How to Become an OB/GYN Nurse

Becoming an obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN) nurse is a popular aspiration for nursing students and those considering nursing. OB/GYN nurses help bring new life into the world and contribute to good outcomes for both parents and babies.

This guide explains how to become an OB/GYN nurse and includes the skills, qualifications, degree, and licensing requirements professionals need. Keep reading to see if becoming an OB/GYN nurse is right for you.

OB/GYN nurses work with obstetricians, gynecologists, and midwives to support reproductive health, especially pregnancy and delivery. While most work in hospitals and health systems, they also commonly work for independent OB/GYN practices and standalone birthing centers. OB/GYN nurses assist physicians and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), provide patient education, and administer prescribed medications and other treatments. These nurses help reduce maternal and infant illness and death, while giving infants a healthy start in life.

You must earn a nursing degree and obtain an RN license to become an OB/GYN nurse. The shortest pathway is to earn an ADN degree, but a BSN is more valuable for higher-level positions and prepares you to earn a master of science in nursing (MSN). However, if you choose to first earn an ADN, you can later enroll in an RN-to-BSN program.

Becoming an OB/GYN nurse requires an RN license. Certification is not a legal requirement, but can be helpful in salary negotiations or in applying for higher-level positions. Once you have 24 months and 2,000 hours of experience as an OB/GYN, you can apply to the National Certification Corporation for RNC-OB certification and take the certification exam. Learn more about earning RNC certification.

Nurses maintain both their RN licenses and certifications through ongoing professional development. This can include approved conferences, courses, webinars, or completing approved reading and taking a test.

With an RN license, you have a range of employment options. Depending on the size of your workplace and your interests, you may specialize in a particular area of OB/GYN care, or you may work as more of a generalist.

OB/GYN nurse salaries are lower than other RN specialties, partly because so many nurses want to work in this specialty. According to Payscale data from September 2021, most OB/GYN nurses earn between $57,000 and $99,000 annually. The median annual salary is $64,000. By comparison, the median RN salary is $68,000, as Payscale data from June 2022.

Becoming an OB/GYN nurse takes at least two years to earn an ADN degree and an RN license. You can also earn a four-year BSN, which is a more valuable degree if you plan to work in a higher-level role or proceed to an MSN program.

In addition to an RN license, becoming an OB/GYN nurse requires excellent communication skills with parents and families from all backgrounds, attention to detail, and the ability to recognize and act immediately if something is going wrong during a pregnancy or birth.

OB/GYN nurses care for people planning to become pregnant, pregnant patients, and those with reproductive system health needs. OB/GYN nurses typically assist during examinations and other procedures and provide ongoing care during pregnancy and birth. This specialty is narrower than women’s health nursing but broader than neonatal nursing.

Demand for all nurses, including OB/GYN nurses, is high. OB/GYN nurses are especially needed in areas with less access to reproductive health or in communities with higher levels of infant and maternal illness and death.