Registered Nurse

Job description

Cahaba Medical Care Foundation
L&D Registered Nurse Position Description
Reports to: Chief Quality Officer
Purpose: Care for women and their infants during labor and childbirth. They are responsible for assisting, supporting, and educating women during the four stages of delivery: antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and neonatal.
Responsibilities:
• Providing support for the mother during labor
• Monitoring the fetal heart rate, and mother’s vital signs
• Measuring the strength and timing of contractions
• Administering medications and performing diagnostic tests
• Consulting with physicians and other members of the care team
• Assisting with inducing labor
• Coaching the mother during delivery
• Identifying and assisting with complications
• Assisting with various procedures, including Cesarean sections,
• Monitoring and performing tests on newborns
• Providing education and support to mothers and families after delivery
• Sits with and monitors patient throughout (before/during/after) the labor
• Monitors contractions and helps patient with breathing techniques
• Performs basic IV and central line skills
• Performs phlebotomy skills
• Assists or performs various procedures including insertion of IUPC and fetal scalp electrode, speculum exam, digital cervical exam, bedside ultrasound for position, and fetal monitoring
• Knowledge of hemodynamics
• Administers pain medication as ordered; administers other meds to address specific medical conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes
• Takes and records patient’s vital signs, ascertains if problematic
• Reads fetal monitor & ascertains if there is a problem with baby’s heart rate
• Identifies & manages life-sustaining physiological functions in unstable patients
• Checks patient’s cervix periodically to monitor progression/lack of dilation
• Ensures patient’s bed is kept dry & clean; cleans up bodily fluids expelled before & after the birthing process
• Contacts anesthesia when/if patient is ready for epidural; contacts delivering physician at appropriate time, ascertains proper time
• Cares for patients on Pitocin, MgSO4 & continuous lumbar epidural
• Ensures patient is in proper position for delivery & all monitoring equipment is functioning properly
• Aids doctor with drapes, gloves, gowns, etc.; hands doctor delivery instruments as needed during birthing process
• Encourages patient to push at proper time(s)
• Records time of birth
• Immediate care of newborn (clean, weigh, etc.)
• Gives Apgar scores
• Keeps any family informed of progression of birth
• Performs other position-related duties as assigned, depending on assignment setting
• Assists with quality projects related to obstetrics and women’s health
• Demonstrates ability to competently assess and recover a recovering OB patient
• Cares for infant following delivery including supporting rooming in, breastfeeding, and other new infant care issues

Qualifications:
• Active Alabama Registered Nurse license
• Experience in L&D (minimum of 2 years)
• ACLS, ALSO, and PALS / NRP certified