually present during the actual delivery, assisting doctors as needed. If a doctor does not arrive in time, a nurse may deliver a baby vaginally, despite the fact that this is not preferred.
After the mother has given birth, the maternity nurse continues to look after her. She might give advice on how to breastfeed a baby, and she’ll keep an eye on the child while it’s in the parents’ care. The nurse’s job also includes ensuring that the mother is healthy enough to return home, as well as measuring things like uterus size to ensure that it is shrinking appropriately as part of the postpartum evaluation.
A maternity nurse is an important member of the care team for laboring mothers, and they aren’t just concerned with mothers whose pregnancies are successful. They may also work with mothers who have recently lost a child in the womb or who have children who were born very sick and will require a lot of extra attention. As much as this is a happy job, it also requires sensitivity and a willingness to work hard.