Giving Birth with Confidence, Safe & Healthy Birth
What Does a Labor & Delivery Nurse Do?
Cara Terreri
In honor of National Nurses Week, we're taking this post to celebrate Labor & Delivery Nurses with some basic information and our gratitude.
What Does a Labor & Delivery Nurse Do?
If you're planning to give birth in a hospital, you'll be assigned a labor and delivery nurse for your care once you're admitted. It helps to know what all your L&D nurse is responsible for during your stay. That way, you are more knowledgeable on what to expect and what kinds of things you can ask for help with.
- Assess and monitor vital signs for you and your baby (heart rate, blood pressure, and more)
- Assess you for stage of labor, dilation& effacement, rupture of water, complications, and other physical assessments
- Administer medications, including IV
- Manage fetal monitoring device when used
- Communicate your needs/questions to your care provider
- Manages multiple patients in labor, including assisting with induction, epidural, pain management, education, and support during birth ("delivery")
- Assist in operating room for cesarean sections, tubal, and emergency obstetric and gynecological procedures
- Provide education related to medications, labor, pushing, birth, and postpartum care
- Collaborates with your care management team, including anesthesiologist, physician or midwife, lactation nurse, and charge nurse
Other Help Provided by Your Labor & Delivery Nurse
- Finding a more comfortable position for labor
- Locating any needed supplies
- Getting a hold of your OB or midwife
- Answering your questions
- Physical assistance with moving around while in labor
Thank you, labor and delivery nurses for your:
- Patience
- Care
- Attention to detail
- Quick thinking
- Calming presence
- Humor
- Willingness to get extra apple juice/popsicle/ice water/chux... the list goes on
- Loving kindness in hard moments
- Helpful information
- Time spent cleaning up the messes
- Dedication