Registered Nurse, Obstetrics, Per Diem, Variable Shifts

Responsibilities

Essential Functions Assesses (and reassesses), plans, implements, and evaluates nursing interventions/plans of care/patient goals. Provides patient care based on standards of care, standards of practice, protocols, and established policies and procedures. Respects each patient as an individual; provides care that fosters the patient’s sense of dignity and positive self-regard. Provides patient/family teaching based on identified learning needs, readiness to learn, and barriers to learning. Collaboratively plans and prepares patient/family for discharge incorporating support systems/resources as necessary. Appropriately delegates and supervises nursing interventions performed by others. Appropriately prioritizes patient care (e.g. seeks assistance as needed from appropriate resources, reassigns personnel as necessary, recognizes need for emergency intervention, etc.). Provides thorough, timely, and accurate documentation of all pertinent data, therapeutic interventions and patient responses according to established standards. Provides timely and thorough report on assigned patients to other health care team members to ensure integration of services and continuity of patient care. Promotes learning for colleagues and self (e.g. functions as preceptor, instructor, trainer, attends professional development programs, etc.). Proactively identifies risk to patient safety and identifies opportunities to reduce medical/health care errors (i.e. appropriate reporting of errors/incidents). Identifies ethical issues in care and develops plan to address. Safely administers medications and intravenous therapy in accordance with physician’s orders, protocols, policies and procedures. Assesses patient pain level upon admission and as necessary, depending upon diagnosis utilizing the numerical pain scale. Reassesses effectiveness of pain control and notifies physicians as needed, as well as, documents assessment and patient’s response to medication. Provides appropriate care to the postpartum and gynecological patient. Safely cares for surgical and postpartum patients, recognizes complications and initiates appropriate nursing interventions in collaboration with physicians. Provides appropriate information and education to patients and families based upon individual needs so they may effectively care for themselves during hospitalization and following discharge. Ensures new mothers and families have the basic understanding of newborn care and resources available after discharge. Demonstrates knowledge of medications and the correct administration based on age of patient and their clinical condition. Demonstrates proper technique for assessing fundal height, and fundal massage. Demonstrates ability to assess lochia, perineum, breast, bowel, bladder and emotional status. Responsible for obtaining supporting information and completing required documentation related to medication reconciliation for use by the Attending MD. Provides assessment and planning for individualized patient care in collaboration with physicians and other disciplines. Assesses the normal stages of labor, delivery and recovery, as well as, identifies any deviation of the normal pattern and progress and takes appropriate action. Utilizes fetal monitoring equipment, external and internal (FSE and IUPC), and correctly interprets FHR patterns and initiates appropriate nursing interventions as needed. Assists in the stabilizing of high-risk patients and accompanies them during transfer to a level two or tertiary care center as appropriate. Communicates with physicians about changes in patients’ clinical condition. Safely administers and demonstrates knowledge of medications used in labor and delivery. Implements appropriate procedure for labor checks, inductions, augmentations, NSTs, external cephalic versions and epidurals. Able to articulate care for patients with fetal demise based on perinatal loss protocol and appropriately provides care when applicable. Performs a systematic and thorough newborn assessment based upon knowledge of expected adaptation to extrauterine life so that deviation can be recognized. Communicates appropriately and clearly with physicians concerning any changes in newborn condition and/or abnormal diagnostic test results. Performs neonatal resuscitation, assisting physician as necessary. Identifies newborn problems, initiates appropriate nursing interventions, and assists in the stabilization of a critical newborn. Provides care and support to mother in her chosen method of infant feeding so that learning is enhanced. Demonstrates to new mothers appropriate feeding techniques using literature and teaching videos as appropriate (frequency and symptoms of adequate intake). Provides teaching to new mother on newborn care based upon individual patient/family needs so that new mother is able to care for newborn upon discharge. Utilizes informative discussions, videos, handouts, one on ones, teaching class to individualize newborn teaching. Utilizes appropriate nursing interventions for infants experiencing difficulty adjusting to extrauterine life. Sets up phototherapy, monitors vital signs, including pulse oximetry, according to policy and procedure; demonstrates proper technique for administering CPAP via mask or RAM cannula Demonstrates knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on age of newborn and his/her clinical condition. Statement of Other Duties This document describes the major duties and responsibilities for this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. It should be understood, therefore, that employees may be asked to perform job-related duties beyond those explicitly described.

Qualifications

Job Requirements Minimum Education Graduate of an accredited school of nursing Minimum Work Experience Minimum one year med/surg experience required Maternity experience preferred Minimum Licenses and Certifications Current MA license IV competent, ACLS upon hire OR must hold an active BLS card and obtain AHA ACLS within 60 days of hire NRP certified or ability to obtain NRP certification within 90 days of hire. For nurses working L&D, must have/complete AWHONN’s Introduction to Fetal Monitoring and also must have/attend AWHONN’s Intermediate Fetal Heart Monitoring within 1 year Required Skills Demonstrates mature professional behaviors, (i.e. tact, empathy and diplomacy). Promotes a positive working environment.