How To Write a Labor and Delivery Nurse Resume
Create a winning labor and delivery nurse resume by focusing on your clinical skills, passion for child care, and supportive bedside manner. Labor and delivery nurses are the main point of contact for laboring parents on the obstetrics floor. They must monitor mother and baby, reassure parents, and respond quickly to medical emergencies. Find out how to create a dynamic resume and see relevant examples in this resource.
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
1. Summarize your labor and delivery nurse qualifications in a dynamic profile
When you hand over a patient to an incoming nurse at shift change, you must give a succinct summary of their condition, status, and treatment plan. The profile section serves this purpose on your resume. It’s designed to provide hiring managers with everything they need to know about who you are as a candidate in a few key sentences.
Make the most of this limited real estate by using short, concise sentences and working in as many relevant skills as possible. List how many years of experience you have and any other standout qualifications, such as lactation training or water birth.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A labor and delivery nurse manager with ten years of experience specializing in neonatal care, gynecology, patient triage, and operations management. A strong history of building and leading nursing teams in fast-paced clinical environments to deliver exceptional patient care. Adept at identifying opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A labor and delivery nurse with entry-level experience specializing in antepartum care, patient relations, clinical operations, and relationship building. A proven track record of delivering compassionate care to patients during labor and postpartum.
2. Add your labor and delivery nurse experience with compelling examples
Most of your resume will focus on your work history. Each position should include a list of bullets that detail your experience and accomplishments. Don’t assume that a hiring manager knows what you do. Be specific in your bullets, and use metrics and data whenever possible.
For example, hiring managers are looking for nurses who can handle several patients per shift without compromising the quality of care. To capitalize on this, work on your nurse-to-patient ratio and overall patient satisfaction rating.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Labor and Delivery Nurse Manager, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
July 2016 – Present
- Manage a team of 20+ nurses in the labor and delivery medical unit with a 1:6 patient ratio, provide coaching and mentorship, and develop an inclusive work culture with a focus on patient-centered care and advocacy
- Drive quality improvement initiatives to enhance operations during patient intake and discharge, resulting in a 25% increase in patient satisfaction
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to develop Covid-19 safety protocols, including mandatory testing, safety equipment guidelines, and visitation restrictions
- Ensure compliance with hospital guidelines and HIPPA throughout patient treatment
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Labor and Delivery Nurse, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
May 2021 – Present
- Delivered empathetic nursing care to patients during labor, antepartum, and postpartum and provided support for newborn care
- Monitored patients following C-section operations, including blood pressure, vital signs, and reactions to anesthesia
- Conduct interviews with patients to obtain medical history, allergies, cognitive disorders, and conditions to identify appropriate treatment methods
- Coordinate with nursing teams, physicians, patients, and families to provide treatment based on emotional, cultural, and physical needs
3. Outline your education and labor and delivery nurse-related certifications
It’s possible to work as a labor and delivery nurse as a registered nurse (RN). But more and more employers are looking for candidates with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees — even for entry-level positions. Listing your education prominently on your resume — as well as your license number — lets hiring managers know if you meet the minimum requirements.
Advanced certifications can improve your standing in the candidate pool, so list those as well. Prominent certifications for labor and delivery nurses include those in electronic fetal monitoring and neonatal resuscitation.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- Temple University, Philadelphia, PA | 2011
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Basic Life Support Certifications (BLS), Red Cross, 2016
4. Outline your most useful labor and delivery nurse skills and proficiencies
Key skills for a labor and delivery nurse focus on providing support for the mother, caring for the infant, and collaborating with the rest of the care team. Outlining your skills in an easy-to-skim bulleted list quickly shows a hiring manager all you can do. And you can change this list to reflect the most important skills for each position you apply for.
