Job Description

Summary

This position has basic knowledge of neonatal care and is able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for maternity patients.
Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL:
Responsibilities:

(40%)* Regularly assesses patient\'s/client\'s needs and provides skilled nursing services as prescribed by the physician authorized plan of care, and accepted standards of nursing practice.

(20%)* Provides direct resident care including medication administration, treatments, call lights, assisting with transfers, responding to alarms, etc.

(20%)* Evaluates effectiveness of treatment plan and makes suggestions or participates in updating/revising the treatment plan in collaboration with other team members, utilizing current information to improve patient care.

(10%)* Processes physician/provider orders and performs physician ordered care accurately, completely and in a timely manner. (10%) Follows up regarding medication changes and order clarifications as requested.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Demonstrates the ability to interpret information and reports pertinent data to the physician, including pertinent clinical information.

Assess learning needs considering readiness, ability, preferences, and cultural / spiritual variables.

Provide education to meet the individual needs and ability to learn.

Participates in care conferences as assigned.

Develops and maintains good working rapport with interdisciplinary personnel to meet the needs of each patient.

Coordinates care provided by patient care technicians.

Demonstrates the ability to organize and prioritize the needs of groups of patients or an individual patient.

Demonstrates a general ability to manage assignments and perform routine duties on the unit.

Instructs other team members when appropriate, explaining goals and rationale for individualized care.

Implements clinical and technical aspects of care in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Demonstrates understanding of clinical pathways and utilizes appropriately.

Remains calm and efficient when working in stressful situations.

Documents in an accurate, clear, and concise way and includes pertinent clinical data.

Shares information and reports significant changes and/or abnormal findings to appropriate team members.

Participates in regulatory surveys.

Participates in the performance improvement activities.

Assists with orientation and ongoing competencies.

Provides a safe and secure environment for patient care.

Attend and participate in professional association activities and programs to assure being current on regulations, guidelines, and professional standards.

Remain current on new developments by reading professional journals, and attending seminars.

Demonstrates understanding of role in emergency preparedness procedures.

Obtains prenatal history (prenatal Labor and Delivery (L&D) records) and antenatal care, gathering data and identifying risk factors.

Performs physical assessment.

Performs Loepold\'s maneuvers for fetal position.

Assesses fetal heart rate and identifies maternal-fetal risk factors.

Palpates uterus to assess frequency, length and quality of contractions.

Distinguishes, reports and records normal and abnormal conditions.

Identifies life-threatening/emergency situations.

Formulates conclusions, making a diagnosis.

Decides when to do or not to do a vaginal examination on the laboring patient.

Assesses and evaluates dilatation and effacement of the cervix and station of presenting part via sterile vaginal examination.

Graphs labor process based on Friedman labor curve.

Distinguishes true labor from false labor.

Assesses and evaluates suspected rupture of membranes.

Visualizes pooling of amniotic fluid.

Uses nitrazine paper to prepare slide for fern test.

Performs and/or assists with sterile speculum examinations.

Assesses and documents family interaction/support system.

Identifies support person and desired birthing plan.

Assesses effectiveness of patient\'s/family\'s current coping mechanisms.

Evaluates level of childbirth preparation.

Explains diet and activity orders during labor.

Communicates and documents admission data with physician, nursing staff, family and appropriate personnel.

Prioritizes and delivers care based on information obtained from maternal-fetal labor assessment of status and initial exam.

Identifies those patients with high-risk conditions that may require consultation and/or transportation to a tertiary center.

Assesses patient during all stages of labor, obtaining vital signs, fetal heart rate and patterns, and amount, color, and odor of amniotic fluid, etc.

Continuously updates nursing care plan.

Identifies common analgesic drugs, contraindications, dosage parameters, and acceptable routes of administration.

Identifies and promptly initiates appropriate nursing intervention for maternal and/or fetal side effects of medication and/or complications.

Sets up sterile delivery or operating instrument table using strict aseptic technique according to specific physician\'s request.

Ensures presence and proper functioning of emergency/resuscitation equipment for mother and newborn and radiant warmer for infant if appropriate.

Positions patient in desired delivery position, utilizing physiologic positioning.

