Rozina Aziz Being a nurse has many exciting aspects, one of which is the wide variety of nursing subfields you might pursue. And working as a fertility nurse is no different.
By working in this nursing field, you can share in the triumph of many couples as they get pregnant and experience the thrill of anticipating the arrival of a new child.
What is a Fertility Nurse?
A fertility nurse is an RN who specializes in caring for people who are having trouble conceiving or carrying a nurse to term or who are experiencing infertility themselves. Fertility nurses, also referred to as IVF nurses or reproductive nurses, specialize in helping families conceive.
Since there is no specialized training, they acquire the same fundamental education as any other nurse. A fertility nurse typically needs an ADN or BSN to practice and must be a registered nurse.
What responsibilities do Fertility Nurses have?
The role of a fertility nurse is to advise patients experiencing fertility challenges on the best course of action, which may involve fertility treatments or the use of a donor egg or sperm.
Nurses specializing in infertility may find employment in various settings, including hospitals and clinics, universities and research institutions, private practices specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, and nonprofit organizations.
Women going through menopause may also benefit from speaking with a fertility nurse about their symptoms and possible treatments. In most cases, a fertility nurse will work alongside a physician or a team of doctors.
A fertility nurse’s duties can range from taking blood samples for testing to assisting with ultrasounds, doing IVF treatments, and communicating with patients about their test findings.
Fertility nurses make it their business to be abreast of fertility-related science and medicine developments to advise their patients better. Since fertility is often a sensitive subject for their patients, fertility nurses tend to be patient, compassionate, and understanding.
What setting do fertility nurses provide care in?
You can expect to work in various clinical settings as a fertility nurse. Both standalone clinics and departments of larger fertility hospitals fall into this category. Such things consist of:
- Egg donation centers
- Hospitals
- Reproductive counseling clinics
- Fertility clinics
- Obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) clinics
- Research labs
How many distinct kinds of fertility nurses are there?
Fertility nursing can specialize in several distinct areas. You can also work in one of the following subfields within fertility care in addition to the more general areas we’ve already covered:
- Fertility research nurse—helps amass information in the lab and through patient interviews to create state-of-the-art fertility therapies.
- Fertility nurse counselor – visits with patients to explain treatment options, including benefits and risks. Patients may also be taught how to participate in their treatment at home actively.
- Nurses specializing in vitro fertilization (IVF) work with patients and their doctors to facilitate fertility through assisted reproductive technology.
- Fertility nurse practitioners have a minimum of a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and are certified as advanced practice nurses. Under the direction of physicians, they work on exams and procedures and write reports to aid in treating fertility.
What education and experience are required to become a fertility nurse?
Accreditation
License as a registered nurse in your state requires completing a recognized associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree program in nursing. A program or school can only be considered “accredited” if it has been evaluated by an outside organization and found to be on par with other accredited programs or institutions.
Also, check to see if your plan is eligible for any sort of government funding. As a bonus, only credits from other authorized schools are accepted for transfer. To be credible, online schools must also have been granted accreditation by a recognized body.
Cost
Bachelor of Science in Nursing tuition varies by student’s choice of institution, length of study, and location. The National Center for Education Statistics estimates that in 2020-2021, the total cost of attending a four-year public university, including tuition, room and board, and books, will be around $14,900
If the student stays at home with family and $25,700 if they choose to live in campus housing. The average cost of a year at a private, nonprofit, four-year university is $54,500, while the cost is $43,200. The NCLEX-RN examination price is $200.
Salary
As of July 2022, Payscale reports that a registered nurse with expertise in vitro fertilization can expect a starting pay of $68,670. As of May 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual pay for registered nurses is $77,600. The mean annual salary for RNs in California is $124,000.
Pay increases might be another benefit of continuing one’s education. On average, BSN-holding nurses make more than their ADN-holding counterparts. In addition, RNs can advance their education to become nurse midwives or nurse practitioners, two professions that pay a median annual salary of $123,780.
How to become a Fertility Nurse?
A valid nursing license is needed for fertility nurse positions. A fertility nurse’s license is obtained through the regular routes for RNs. You’ll need to get some training and apply to your state’s health board.
How to get started in the field of fertility nurse is outlined in detail below.
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing:
A diploma or degree in nurse is required to work in the field of fertility nursing. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree usually takes four years to finish, but full-time students can usually earn an Associate Degree in Nursing in two years.
