IVF nurses, also known as fertility nurses or reproductive nurses, are nurses who work specifically in the field of reproductive health. It is an incredibly rewarding job that requires you to be empathetic, patient, and good at communicating.
To become an IVF nurse, there are a few things you need to do first. It might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get into the swing of it, you’ll find yourself on the road to your chosen career in no time at all.
We’ll be going over everything you need to know about IVF nurses and how you can become one yourself. So let’s get started.
What Is An IVF Nurse?
If you are considering getting into nursing yourself but you’ve never heard of an IVF nurse before, then let’s take a brief look at what it actually is.
An IVF nurse is a registered nurse that works specifically within the reproductive health field. They usually work with reproductive endocrinologists and will support patients through fertility treatments. They also work with patients who are experiencing and going through menopause.
IVF nurses will commonly advise and work with patients on any matters that involve conception, fertility, infertility, and reproduction.
They will create fertility plans that are specifically catered to each individual patient, to assure that they are getting exactly what they need during the conception and fertility process.
IVF nurses are highly knowledgeable in their field and they have excellent communication and listening skills.
In most fertility clinics, IVF nurses will educate and counsel their patients, and will also perform and assist with many different fertility treatments. One of which includes performing phlebotomy.
How To Become An IVF Nurse
Becoming an IVF nurse is quite similar to becoming a regular nurse, you just have to complete some specific qualifications. Let’s take a look at the four steps you will need to take in order to be able to become an IVF nurse.
1. Get Your Degree
Before anything else, you will of course need to get your nursing degree. There are two different types of degrees you can choose from:
- An ADN, which takes two years to complete.
- A BSN, which takes four years to complete.
While you can find work if you complete your ADN degree, it’s heavily advised that you push for the BSN degree instead. This is because employers are increasingly becoming more interested in nurses with BSN degrees over ADN degrees.
If you already have your ADN and you want to get your BSN, there are programs you can enroll in that will only require you to do two more years, so you don’t have to repeat the first two years of your first degree.
2. Become Registered
Once you have got your ADN and/or your BSN degree, it’s time for you to get registered. In order to become a registered IVF nurse, there are some requirements you are going to need to have.
The most important requirement you will need to fulfill is sitting an exam called National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). You will have to take this exam and pass it before you can progress any further.
After you have passed your National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), you will have to look at other requirements that will purely depend on the area in which you live.
Some areas will require different things to others, so make sure you do the appropriate research and make sure you specify it to the area in which you live.
Some types of requirements in these additional ones will include things like background checks, or even paying a fee.
3. Gain The Appropriate Work Experience
Once you have officially become registered, it is important for you to gain some work experience. The more work experience you have, the better your job prospects will be and the more respected and trusted you will be.
Some people are lucky and can gain employment as an IVF nurse straight after they are qualified (see also ‘What Is A Nursing Preceptorship?‘), but in most cases, you will have to look for other work for the time being. There are so many different types of nurses, so you will have lots of different options.
A popular choice for people who want to be IVF nurses is to work as an obstetrics or gynecology (OB) nurse.
These nursing roles are closely related to fertility because they deal with pregnant patients and even patients who want to prevent pregnancy (see also ‘How To Become A Postpartum Nurse‘).
An OB nurse will learn all the necessary skills needed to become an IVF nurse, so if you want to gain experience before you become one yourself, this is a great place for you to start.
4. Consider Certification (Optional)
Getting a certification is not required to become an IVF nurse, but it can be very beneficial for those who decide to pursue it.
The primary and most well-known certification for IVF nurses is the Certified Reproductive Nurse certification which covers skills related to obstetrics, gynecology, and neonatal nursing.
While you can get a job as an IVF nurse without this certification, if you do pursue it, it will give you a great advantage over other candidates.
Salary For IVF Nurses
There are no specific statistics or data for how much IVF nurses make, but we do know that general registered nurses make about $78,562 per year.
Another benefit that registered nurses get is that they are usually eligible for overtime pay if they are looking to increase how much they earn.
It is important to know that your own experience and even the location in which you work will be a factor in how much you earn, but as a registered nurse or an IVF nurse, you can definitely make a decent wage.
Conclusion
Becoming a registered IVF nurse is an incredibly rewarding job and experience, and when you have extra qualifications and certifications, it can really increase your chances of becoming an IVF nurse faster.
Follow the steps we have provided in this article to begin your journey into becoming an IVF nurse for yourself.