What could be a more rewarding career than one in medicine? How about one that allows you to help your patients achieve the dream of having a family?
Nursing jobs in fertility clinics allow you to do just that. Individuals and couples will come to you for help with family planning. You’ll lead them through this rewarding (though sometimes challenging) process in a supportive, empathetic way.
Fertility nursing is the perfect career path for nurses who wish to specialize in reproductive health. This specialization isn’t for everyone, as it requires understanding and sensitivity to care for and educate patients during this deeply emotional time. But if you’re reading this, we believe you have the compassion and maturity necessary.
This article will explain how to get started in this line of work and what it will take in terms of education, skills, and emotional abilities. It’s time to put your big heart into your dreams and help others achieve a dream of their own.
What is a fertility nurse?
Fertility nurses, also known as reproductive nurses or IVF nurses, help patients seeking reproductive health intervention. These nurses help individuals and couples address infertility and other difficulties conceiving. Fertility nurses also work with women to address reproductive health issues like menopause.
Reproductive nurses work with a keen focus on education. They walk their patients through different therapies and treatments, explain how they work and shed light on the positive and negative sides.
In some ways, fertility nurses are also like counselors, providing emotional support for patients experiencing difficulties with starting or continuing their families.
What are the responsibilities of a fertility nurse?
If you’re an empathetic, compassionate soul and have a passion for helping individuals and couples conceive, you’ve found a perfect match for this healthcare career. But before you start buying your nursing school textbooks, we recommend making sure the daily activities of this role also seem like a good fit for your interests and natural abilities. Here are some day-to-day responsibilities and tasks that a fertility nurse takes on:
- Educating patients about fertility treatments options and procedures
- Providing counseling as needed
- Running infertility support groups
- Assisting in the egg donor process and embryo transfers
- Interviewing patients
- Instructing patients how to take their medication
- Providing support to women experiencing menopause
- Performing IVF treatment procedures
- Acting as an advocate and liaison between patients and doctors
- Staying informed on the latest research and technology in reproductive medicine and women’s health
How to become a fertility nurse
What could be more valuable than getting an education on a topic you love? We think the answer to that question is earning an education that leads to a career you love. Becoming a nurse isn’t easy, but the result is more than rewarding. Here’s how you can pursue a career path in fertility nursing:
1. Get your college degree: To become a fertility nurse, you’ll need an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The ADN takes fewer years than the BSN, but the latter will open you to more specialization opportunities down the road. So if you want flexibility in the future, consider getting your Bachelor’s. If you love to study, you could even shoot for the stars and get a Master’s or Doctorate.
2. Become a registered nurse (RN): Once you’ve completed nursing school, you’ll have to get licensed to practice. That means, at minimum, sitting for the NCLEX-RN exam. Different states have different requirements for licensure, such as background checks. Wherever you find yourself on the map, you’ll have to ace the exam. Might we recommend taking it in the most relaxing scrubs possible?
3. Put in clinical hours: As humans, we often learn by doing, which applies to nursing. Even if you’ve read your textbooks inside and out, you can always know more by gaining hands-on experience with patients. You can start by getting the experience right in the fertility field, or you could also gain relevant clinical practice in obstetrics or gynecology.
4. Get certified: This step is optional, but we know you love to go above and beyond. We respect that. To go deeper in your studies, you can get your Certified Reproductive Nurse certification and become even more well-versed in obstetrics, gynecology and neonates.
Where do fertility nurses work?
As the saying goes, “location, location, location.” Sometimes, where we work makes all the difference. Fertility nurses work in the following locations, so you’ll have some options:
- Hospitals
- Labs
- Fertility centers
- Clinics
How much does a fertility nurse make?
People will always need quality care, so, like most nursing jobs, fertility nursing positions are on the rise. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a 12% growth from 2018 to 2028.
If you are in a field you love, it feels great to earn a great salary. Currently, in the United States, the average fertility nurse’s salary is $65,000–$85,000 annually (exact salaries may vary depending on where you live and work).
Whether or not fertility nursing is the career path you choose as a medical professional, you’ll need plenty of comfortable scrubs (and a cheerleader as you get through your studies and clinical hours). Count on us for both!