Here are some common skills you may want to include that hiring managers seek in labor and delivery nurses:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Acute care | Antepartum care |
| Communication | Electronic medical records (EHR) |
| Epidurals | Gynecology |
| Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) | Labor and delivery |
| Medication administration | Newborn care |
| Pain management | Patient advocacy |
| Patient-centered care | Patient discharge |
| Patient intake | Patient management |
| Pediatric care | Physical examinations |
| Postpartum care | Wound care |
| Written communication | Team management |
| Telemetry | Treatment plans |
| Triage | |
How To Pick the Best Labor and Delivery Nurse Resume Template
Efficiency is an important skill in nursing, and using a resume template is one way to make the job application process go more quickly. Remember this is a professional document and should reflect your ability to create clear and concise medical notes — with better legibility.
Look for templates geared toward health care professionals. These may be more likely to have sections for your licenses and certifications or have two skills lists: one for clinical skills and one for soft skills.
Labor and Delivery Nurse Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Maria Rodriguez
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, New York, NY 12345
Profile
A labor and delivery nurse with five years of experience specializing in postpartum care, pain management, and patient-centered care. A proven track record of coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to provide high-quality care and improve patient outcomes. Adept at delivering education to patients and families on treatments and medical conditions.
Professional Experience
Labor and Delivery Nurse, St. Peter’s Hospital, New York, NY
July 2018 – Present
- Provide compassionate nursing care to women in the labor and delivery unit, including medication administration, vital sign monitoring, and physical examinations in a high-volume hospital with a 1:6 patient ratio
- Evaluate medical risks for patients related to immune system deficiencies, medication side effects, poor nutrition, and heart conditions
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary team to diagnose medical conditions in acute care settings and develop treatment plans
- Educate patients and families on medical diagnosis, treatment, medication, and potential health risks with empathy and understanding
Labor and Delivery Nurse, Brooklyn Medical Center, New York, NY
May 2016 – July 2018
- Delivered empathetic care and emotional support to patients and families in critical medical situations during birth, labor, and recovery
- Created electronic medical documentation on patient condition, symptoms, plan of care, and conducted patient interviews to obtain medical history
Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
University Of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Labor and Delivery
- Patient-Centered Care
- Team Collaboration
- Acute Care
- Treatment Planning
Certifications
- Basic Life Support Certifications (BLS), 2016
- Registered Nurse (RN), State of New York, License #12345678, 2016
Frequently Asked Questions: Labor and Delivery Nurse Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for labor and delivery nurse resumes?-
All a hiring manager has are words on paper to determine whether you’re a fit for the position and should be given an interview. Each word you use must be a valuable addition to your resume and highlight your qualifications and experience.
Action verbs are specific and engaging words that start your bullets and sentences, and using the right ones can make a big difference in how a hiring manager views your resume. For example, saying that you “coached and mentored 10 nurses on the labor and delivery floor” is much more effective than saying you “worked with a team.”
Try some of the action verbs below to power up your resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Administered | Advocated |
| Assisted | Coached |
| Coordinated | Delivered |
| Demonstrated | Documented |
| Educated | Evaluated |
| Guided | Instructed |
| Monitored | Observed |
| Prepared | Responded |
| Supervised | Supported |
| Treated | Updated |
How do you align your resume with a job description?-
The health care field continues to grow, and RNs are expected to see 6% job growth in the coming years, which is higher than the average for all positions. These opportunities could attract higher volumes of candidates, so it’s important to tailor your resume to avoid being lost in a sea of similar applications.
Use keywords, including skills and qualifications, from the job description in your resume wherever possible. But don’t overlook more subtle changes. For example, if a position lists that a BSN and five years of labor and delivery experience are required for consideration, put this in the profile section so it’s the first thing the hiring manager sees.
What is the best labor and delivery nurse resume format?-
Each resume format has its strengths and weaknesses, but most labor and delivery nurses should use the reverse chronological format. This design provides plenty of room to showcase your career accomplishments and experience in the nursing profession. If you’re transitioning to labor and delivery after working in general nursing or another specialty, a combination format may be appropriate so you can emphasize transferable skills and certifications above your work history.
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