Registered Nurse

Summary:

The Registered Nurse provides professional nursing care to patients within the Labor & Delivery or OB ED units. They provide direct nursing care to the obstetric patient and her baby by assessing patients' needs, performing physical examinations, and taking health history and demographic information. The Labor and Delivery Nurse provide intensive support for women and their infants during labor and childbirth. In addition, the Registered Nurse plans, develops, implements, administers, evaluates and updates specialized plans of treatment and preventive care regimens in accordance with medical orders and nursing standards, and also annotates medical records in accordance with established procedures, implements infection control protocols, and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.


RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides direct nursing care to patients by assessing their physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual status.
• Develops a plan of care consistent with the patient's condition and annotates medical records in accordance with established procedures and regulatory requirements and provides information to clinical and support staff to facilitate continued proper nursing care.
• Includes the patients and family in the process of care planning.
• Performs comprehensive patient assessments, noting any improvement or deterioration in the patient's condition and implements and evaluates nursing care accordingly.
• Assesses patients and administers treatments, medications, and general care according to nursing plan of care, best practices, established protocols and medical orders to treat actual or potential disorders and to optimize the physical and mental well-being of the patients.
• Operates specialized medical equipment.
• Evaluates and documents patients' responses to care regimen and adds to; changes or resolves interventions on the nursing plan of care and/ or collaborates with physician regarding the need to revise the treatment plan.
• Coordinates care with other departments (i.e.: dietary, social services rehab services, etc.), serving as a liaison to ensure services are provided in a timely manner.
• Provides education to the patient and family about medication, medical treatments; disease specific information, follow up care.
• Participates in discharge planning in collaboration with other health care providers and community resources to ensure full utilization of support services which address patient needs.
• Participates in Quality Assurance activities to ensure provision of optimum care and follow-up for patients.
• Ensures continuity of nursing care by communicating a comprehensive handoff during transition to another nurse (at change of shift, change in assignment, transfer of patient, etc.)
• Participates with other professional team members in a multi-disciplinary approach to nursing care.
• Advocates the patient bill of rights and advocates on behalf of patients and families to ensure continuity and understanding of care given.
• Accepts accountability for education requirements pertaining to policies, procedures and general patient care information, etc.
• Participates in continuing education programs and in-service education in order to provide the most appropriate nursing care.
• Completes continuing education programs on time.
• Complies with hospital policies and procedures.
• Actively participates in the performance improvement process including data collection, analysis, plan for change and implementation of changes.
• Precepts and mentors newer staff to assure appropriate orientation to assigned units.
• Attends all mandatory in-services and required staff meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Provides care and support for women and infants before, during, and after delivery.
• Performs nursing management of patients post vaginal and post cesarean section deliveries.
• Monitors contractions and assists patients with breathing techniques.
• Administers medication to address specific medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
• Manages patients receiving analgesia for pain management during labor and cesarean sections.
• Performs cervical exams to monitor progression of dilation.
• Maintains fetal surveillance via electronic fetal monitoring (EFM).
• Cares for patients on Pitocin & MgSO4.
• Participates as a surgical scrub assistant on the L&D unit OR's.
• Provides care for the patients who present to the OB ED for evaluation as assigned.
• Stabilizes the sick and preterm newborns and provides care for patients experiencing a miscarriage or stillbirth.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

Experience: A minimum of one year of Labor and Delivery experience preferred.


Education: Graduation from an accredited school of Nursing required; a bachelor's degree or master's degree in Nursing preferred.

Licenses / Certifications: Current New York State RN licensure and BLS required. ACLS & NRP certifications required within 90 days of hire. Basic Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM) required within 6 months of hire. Intermediate EFM course within 1 -2 years of hire. Must obtain NCC EFM Certification within 1 years of hire.

OTHER:

If applicable, the individual performing this job may reasonably anticipate coming into contact with human blood and other potentially infectious materials. Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.