Antepartum Travel Nurse Jobs

An antepartum nurse specializes in the care of pregnant women who are experiencing high-risk pregnancies or complications. They monitor the health of both the mother and the unborn baby, administer necessary treatments, and educate the expectant mothers about prenatal health. These nurses work closely with the physician, labor delivery nurse, postpartum nurse and lactation nurse to navigate the challenges of high risk pregnancies and ensure the best possible outcomes.

Duties often include conducting routine check-ups, performing diagnostic tests, managing pregnancy-induced health conditions like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, working with the care management team, and providing emotional support to patients during what can be a stressful time.

The average salary of an antepartum registered nurse varies based on location, the specific healthcare institution, and years of experience. According to Payscale, as of 2021, the median annual wage for Antepartum Nurses in the United States was approximately $63,000. However, this figure can range widely, with some professionals earning up to $90,000 or more, especially in urban areas with a high cost of living.

Education & License Requirements

In order to work as a Behavioral Health RN, Registered Nurses must complete their associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing and take the National Council Licensure Exam NCLEX -RN Exam, which is a requirement to practice as an RN in the United States. Once the NCLEX exam is passed and you earn your valid RN license, then all that is left is to do is gain the necessary experience in your specialty and explore additional certifications.

Once you have obtained RN status, it is recommended to gain some practical experience in a general nursing setting before specializing in maternity or women's health nursing. Here, you will handle cases related to childbirth and women's health, giving you direct exposure to the field of antepartum nursing.

Certifications

To further enhance your knowledge and credentials, consider obtaining certification in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing or Maternal Newborn Nursing. These certifications, offered by institutions such as the National Certification Corporation, require a certain amount of clinical experience and passing a comprehensive exam.

Antepartum nurses can find employment in a variety of healthcare settings that cater to women's health and pregnancy care. Most commonly, they work in hospitals, specifically within maternity wards or labor and delivery units. They may also be employed in a medical center or birthing center, which provides a more home-like environment for deliveries. Another potential setting is in outpatient care centers, where they may provide prenatal care and education to expectant mothers. Some antepartum nurses may also work in private obstetrics and gynecology practices or provide home healthcare services, particularly for women on bed rest due to high-risk pregnancies.

While compensation offers can vary greatly depending on the contract or agency offering, pay packages for travel registered nurse jobs typically have four major components: hourly taxable wages, meals and incidentals, housing, and travel. The estimated weekly gross pay is based on the specified number of hours per week and includes available stipend amounts.

Hourly Pay

Full-time nurses working at healthcare facilities receive a salary, but most travel nurse employers offer hourly wages. Every pay package must include a taxable hourly wage, and the amount can vary depending on the shift, location, and specialty required of the assignment.

Housing

Housing payments can be included in a payment from a staffing agency. This is typically offered in two ways. Either the company is providing housing, or the traveler is taking the housing stipend. It is more beneficial for the traveler to take the housing stipend for two primary reasons. First, they will have a choice in where they stay. Everyone’s definitions of comfortable and acceptable are different. The second reason the housing stipend is more beneficial for them is that it can be given as a nontaxable amount.

Meals and Incidentals

Also known as per diems, meal and incidental stipends provide a daily budget for daily living expenses. These standards vary depending on the cost of living in cities and states across the country.

Travel Expenses

Travel is the last portion of the pay package. Many recruiters may not even offer travel and instead put that money into the per diems or housing for their traveler so they are receiving the benefits over the entire contract, not just at the very beginning or end of the contract. While a travel stipend can be used to cover the cost of a flight for the traveler, it is more often than not used to subsidize the traveler’s expenses to and from an assignment. Travel expenses can be offered as a reimbursement rate per mile, though many agencies will opt to offer a flat rate to and from an assignment.

Many nurses find work through recruitment agencies and marketplaces, which means you have better access to job boards to choose your schedule, location, and salary. When you begin browsing for travel nurse jobs matching your credentials, be sure to consider the housing options, the benefits, whether or not the position is in a compact state, the guaranteed hours' policy, and the recruiting company’s overall reputation.

The good news is that Fusion Marketplace has everything you need when it comes to finding the perfect traveling nurse jobs. Here, you have the freedom to compare benefits, packages, and staffing agencies—all in one place. So find your next job today.