Labor and Delivery Nurse Job Description Template

A labor and delivery (L&D) nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who provides care for mothers and infants through the birthing process and into the postpartum period. To find a qualified nurse for this position, it’s important to write a labor and delivery nurse job description that clearly defines the role. Crafting a targeted job posting will help you attract top talent with the skills and compassion needed in the field of obstetrics.

The printable L&D nurse job description template provided below will give you a helpful starting point for your own job post. Customize it with the labor and delivery nurse skills, education, and experience required at your facility. In the breakdown of each section, you’ll also find tips to help attract candidates to your facility and recruit the best possible applicants for the job.

Prepare your job description alongside a list of targeted interview questions to narrow down the best nurse for your team. Seeking additional insights? Take a look at how other facilities are advertising their labor and delivery nurse job openings and learn how to catch the attention of the right applicants.

Labor and Delivery Nurse

Tips: A good labor and delivery registered nurse job description begins with a brief introduction to the role. Labor nurses function in different capacities at each facility, so explaining exactly how the employee will work as part of your team is important.

Does your team provide care to high-risk mothers? Are your nurses involved in the delivery of infants with known medical conditions? Provide details about the patient population your facility serves to help nurses looking to gain particular experience. Labor and delivery nurse working conditions vary across facility types. If you’re filling a position at a birthing center or outpatient clinic, address that early in your post.

Include a summary of your company’s mission, vision, and values to help potential staff understand what drives employees to succeed at your organization. Listing hospital awards and accreditations helps showcase unique benefits of working at your facility and attracts nurses to your organization.

Template:

Looking for an exciting new career opportunity? Here at [insert facility name here] we’re looking to hire a labor and delivery nurse with experience in high-risk pregnancy management at an acute-care hospital.

The ideal candidate is an excellent communicator and leader, collaborating with the multidisciplinary team to ensure healthy deliveries for mothers and infants. This nurse must have experience working with team members in the antepartum, postpartum, and neonatal intensive care departments.

When you join [insert facility name here], you’ll be involved in incredible and life-changing experiences every day. Learn about our high-quality benefits, compensation, and scheduling requirements below and apply to join our team.

Benefits

Tips: Now that you’ve explained the basics of the position, it’s time to show off. This section of the labor and delivery nurse job description template highlights the key perks of working at your facility, and showcases financial and lifestyle incentives that can place your open position at the top of a candidate’s list.

Template:

• Competitive pay
• $10,000 sign-on bonus after 2-year contract
• 401(k) matching
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• FSA/HSA options
• Paid vacation/holiday/family leave
• Free continuing education (CE) courses
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 per year
• Annual scrub and footwear stipend

Duties and Responsibilities

Tips: Your job posting should include a concise list of the labor and delivery nurse job duties within your organization. Focus on the core responsibilities of labor and delivery nurses, including important soft skills such as providing emotional support. You can also detail the clinical tasks specific to your organization, like field triage or operating room management.

Template:

The labor and delivery nurse job duties include but are not limited to:

• Patient intake and vital sign collection
• Placing catheters and IV lines
• Electronic medical record (EMR) documentation
• Fetal monitoring and heart rate strip assessment
• Conducting vaginal exams to determine fetal positioning and cervical status
• Preparing surgical tools and instruments for cesarean section
• Assisting doctors in placing epidural catheters
• Assessing for post-delivery complications and communicating concerns to the team
• Providing patient education and emotional support

Compensation and Schedule

Tips: Offering a competitive labor and delivery nurse salary is one key method for recruiting and maintaining high-quality employees. Additionally, flexible scheduling and rotating holiday shift requirements can help entice nurses to apply for your job opening.

Switching jobs can be difficult and stressful for nurses. This section of your labor and delivery nurse job description is a great place to outline the reasons why choosing to work at your facility is worth the effort.

Template:

• Starting salary at $104,000, with adjustments made for relevant education and experience level
• Full time employment at 36 hours a week
• Day or night shift positions available for 12-hour shifts (7a-7p or 7p-7a)
• On-call evening shifts required (four 8-hour blocks per month)
• Overtime, night shift, charge nurse, and holiday pay available
• Bi-weekly or weekly pay periods

Labor and Delivery Nurse Qualifications and Skills

Tips: Desired qualifications and competencies should be included in every labor and delivery RN job description. Skills, behavioral characteristics, and experience expectations should all be listed here.

Some job postings are open to new-graduate nurses, while others are listed exclusively for highly trained and experienced professionals. It’s important to differentiate which qualifications are required and which are preferred to ensure the best possible applicant pool for your position.

Labor and delivery nurse education requirements and licensing processes vary for every state and organization. Make sure to check the legal requirements for nursing in your state prior to posting a job description.

Template:

Required Qualifications:

• RN license (BSN candidates favored)
• Minimum 2 years of experience working in an acute care labor and delivery setting
• BLS, ACLS, and PALS certified
• Working knowledge of electronic medical record (EMR) technology
• Critical thinking skills in high-stress environments
• Strong interpersonal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Labor and delivery nurse certification: RNC-OB credential
• Trained in AWHONN basic, intermediate, and advanced fetal monitoring
• Previous experience in a unit leadership or charge nurse role
• Impeccable organization, time management, and decision-making skills
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• CPI certification

Call to Action

Tips: Creating a well-written labor and delivery nurse job description can help attract high-quality labor and delivery professionals to your facility. Now make it easy for candidates to apply directly to the position.

Insert a call-to-action button labeled “apply now” or “click here” to help direct nurses to the next step. Allow candidates to link resumes and cover letters directly to their application to save them time and effort.

Template:

Ready to join our professional labor and delivery team? Take the next step in your nursing career by clicking “apply now.” Thank you for your interest; we look forward to hearing from you!

Hire the Right Labor and Delivery Nurse to Help Your Team Thrive

You’ve written an effective labor and delivery nurse job description — now all you need are high-quality candidates ready for the job. Need help reaching the right people? Our nursing-focused job board can connect you with a nationwide network of nursing professionals who are ready to work.