A perinatal nurse is a nursing specialty that works with patients who are attempting to become pregnant, are currently pregnant, or have recently delivered. They provide healthcare for pregnant patients and education for the entire family, working under physicians or nurse practitioners and may supervise nursing assistants. A perinatal nurse practitioner may be a womans primary care provider during her pregnancy. After labor and delivery, neonatal nurses may take over caring duties for the infant. Some of the key duties of a perinatal nurse include:
- Providing prenatal care and testing
- Caring for patients experiencing pregnancy complications
- Providing care during labor and delivery
- Providing care of patients following delivery
- Educating patients and their families on infant care
Perinatal nurses are required to possess specialized skills such as electronic fetal monitoring, nonstress tests, neonatal resuscitation, and medication administration by continuous intravenous drip. They work closely with obstetricians, midwives, and nurse practitioners. Perinatal nurses can work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, midwifery practices, and birthing centers. To become a perinatal nurse, an individual must attend and pass the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX) and complete a Bachelor of Science in nursing or an Associate in Science Nursing Degree program. Many employers prefer Nurse Practitioners (NPs) for the role, and perinatal nurses looking to become NPs can choose to complete a Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) and apply for further certification to bolster the chances of positioning themselves into the advanced field of perinatal nursing.
