POSITION SUMMARY

Responsible to the Unit Director for overall nursing practice.  This includes the responsibility for assessment of childbearing women (adolescence to middle adulthood) and their family needs, development of the plan of care to meet those needs, implementation of nursing interventions, and evaluation of nursing care based on outcomes for these women.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education:

1. Completion of an accredited registered nurse program required; BSN preferred.

Experience:

1. Previous RN experience preferred.
2. Charge qualified preferred.
3. Experience in antepartal, neonatal, obstetrical and/or pediatric nursing preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

1. Effectively functions as a team member and as a liaison between patient and staff.
2. Supports and encourages harmonious communication skills.
3. Job requires strong verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills.
4. Communicates in highly professional manner at all times.
5. Demonstrates a high level of mental and emotional tolerance and even temperament when dealing with ill people; uses tact, sensitivity, sound judgment and a professional attitude when relating with patients, families, and co-workers at all times.

License/Certification/Registration:

1. Current Pennsylvania RN licensure.
2. Meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support (BLS) and renews BLS every two years.
3. Within one year of orientation to Labor & Delivery, meets the American Heart Association’s standards for Healthcare Provider Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and renews ACLS every two years.
4. Within one year of the hire/transfer date, completes the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and renews NRP every two years.
5. Relevant certification preferred upon hire.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Receives minimal supervision from the Unit Director.

SUPERVISION GIVEN

The Registered Nurse, Labor & Delivery will only have supervision of others while serving as Charge Nurse.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Promotes optimal outcome for the woman and fetus through ongoing assessment which includes but is not limited to the following:
   1. Comprehensive health history and physical assessment.
   2. Identification of risk factors and an evaluation of fetal well-being.
   3. Surveillance and care of all patients presenting to Labor and Delivery to include ruling out labor.
   4. Need for referral to other health care professionals or agencies.
   5. Physical, psychological and emotional responses of the woman, fetus and family to pregnancy and impending birth.  Assesses development level of the patient and incorporate this information into the development of the plan of care.
2. Participates in the health education of patients and families in collaboration with other health care team members.
3. Secures a physically safe and emotionally satisfying labor and delivery experience for the mother, fetus and family.
   1. Assesses and stabilizes the patient and family.
   2. Performs ongoing assessments and data collection.
   3. Develops and implements a plan of care collaboratively with the patient, family and other health care team members.
   4. Evaluates and revises the plan of care based on patient outcomes.
   5. Provides a consistent standard of nursing care during operative delivery and the immediate post anesthesia recovery period if necessary.  This may include scrubbing and circulating for c-sections, newborn resuscitation, fetal monitoring, recovery care, etc.
4. Provides neonatal assessment care immediately after delivery.
5. Accepts responsibility and accountability for maintaining knowledge and skills in obstetric nursing practice:
   1. Maintains an awareness of professional issues.
   2. Updates knowledge and clinical skills on an ongoing basis.
   3. Remains current on concepts, trends, scientific advances, biomedical equipment and ethics related to labor and delivery.
   4. Assists with ambulance transports as needed.

NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Performs related and miscellaneous duties as assigned.