As a registered nurse, there is an extraordinary ability to perform meaningful work towards those that need assistance the most. In many instances, nurses assist patients who are in emotional, physical or even mental stress. Specifically, there is a need to have a sense of comfort, but there is also a dire need to remain calm and collected while presenting intellectual abilities for a person’s care. Specifically, when labor and delivery is performed as a registered nurse, there are additional parameters that should be taken into consideration as well. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the specifics of the role that nurses play when they are helping patients go through the labor and delivery process.

When a woman is having a child, it is an extremely special time in a family’s life, but it can also be very stressful. As a whole, registered nurses take the time to use critical thinking, rapid decision making skills and professional judgment in order to safely deliver newborns. For women who have complications before, during or after pregnancy, the nurses assist them as well. Additionally, each professional takes the time to work closely with other health professionals as well as family members in order to ensure the highest standards of quality care (Held, 2005).

Both the mother and the baby are assessed as needed and most nurses take the time to create a plan of care that is individualized. When this is done, it is necessary to collaborate with physicians and other pertinent professionals in order to facilitate a broad perspective of care. That plan is monitored as needed and the patients are also taught concepts and important factors with regard to women’s health as well as children’s’ health (Held, 2005). Once the plan has been implemented for a certain period of time, registered nurses evaluate the effectiveness and create modifications as deemed applicable. If needed, the professionals also take the time to provide emotional and mental support to the friends and family members if there is a detrimental occurrence that is taking place. Within some instances, the mother and baby can be ill and there is a need to care for each patient in a gradual and slow manner to ensure safety (Wilson & Belgen, 2010).

During the labor and delivery processes, registered nurses have specific titles that they adhere to. For example, circulating nurses tend to manage the care of patients during a cesarean delivery in an operating room. Moreover, a scrub nurse takes the time to work directly with physicians during the cesarean delivery by monitoring and passing instruments. It should also be known that antepartum nurses provide care to those who have complications well throughout pregnancy and if there is a dire need for hospitalization. Finally, postpartum nurses care for those patients who have just recently delivered a baby (Boehm, 2013). Each type of registered nurse may work in an array of settings as well. While most provide care at hospitals, care may also be provided at clinics, birthing centers and maternity centers.

Overall, when playing a role in delivering a baby, a nurse is required to have a plethora of empathy as well as proper communicative skills. Moreover, each professional must have ample amount of experience since the processes of labor and delivery can be very extensive. There is a need to be skilled in prioritizing the needs of patients and nurses must also be able to cope in environments that may be stressful and even fast-paced. As a whole, adequate amounts of education is pertinent when performing tasks in this role, but most of all nurses should be caring towards their patients. When individuals are assisted to a great extent in this position, health care as a whole can thrive and prosper.