What Is A Labor And Delivery Nurse?

Key Takeaways

• Labor and delivery nurses monitor and support patients and infants through labor, delivery, and immediate recovery in hospitals and birthing centers.
• The specialty requires an RN license and either a BSN or an ADN.
• RNC-OB certification and neonatal resuscitation credentials strengthen your prospects.

A labor and delivery (L&D) nurse cares for patients during and after birth under the supervision of a nurse midwife or physician, and tends to the newborn immediately after delivery. These RNs work in birthing centers, delivery rooms, and hospital maternity units. In home and birth-center settings, they are sometimes called birth assistants.

The job demands sharp communication, assessment, and teaching skills, plus the ability to guide new parents through the birthing process.

How long to become: 4 years Job outlook, 2024-2034: 5% growth Average annual salary: $75,036

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, PayScale (September 2025)

What a Labor and Delivery Nurse Does

BSN required. Certification recommended.

An L&D nurse monitors the patient through every stage of labor and birth and intervenes when needed. They care for the newborn through the immediate postpartum period, usually the first two hours, administer medication, track vital signs, and educate the patient and family.

The L&D unit moves fast. Nurses have to respond to obstetric emergencies the moment they happen. The work pulls together emergency nursing, critical care, surgical support during a c-section, and recovery, which makes it one of the more demanding and rewarding floors to work.

Key Responsibilities

• Care for the patient and infant through labor, birth, and immediate postpartum
• Provide psychological and emotional support
• Monitor patient and newborn status and escalate treatment as needed

Career Traits

• Empathy
• Clear communication with patients and the care team
• Quick decision-making

Where Labor and Delivery Nurses Work

L&D nurses work primarily in labor and delivery units and birthing centers, and they can also assist with home births.

Labor, delivery, and recovery rooms (LDRs). Nurses assess labor progress and maternal and fetal status, report deviations to providers, and handle hands-on care: helping with movement and hygiene, administering medications, running monitoring devices, documenting care, and providing emotional support.

Birthing centers. Nurses assist through labor and postpartum, monitor progress and vital signs, care for the patient and newborn in the initial postpartum period, and refer to hospital care if complications arise.

L&D Nurse vs. Certified Nurse Midwife

Both are RNs, but a nurse midwife has more advanced training and certification and may work with patients throughout pregnancy, not just during labor and delivery.

Labor and delivery nurse: works with one patient in active labor at a time, cares for that patient through the birthing process, holds an RN license, and carries out the midwife's or physician's orders, such as inducing labor.

Certified nurse midwife: may manage multiple patients during labor or postpartum and evaluate patients in triage, may care for patients throughout pregnancy, holds an RN license plus midwife certification and an MSN or DNP, and makes critical decisions independently.

How to Become a Labor and Delivery Nurse

The minimum is an ADN or BSN plus an RN license, which means passing the NCLEX. Obstetrics experience, a bachelor's degree, and the RNC-OB certification give candidates a competitive edge. Many employers also require neonatal resuscitation certification.

How Much Labor and Delivery Nurses Make

The average L&D nurse salary is $75,036 as of September 2025, according to PayScale. PayScale also reports an average base salary of $92,000 for RNC-OB certified nurses. Geographic area, education, experience, and RNC-OB certification all move the number.

The outlook is solid. The BLS projects 5% growth for all RNs from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.

Resources for Labor and Delivery Nurses

• AWHONN advocates for nurses and offers continuing education, including fetal heart monitoring courses. Membership is open to anyone, but only RNs can vote or hold office.
• ACNM provides education for certified nurse midwives and advocates for the profession. Midwives can be full members; others join as nonvoting members.
• National Association of Neonatal Nurses delivers continuing education and an annual conference, publishes a journal, and offers fellowships. Membership is open to students and RNs.
• Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) offers continuing education, conducts research, and advocates for women's health and nurse practitioners. Membership includes categories for students and other specialists.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take? At least two years for an ADN plus the required certifications. A four-year BSN leads to higher pay and more advancement.

Where can you work? Hospitals, birthing centers, and private homes, assisting with births and caring for newborns. The role is also a stepping stone toward becoming a nurse midwife.

How do you advance? Become a nurse midwife or earn inpatient obstetric certification. Other paths include clinical nurse educator, perinatal health coordinator, and nurse manager.

How does an L&D nurse differ from a neonatal nurse? A neonatal nurse's main job is caring for newborns with health problems. An L&D nurse's main job is supporting the patient through labor and delivery and providing initial newborn care. For uncomplicated births, the L&D nurse may care for both until they transfer to the postpartum unit, where a postpartum and newborn nurse takes over until discharge.