When pregnancy complications happen, pregnant women and their babies need close monitoring. For this, they can count on AntePartum nurses to receive the help and care they need to protect their health and the health of their unborn baby. AntePartum (AP) nurses manage high-risk pregnancies alongside specialists toward optimal outcomes. If a career in AntePartum nursing care excites you, here’s everything you need to know about this specialty.
What is an AntePartum (AP) Nurse?
AntePartum nurses, sometimes known as high-risk OB nurses, work within the women’s health unit. They’re specialized nurses that provide care for high-risk pregnant women, monitoring both mother and baby’s health.
National average salary: $74,118 per year
Job outlook: 45% increase by 2029
Where Do AntePartum Nurses Work?
AntePartum nurses are highly skilled professionals in high demand. They work in children’s hospitals and prenatal departments across the country. However, most high-risk nurses spend most of their time in the Antepartum care unit. Sometimes, AntePartum nurses may also provide assistance at home for women with high-risk pregnancies that don’t necessarily require 24/7 monitoring.
What Kind of Patients Are On an AntePartum Unit?
Patients in the AntePartum care unit are women experiencing complications of pregnancy. These complications can be premature labor, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, or any other high-risk pregnancy situation.
What Does an AntePartum Nurse Do?
As part of a larger team of perinatologists, including physician specialists in maternal and fetal medicine, AntePartum nurses manage and monitor high-risk pregnancies. They provide 24/7 support and monitoring of the mother and baby, allowing the baby time to grow as much as possible in a stable environment. Although they don’t assist in diagnosis or tests like other nurses, high-risk OB nurses are precious in the Antepartum unit.
Most responsibilities include:
- Prepares equipment and assists physicians during examinations and treatments
- Provides specialized nursing care for the comfort and well-being of high-risk pregnancy patients
- Maintains records on patient care, condition, medications, reactions, and progress
How Do You Become an AntePartum Nurse?
The path to becoming an AntePartum nurse doesn’t differ much from other specialties. First, you need to earn your license as a Registered Nurse (RN) after completing either a bachelor’s of science in nursing, an associate degree in nursing, or a nursing diploma. Most hospitals require at least a year of professional nursing experience, in conjunction with triage, antepartum, and mother/baby unit experience.
Common certifications:
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
- Fetal Monitor Certification
What Skills Do You Need to Be an AntePartum Nurse?
Nurses in the AntePartum unit need a different set of soft skills to excel in their careers. Because they’ll be working alongside a larger team, the ability to work collectively and respectfully is critical. Sometimes, AntePartum nurses require hard skills, including completing orientation programs for OB triage and labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care, and more.
Additionally, since they’re working with high-risk pregnant women, a sense of care, understanding, and empathy is vital while dealing with highly emotional situations. They need to be cognizant of social issues seen in dealing with new parents and provide care as required to the patient and their family group.
Most common skills for AntePartum nurses include:
- Excellent problem solving and communication skills
- Experience in labor and delivery care procedures
- Familiarity with antepartum monitoring equipment
- Ability to organize, plan, coordinate, and evaluate nursing services in the antepartum unit
- Ability to respond effectively to cultural and language needs of patients
- Experience using Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems
- Patient care experience for women and children
Starting Your AntePartum Nursing Career
A career in AntePartum nursing is beyond gratifying. Still, it’s also highly emotional and requires dedication. If you find this career path intriguing, AntePartum travel nurses are often highly coveted. On most occasions, hospitals are willing to give out sign-in bonuses to bring high-quality registered nurses like you on board. At Stability HealthCare, we place nurses in hospitals across the United States, helping them get experience in the AntePartum unit, alongside expertise caring for women and children. Contact us today and speak with one of our representatives to get started.
