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Question: How does a labor and delivery nurse differ from a baby nurse?

(Posted by: isk8 on 2009-06-08 12:38:27)

I'm looking at some careers and so I'd like to know what these two have in common and what makes them different. I have thought about being a Pediatrician but have since then scratched that out. I'd like to know a little more information on these two careers. Now, after reading those answers, it does seem very self explanitory.... Here's another one.. I don't want to sound greedy but is there a difference in salary??

Posted by: momoftwo on 2009-06-08, 12:53:06

Just my point of view....the patient. A good labor and delivery nurse will make the laboring woman want the nurse to deliver the child rather than the doctor who she's been seeing from the past 9 months. She is the one who checks in on the mom and family in the labor and delivery room frequently, administers medicines, calls for anesthesiology if an epidural is wanted, laughs and jokes with laboring mom, tries to help out with other forms of pain relief, tells stories about why she wanted to be a labor and delivery nurse to get a connection to the 'mom'. The baby nurse is just there to check on baby, keep an eye on baby, do baby vitals, report to doctors how baby is doing.

Posted by: Evie's Momma on 2009-06-08, 12:44:09

Labor and delivery nurses are all about the mother. They assist with the labor and delivery of the baby. The nursery nurses are all about the baby. Seems pretty self explanatory to me. Your main focus is either the mother or the baby.

Posted by: Pippin on 2009-06-08, 12:45:14

A labor and delivery nurse works primarily with the mother -- supporting her and caring for her during labor. A nursery or NICU nurse would work in the nursery -- caring for the babies after they are born. (Either helping the moms care for their healthy babies, or caring for the sick and premature babies in the NICU.

Posted by: ~Precious~ on 2009-06-08, 12:46:08

I would assume the baby nurse are the ones who care for the little ones after they are born. Where as the labor and delivery are there to help you during your labor. Giving meds/ making you comfy/ getting you blankets/ etc.. Good luck. After having 2 kids i wish i had the chance to go to college to become one of them. Even the nurses who come in to give you drinks/ give you meds/ food/ etc...