The short answer
We use five provider-type titles on this site — Newborn Care Specialist, Postpartum Doula, Night Nanny, Registered Nurse (RN), and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) — and we enforce one firm rule across all of them: only a provider with an active, verified nursing license may use the title "nurse," "RN," or "LPN." Every other role is real, valuable, and clearly labeled as non-medical care. This page defines each title and explains why the rule exists.
Role definitions
Newborn Care Specialist (NCS). A non-medical caregiver trained specifically in newborn care — feeding, sleep routines, soothing techniques, and parent education — often certified through a recognized newborn-care training program. An NCS does not hold a nursing license and does not provide clinical or medical care.
Postpartum Doula. A non-medical support role focused on the recovering parent as much as the newborn: physical recovery support, emotional support, feeding education, and hands-on infant care, often overnight. A postpartum doula does not hold a nursing license.
Night Nanny. A general overnight childcare provider for newborns and, often, older children as well. This is the least standardized of the non-medical titles — training and experience vary by individual, so we encourage families to ask directly about a specific night nanny's newborn experience.
Registered Nurse (RN). A licensed medical professional who has completed an accredited nursing program and passed the NCLEX-RN licensing exam. RNs may perform clinical tasks: monitoring, medication administration, and care ordered by a physician, within their license's scope.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). A licensed medical professional with a more focused scope of practice than an RN, typically working under the supervision of an RN or physician. LPNs may also perform clinical tasks within their license's scope, including medication administration.
The nurse-title rule
Because "night nurse" is used so loosely in everyday conversation — including by families searching for care, and sometimes by providers themselves — we treat the actual displayed title on this site as a promise, not a marketing term. Concretely:
- A provider may only display "Registered Nurse (RN)" or "Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)" as their title if they have submitted a license that we've checked against the relevant state board of nursing (see verification standards).
- A Newborn Care Specialist, postpartum doula, or night nanny — regardless of years of experience — is titled accordingly, never as a "nurse," unless they separately hold and verify an active nursing license.
- If a family needs licensed clinical care, filtering by RN/LPN on this site reflects providers whose licensure we've actually checked, not just anyone using "nurse" in their bio or business name.
This rule exists because the difference between licensed and non-licensed care can matter for safety and legal reasons, particularly when a baby has a diagnosed medical need. See our guide on night nurse vs. Newborn Care Specialist for when licensed care is actually necessary, and what is a night nurse for a full breakdown of all four common roles.