An Obstetric (OB) nurse is a healthcare professional who specializes in the field of obstetrics. This field encompasses care throughout a woman’s lifecycle, with a focus on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The primary objective of OB nurses is to ensure the overall health and wellness of women.
OB nursing goes beyond the realm of labor and delivery nursing. These skilled professionals care for women throughout the pregnancy journey, from the initial prenatal phase (antepartum), through the labor and birthing process (intrapartum), and following delivery during the recovery period (postpartum). While they are often seen assisting in labor and delivery, the expertise and training of OB nurses encompass a much wider skill set.
Their roles are multifaceted, involving everything from screening and monitoring women's health, offering care and support to expectant mothers, assisting during labor and delivery, to caring for newborns and their mothers immediately after birth.
OB nurses also play an indispensable role in disease prevention, patient education, patient and fetal health assessments, treatment planning, and postpartum care, thereby playing a key part in a comprehensive healthcare approach for women. They also provide essential advice and guidance on issues related to fertility, conception, birth control, and other gynecological concerns, such as cervical or uterine cancer.
Working closely with obstetricians, OB nurses are a primary source of information and support for women who may have questions or concerns about their sexual health or their unborn babies. Their specialized knowledge, combined with their empathetic approach, makes them a critical component in the delivery of women's healthcare.