To earn an Associate’s Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, students must focus on the nursing discipline. Skills like taking vital signs, caring for patients, and assisting physicians are covered in this course.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the median annual cost of attending a private four-year college was $37,000 in 2019–2020. Comparatively, the annual cost at a public four-year university was $14,900, while the cost at a private, nonprofit four-year institution was $43,200.
Some institutions may require the BSN or even be preferred by some jobs. While the average BSN program takes four years to complete, several schools offer accelerated programs that allow students with an ADN to graduate with their bachelor’s degree in fewer than four years.
Achieve success in the NCLEX Exam:
Students need to score well on the NCLEX-RN exam to become registered nurses. Students’ abilities in nursing and their scientific understanding are put to the test. The exam is available year-round, administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Participants sign up at Pearson VUE and locate a testing center in their area.
The NCLEX might have anywhere between 75 and 145 questions. Students have five hours, including breaks, to finish the exam. This exam is based on three things:
- A safe and effective care environment
- The promotion and maintenance of health
- The mental and physical health of the person being cared for
Independent study or an online review course are two options for getting ready.
Earn Your RN License:
After finishing your study and passing the NCLEX, you’ll need to get your RN license from your state before you can begin working as a fertility nurse. The requirements for becoming a registered nurse vary by state. You will typically apply to the state health department.
You’ll likely have to pay a fee in most states when applying for an RN license. In California, the application fee is $300, while in Illinois, it is only $91. Nursing licenses must be renewed every few years in many states, and this sometimes comes with a renewal fee.
Get a job in a fertility clinic:
After completing your education and licensing requirements, you can work as a fertility nurse. You may need experience as a registered nurse in another healthcare setting, such as a hospital or clinic, before being hired as a fertility nurse.
Those thinking about a career in fertility nursing would do well to obtain experience in the maternity or postpartum ward. Hiring a nurse in a fertility clinic could take a long time. As of July 2022, Payscale reports that a registered nurse with expertise in vitro fertilization can expect a starting pay of $68,670 per year.
Apply for Certification:
There is no national certification required for fertility nurses to work. In contrast, they may seek out further certifications from non-affiliated healthcare institutions. To better position themselves for employment, nurses may specialize in inpatient obstetric nursing, maternal and newborn nursing, or neonatal intensive care nursing.
These credentials are earned through coursework and examinations, in addition to years of practical nursing experience. Nurses specializing in fertility care can advance their careers by completing courses leading to certifications in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Fertility nurses who earn a certificate like this may find greater success in their professional lives.
Responsibilities of Fertility Nurses
- Infertility nurses advise patients on all of their treatment options. They provide objective, sympathetic listening to patients and their loved ones as they assess treatment options.
- Fertility nurses work with doctors with diagnostic procedures such as exams, embryo transfers, ultrasounds, and scans. Additionally, they obtain patient consent before sending blood samples and report back to patients on the outcomes of those analyses.
- Fertility nurses are frequently the first point of contact for patients, facilitating appointment scheduling, interviews, and medical history collection.
Duties Of Fertility Nurse
In addition, fertility nurses often have to do things like:
- Helping out during scans
- Obtaining a blood sample and delivering it for analysis
- Assessment of patients
- Involvement in physical tests and assisting when necessary
- Supporting embryo transplants and related procedures
- Helping with ultrasounds
- Informing women going through menopause of the signs they may experience and the alternatives available to them in terms of care
- Informing patients of test findings via phone calls or letters
What kind of qualities do fertility nurses need?
Conceiving a child can be incredibly difficult for fertility and her loved ones. A wonderful fertility nurse is empathetic, kind, and nonjudgmental toward their patients. Because new research-based technology continuously improves patient outcomes, these nurses must also be highly committed to learning.
FAQ’s
Is there a certification required for fertility nurses?
There is no national certification required for fertility nurses to work. In contrast, they may seek out further certifications from non-affiliated healthcare institutions. Fertility nurses who earn a certificate like this may find greater success in their professional lives.
What kind of qualities do fertility nurses need?
Fertility nurses need to be empathetic, kind, nonjudgmental towards their patients and highly committed to learning in order to stay up-to-date with new research-based technology.
What kind of salary can I expect as a fertility nurse?
The average salary for a fertility nurse is around $60,000 per year. However, salaries may vary depending on experience and location.
