maternity+nurse

Maternity Nurse Job Description Maternity nurses are registered nurses, trained doulas or midwives who support mothers and their babies before, during and after childbirth. They monitor and care for newborn babies and provide education for new mothers in the first 28 days following childbirth. A Maternity Nurse may works as part of a team within a hospital or within a community healthcare setting. They can deliver babies alone, providing there are no complications. If complications do arise they will need to call an obstetrician. When not involved in the birthing procedure they may see patients in their own offices or in the patient's home.A maternity nurse should be calm under pressure and be able to help patients deal with pain and anxiety. They should also be able to make decisions quickly and decisively to ensure the wellbeing of the mother and child. Education To become a maternity nurse you will need to be a registered nurse. This will involve completing either a bachelor's degree or an associated degree in nursing, or a diploma in nursing. Once qualified a nurse must then complete and pass midwifery school.A nurse will then have to go on to pass a licensing exam in order to practice as a fully licensed midwife. Requirements typically include undergraduate classes in the hard sciences, such as chemistry and anatomy.Once undergraduate classes are completed, potential maternity nurses must complete classes in nursing practice. This typically means at least one or more, often two, semesters of classes in a hospital where she is instructed in nursing techniques such as administration of medication and monitoring of patients. Salary According to State University, the average salary of a maternity nurse is $76,400. This salary varies, however, depending on when where the nurse works, her experience within the role, and the geography or city she works in. Benefits normally include paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance, paid tuition and a pension plan.