Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse

Labor and Delivery Registered Nurse

Registered Nurse, L&D Carl R Darnall Army Medical Center Fort Hood, Texas Degree/Education: Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN). BSN is preferred but not required. Diploma in Nursing or Associates Degree is required. Graduate from a college or university accredited by National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC), or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

Certifications in addition to Basic Life Support: In addition to BCLS/BLS, certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)/Advanced Life Support (ALS), Intermediate Fetal Monitoring and Neonatal Resuscitation Program. BCLS/BLS and ACLS/ALC certification must be obtained through an American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) training program. Intermediate Fetal Monitoring, NRP.

Experience: At least one (1) year of experience within the last three (3) years in a Labor and Delivery department.

Core Duties: Location of duties may include but not limited to antepartum, triage, intrapartum, postpartum, perioperative, and/or newborn. Coordinate patient care in collaboration with a wide array of healthcare professionals. Facilitate the achievement of optimal outcomes in relation to clinical care, quality and cost effectiveness. Ensure compliance with standards of care and practice in accordance with all established policies, procedures, and guidelines used in the MTF. Perform physical exam and health histories. Provide health promotions, counseling, and education. Administer medications, wound care, and numerous other personalized interventions. Recognize adverse signs and symptoms and quickly react in emergencies. Communicate and collaborate with a diverse group of people for the purpose of informing the healthcare team of plans/actions, for teaching/education to benefit the patient/family and organization. Perform nursing services identified in the TO. Conduct research in support of improved practice and patient outcomes. Perform assigned duties with regard to all patients regardless of underlying process or physical condition. Performs nursing triage within the ambulatory care arena. Makes independent triage decisions based on assessment and management skills for all ambulatory patients seen in Labor and Delivery triage. Utilizes physician driven protocols to deliver care. Screens patient health history, complaints, medications, and identify health related conditions that may impact the patient's health status. Screens patient lab data and notify physician of abnormal results. Ensures authorization for procedures has been appropriately completed and documented. Monitors patients or directs monitoring of patients during and after procedures. Functions within the Scope of Practice for a professional Registered Nurse, hospital regulations, and policies. Coordinates patient care activities. Manages patient records. Follows quality improvement and internal control activities to include risk appraisals, chart audits, trend identification and reporting corrective actions. Independently instructs and demonstrates to patient/family/significant others how to provide self-care during pregnancy. React appropriately to de-escalate situations within the standards of Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) while relating to patients and families to manage distraught, irritable, unreasonable or angry individuals and to maintain a positive rapport with all individuals involved in patient care. React with alertness and skill in any emergency, e.g., behavioral health, cardiac or respiratory arrest, hemorrhage, shock, severe physical trauma and psychiatric reaction. Serves as member of resuscitation team. Assess patients' conditions for potential or life threatening crises. Distinguish between normal and abnormal physical findings (from physical assessment and vital sign assessment). Plan appropriate nursing care. Obtain patient history and pertinent family history. Document plan of care and care given in patient's clinical record Utilize appropriate nursing personnel to assist in delivery of care when indicated (LPNs/paraprofessionals). Transcribe or verify transcription of physician orders. Carry out prescribed physician orders and document in patient medical record. Communicate pertinent patient data to charge nurse and/or physician as appropriate. Possess knowledge of the pharmacology of most commonly used emergency drugs, anticipated results, usual dosages, and their location on crash cart. Administer medications. Assess and document patient response to medications administered. Instruct patient and family regarding prescribed medications/therapies and surgical/diagnostic procedures that must be accomplished. Be able to interpret cardiac rhythms and their implications (ER). Assess patient/family knowledge level, implement plan of instructions and record patient/family demonstrated level of understanding. Operate defibrillator, EKG machine, cardiac monitor, and rapid fluid infuser. Interpret pertinent lab values. During scheduled duty, hours attend and participate in daily safety reports, patient care reports, patient care conferences, team conferences, and other appropriate professional activities as determined by the department of designated representative. Be able to initiate life saving measures in the absence of a physician. Assure content and correctness of a prepared report and sign the document to validate its content. Enters, retrieves, and updates information in MHS Genesis such as but not limited to documenting patient care, radiological orders, and laboratory orders. Observes, manages patient flow through L&D triage/discharge and through the inpatient stay. Possess the theoretical knowledge and past RN experience to complete medical orders and maintain various therapies such as intravenous therapy, oxygen therapy, respiratory therapy, etc. Apply critical thinking in nursing practice in all roles such as bedside care, Triage, antepartum, intrapartum, post-partum perioperative, and newborn nurse. Coordinate care between triage, treatment and disposition to ensure seamless transitions of care.