Description

Provides direct and indirect patient care in the maternity. Provides assessment and planning for individualized patient care. Communicates with physicians, supervisors and charge nurse(s) about changes in patient’s clinical condition including: fetal monitoring, results of diagnostic studies and symptomatology. Responds quickly and accurately to changes in condition or response to treatment. Performs general nursing duties in all departments with adequate supervision.

Requirements

Regulatory Requirements:

• Graduate of an accredited School of Registered Nursing
• Current licensure from the State Board of Nurse Examiners by the State of Texas with renewal as required by law
• One (1) or more years of recent Labor and Delivery/Newborn Nursery experience and/or medical surgical nursing experience preferred
• Successful completion of Neonatal Resuscitation certification within 6 months of hire date and every other year prior to the expiration date.
• BLS/Basic Life Support active certification upon employment or obtained prior to RN working in clinical areas; renewal of certification every other year thereafter.
• Fetal monitoring certification:
• Basic fetal monitoring course or equivalent, proof upon hire or obtained within 6 months of hire date.
• Intermediate fetal monitoring course or equivalent within 1 year of hire date and renewal every other year thereafter. Can be renewed every 4 years with advanced fetal monitoring course or equivalent.
• S.T.A.B.L.E. certification within 1 year of hire date and then required renewal every other year thereafter.
• ACLS/Advanced Life Support proof upon hire or within 6 months of hire date; renewal every other year thereafter.

Position Description:

• Knowledge of medications and their correct administration based on age of the patient and their clinical condition.
• Follows the seven (7) medication rights and reduces the potential for medication errors.
• Able to assess neonate at delivery and perform neonatal resuscitation according to AHA/AAP guidelines.
• Ability to assess neonate at delivery and perform neonatal resuscitation as indicated.
• Ability to perform comprehensive assessment on infants and adult(s) and reassessments as per policy in all patient settings.
• Ability to provide care and perform general nursing duties for patients in all phases of the antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum stages and neonatal care as indicated.
• Ability to adequately assess and reassess pain. Utilizes appropriate pain management techniques. Educates the patient and family regarding pain management.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
• Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality.
• Ability to formulate an individualized plan of care, revise plan as indicted by the patient’s response to treatment and evaluate overall plan daily for effectiveness.
• Formulates a teaching plan based upon the identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning (family is included in teaching as appropriate).
• Demonstrates knowledge of fetal monitoring. Identifies FHR patterns and responds appropriately with interventions.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to supervisors, charge nurse(s), co-workers and physicians.
• Consults other departments as appropriate to provide for an interdisciplinary approach to the patient’s needs.
• Determines priority of care based on physical and psychological needs, as well as factors influencing patient flow through the system.
• Coordinates and supervises patient care, as necessary. Oversees care provided by LVN, certified nurse’s aides and other unlicensed staff members as indicated.
• Demonstrates an ability to assist physicians with procedures in Labor and Delivery, Postpartum and Newborn Nursery.
• Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function under stressful situations.
• Treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and their families.
• Interacts professionally with patient/family and involves patient/family in the formation of the plan of care.
• Maintains a good working relationship both within the department and with other departments.
• Documentation meets current standards and policies.
• Identifies and addresses psychosocial needs of patients and family.
• Manages and operates equipment safely and correctly.

Professional Requirements:

• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
• Completes annual education requirements and all other assigned education within time frame designated.
• Maintains regulatory requirements.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time.
• Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly.
• Completes in-services as assigned and returns in a timely fashion.
• Attends annual review and department in-services, as scheduled.
• Attends at least 10 staff meetings annually, reads and acknowledges all monthly staff meeting minutes for meetings that are missed.
• Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities.
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
• Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the hospital, as well as the focus statement of the department.
• Attends mandatory meetings held within the department.
• Adjust work hours/schedule to meet the needs and demands of the department and hospital.
• Competencies in nursing procedures and patient care are met and documented.
• Responds within the 30 minutes response time when on-call.
• Aware of all Emergency Disaster Plans and how to respond if a Disaster occurs.
• Works effectively with others, demonstrates leadership and teaching ability and the ability to work under pressure.
• Appreciation of and desire to be part of a health care team dedicated to providing patients optimal care.
• Assists in the training/precepting or mentoring of staff as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Previous experience in general nursing preferred
• knowledge of general practice medicine and medical terminology
• standard diagnostic and medical equipment and instruments
• applicable federal and state regulations and requirements
• basic computer skills
• Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Additional languages preferred.

Additional Requirements with or without Reasonable Accommodation:

Ability to walk, stand, sit, kneel, push, stoop, reach above the shoulder, grasp, pull, bend repeatedly, identify colors, hear with aid, see, write, count, read, speak, communicate in English, analyze, alphabetize, lift and carry over 100 lbs, perceive depth.

Conditions include working inside, working around machines with moving parts and moving objects, radiant and electrical energy, working closely with others, working alone, working protracted or irregular hours. Exposure to body fluids and/or infection from disease-bearing specimens, exposure to chemicals/biohazardous/radioactive substances, exposure to explosive/flammable chemicals or gases, exposure to patient/visitors under a wide variety of circumstances.

Mental demands include; alertness, analytic ability, memory, concentration, judgment, initiative, precision, creativity and communication.