Performs perineum or abdominal scrub using sterile technique.

Instructs coach/family in appropriate attire and hand washing technique per medical center protocol.

Notes and documents time of birth.

Assesses Apgar scores at one and five minutes after birth.

Assists with stabilization of at-risk neonate and performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation if indicated.

Performs preliminary physical assessment for obvious physical abnormalities and notifies physician if abnormalities are noted.

Correctly identifies newborn and mother, applying identification bracelets to both.

Obtains necessary cord blood samples and sends them to the laboratory.

Initiates newborn eye prophylaxis after initial bonding per Medical Center protocol.

Assists in initial infant-parent-family bonding.

Encourages immediate touch and eye contact as soon as possible after delivery.

Answers patient-family questions about newborn.

Assists with initial breastfeeding.

Notes and records delivery time of placenta.

Notes and documents condition/ intactment of placenta and number of vessels in umbilical cord.

Obtains cultures or specimen for laboratory analysis if indicated.

Assesses and documents maternal vital signs every 15 minutes for first hour, more frequently if the patient\'s condition warrants, and until stable per Medical Center protocol.

Institutes uterine massage and/or applies perineal ice pack if indicated.

Assesses for maternal discomfort and distended bladder and uses nursing intervention if needed.

Encourages and promotes the bonding process.

Explains post-delivery procedures and postpartum routine to patient and family.

Prepares patient for transfer to postpartum status and/or gives discharge instructions to mother for self and infant care.

If indicated, administers and documents oxytocin for induction/augmentation of labor after a physician, nurse midwife or qualified intrapartum nurse examines the patient.

Performs continuous electronic fetal monitoring and immediately discontinues oxytocin if there is maternal-fetal intolerance.

Develops a nursing plan of care based on appropriate data and rationale.

Monitors status of patient and fetus if antepartum.

Monitors status of infant.

Performs physical care, technical procedures and maintains a therapeutic environment.

Intervenes in emergency situations.

Evaluates and initiates changes in plan of care based on changes in status of patient.

Evaluates and initiates changes in plan of nursing care based on changes in status of infant.

Collaborates with other health care providers in order to achieve optimal outcomes.

Performs neonatal resuscitation if needed.

All other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS, TRAINING, AND SKILLS

BLS - Basic Life Support is required within 30 days or hire ot transfer date.

NRP - Neonatal Resuscitation is required within 12 months of hire or transfer date.

RN - Registered Nurse licensure in the state of Michigan is required.

• Associates Degree in Nursing is required. Bachelor\'s Degree in NUrsing is preferred.

Other information:

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND SKILLS:
Interpersonal skills needed to communicate successfully with individuals and groups and interact with people at all levels to communicate ideas and concepts in a clear and understandable manner.

MidMichigan Health is a technology driven organization and employees need to demonstrate competency in Microsoft\xc2\xae Windows. An employee may be required to participate in further learning opportunities offered by MidMichigan Health.

Physical/Mental Requirements and Working ConditionsExposure to stressful situations, including those involving public contact, as well as, trauma, grief and death.
Able to wear personal protective equipment that includes latex materials or appropriate substitute if required for your position.

Is able to move freely about facility with or without an assisted device and must be able to perform the functions of the job as outlined in the job description.

Overall vision and hearing is necessary with or without assisted device(s).

Frequently required to sit/stand/walk for long periods of time. May require frequent postural changes such as stooping, kneeling or crouching.

Some exposure to blood borne pathogens and other potentially infectious material. Must follow MidMichigan Health bloodborne pathogen and TB testing as required.

Ability to handle multiple tasks, get along with others, work independently, regular and predictable attendance and ability to stay awake.

Overall dexterity is required including handling, reaching, grasping, fingering and feeling. May require repetition of these movements on a regular to frequent basis.

Physical Demand Level: Medium. Must be able to occasionally (0-33% of the workday) lift or carry 21-50 lbs., frequently 34-66% of the workday 20 lbs. and or Walk/Stand/Push/Pull of Arm/Leg controls and constantly (67-100% or the workday) 10 lbs.

MidMichigan Health