Postpartum Registered Nurses: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of postpartum registered nurses about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for postpartum registered nurses to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of postpartum registered nurses expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for postpartum registered nurses.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Postpartum Registered Nurses?
Do postpartum registered nurses need a degree? What kind of experience do postpartum registered nurses typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for postpartum registered nurses to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Postpartum Registered Nurses
Jobs Postings for Postpartum Registered Nurses By Education
- No Education Listed: 1,394 (54%)
- Master's degree: 755 (29%)
- Bachelor's degree: 209 (8%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 131 (5%)
- High School or GED: 105 (4%)
No education was listed by most employers of postpartum registered nurses. According to job data, no education was required for 54% of positions. In 29% of job listings a master's degree was required and in 8% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Postpartum Registered Nurses
Jobs Postings for Postpartum Registered Nurses By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 295 (28%)
- 2-3 Years: 644 (62%)
- 4-6 Years: 93 (9%)
- 7-9 Years: 1 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 3 (0%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for postpartum registered nurses. In 62% of job postings for Postpartum Registered Nurses, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 9% of job postings for postpartum registered nurses.
What Kind of Degree Do Postpartum Registered Nurses Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for postpartum registered nurses, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 5 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective postpartum registered nurses, and in 2021 a total of 267,355 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective postpartum registered nurses.
Top Degree Programs for Postpartum Registered Nurses
Top 5 Degree Programs for Postpartum Registered Nurses (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | 262,831 |
| Nursing Science. | 3,788 |
| Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery. | 509 |
| Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services, Other. | 138 |
| Direct Entry Midwifery. | 89 |
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Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Postpartum Registered Nurses
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your nursing knowledge and experiences with our online degree-completion program.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: CCNE
Learn and practice the skills you need to play a pivotal role in creating progressive healthcare programs, systems and processes that result in high-quality, affordable care for everyone.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Years To Complete: 3-4
Unleash your potential by completing the online FNP Certificate program that readies you for an advanced role in nursing.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Expand your scope of practice as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, and become an expert in healthcare delivery for adolescents, adults and geriatric patients.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 27
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Realize your potential to impact healthcare with an accredited degree that blends nursing theory, advanced practice concepts and research.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 18
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Broaden your knowledge and your practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner equipped to provide a holistic approach toward healthcare.
- Months To Complete: 28
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Months To Complete: 24
- Accreditation: CCNE
Build on your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or diploma in nursing with a streamlined path to the M.S. in Nursing.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 16-30
- Accreditation: CCNE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Postpartum Registered Nurses Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by postpartum registered nurses to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for postpartum registered nurses, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Postpartum Registered Nurses
Based on 2,461 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Postpartum Registered Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Midwifery | 1,292 | 52% |
| Nursing | 1,010 | 41% |
| Postpartum Care | 988 | 40% |
| Obstetrics And Gynaecology | 984 | 40% |
| Gynecology | 918 | 37% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Postpartum Registered Nurses
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 520 | 21% |
| Communications | 427 | 17% |
| Research | 261 | 11% |
| Teaching | 243 | 10% |
| Leadership | 188 | 8% |
Based on 2,461 job postings related to postpartum registered nurses, midwifery was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 52% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for nursing, postpartum care, obstetrics and gynaecology, gynecology and intrapartum were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for postpartum registered nurses, followed by communications, research, teaching, leadership and customer service.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Midwifery | 1,292 | 52% |
| Nursing | 1,010 | 41% |
| Postpartum Care | 988 | 40% |
| Obstetrics And Gynaecology | 984 | 40% |
| Gynecology | 918 | 37% |
| Intrapartum | 520 | 21% |
| Family Planning | 367 | 15% |
| Childbirth | 356 | 14% |
| Medical Records | 330 | 13% |
| Medical Ultrasonography | 282 | 11% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 215 | 9% |
| Cesarean Section | 211 | 9% |
| Triage | 188 | 8% |
| Primary Care | 158 | 6% |
| Cardiotocography | 149 | 6% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 143 | 6% |
| Maternal-Fetal Medicine | 143 | 6% |
| Laboratory Testing | 136 | 6% |
| Clinical Experience | 133 | 5% |
| Prenatal Care | 120 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 520 | 21% |
| Communications | 427 | 17% |
| Research | 261 | 11% |
| Teaching | 243 | 10% |
| Leadership | 188 | 8% |
| Customer Service | 132 | 5% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 129 | 5% |
| Writing | 126 | 5% |
| Spanish Language | 118 | 5% |
| Planning | 111 | 5% |
| Detail Oriented | 106 | 4% |
| Decision Making | 104 | 4% |
| Self-Motivation | 99 | 4% |
| Coordinating | 95 | 4% |
| Positivity | 90 | 4% |
| Empathy | 89 | 4% |
| Operations | 84 | 3% |
| Problem Solving | 77 | 3% |
| Critical Thinking | 76 | 3% |
| Multilingualism | 76 | 3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about postpartum registered nurses? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for postpartum registered nurses.
What do postpartum registered nurses do?
How much do postpartum registered nurses make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.