About This Career

Diagnoses and coordinates all aspects of the birthing process, either independently or as part of a healthcare team. May provide well-woman gynecological care. Must have specialized, graduate nursing education.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

• Monitors fetal development by listening to fetal heartbeat, taking external uterine measurements, identifying fetal position, or estimating fetal size and weight.
• Provides prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, or newborn care to patients.
• Documents patients' health histories, symptoms, physical conditions, or other diagnostic information.
• Provides patients with direct family planning services, such as inserting intrauterine devices, dispensing oral contraceptives, and fitting cervical barriers, including cervical caps or diaphragms.
• Prescribes medications as permitted by state regulations.
• Develops and implements individualized plans for health care management.
• Explains procedures to patients, family members, staff members or others.
• Orders and interprets diagnostic or laboratory tests.
• Initiates emergency interventions to stabilize patients.
• Educates patients and family members regarding prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, newborn, or interconception care.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Rotating shift work
• Weekend work