Status:  Full Time

Shift:     Three 12 hour night shifts 6pm - 6am, including rotating weekends and holidays

Exempt: No 

Summary:

The Registered Nurse at North Oaks Medical Center is primarily responsible for his/her patients. They shall possess the qualities most exemplary of the nursing profession. These qualities include compassion, empathy, accountability, honesty, together with the knowledge and skills they have learned within their nursing education. The Registered Nurse shall adhere to the Standards of Practice of NOMC.

The registered nurse is a member of the health care team and is responsible for providing quality nursing care utilizing NOMC standards of care. Will uphold the philosophy and objectives of Nursing Service. Is a resource person for other members of the health care team. Responsible for patient care. Will utilize effective communication between personnel, physicians, other hospital departments, patients and families.

Other information:

Education:
Must be a graduate of an accredited school of nursing

Licensure/Certification/Registration:
Current LA RN license.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program: Completes the NRP within six months of employment, (or as available).
Advanced Cardiac Life Support: Completes ACLS
AWHONN 2- Day Intermediate Course within 6 months of employment (or as available)
Fetal monitor test/course:Participate every two years.
Membership in a professional organization is encouraged.  

Responsibilities:

1. Insure the maintenance of quality patient care.

A. Utilize nursing process (assess, plan, implement and evaluate) for each patient on an individual basis.

B. Assist with QA audits.

C. Administer medications as ordered by the physician.

D. Document patient response to medication and procedure, using vital sign record, nurses’ notes, and any other form as appropriate.

E. Monitor patient receiving I.V. conscious sedation as per policy.

2. Administer blood, blood components, hyperalimentation and chemotherapy.

A. Adhere to hospital policy in regard to blood and blood components.

I.Antepartum

A.Able to complete an assessment, then plan and deliver nursing care for patients during the antepartum period who are experiencing complications of pregnancy (including: preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), diabetes, bleeding and infection). Able to utilize various computer systems including, but not limited to: EPIC, Hill Rom Composer system, Nonet, CRS Education System, AYS, and Omnicell.

B.Demonstrates skill in antepartum testing, to include non-stress tests, contraction stress tests, and oxytocin-challenge tests.Demonstrates knowledge of and assists with external versions, biophysical profiles, fern testing and other speculum exams.

C.Provides education to the antepartum patient/family consistent with her diagnosis.

II.Intrapartum

A.Demonstrates thorough knowledge of the labor and delivery process and the ability to complete a comprehensive assessment of the laboring woman.

B.Able to plan and deliver care to the normal laboring woman as well as those experiencing complications such as gestational hypertension, preterm labor, bleeding, coagulation disorders, multiple gestation and diabetes.

C.Provides for pain management during labor.Assesses levels of pain using pain scale and intervenes as appropriate.Provides care for women laboring with regional anesthesia as well as those laboring without anesthesia.Able to support the woman with comfort measures as indicated by her tolerance of labor.

D.Demonstrates thorough knowledge of electronic fetal monitoring. Able to interpret monitor tracings, identify reassuring and non-reassuring FHR patterns, and initiate appropriate nursing interventions.Successful completion of AWHONN 2-Day Intermediate Course within 6 months of hire and passes AWHONN FHM test offered every 2 years with a minimum passing score of 80%.

E.Has thorough knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of L&D drugs such as oxytocin, magnesium sulfate, terbutaline, misoprostol, Cervidil, Procardia, Celestone, Prostin, Hemabate, Fentanyl, Stadol, etc.

F.Acts as a circulating (and scrub, if so trained) nurse as needed for C-Sections and tubal ligations.

G.Demonstrates knowledge of emergency delivery procedures.

H.Provides supportive care to women and their families in the event of fetal loss or fetal abnormalities.

I.Provides education to the laboring patient/family consistent with their needs.

III.Newborn Care

A.Demonstrates knowledge of neonatal physiology and normal neonatal adaptation to the extrauterine environment.

1.Performs initial care of newborn at delivery.

2.Assigns Apgar scores

3.Maintains thermoregulation of newborn.

4.Reports abnormal signs and symptoms to physician.

B.Provides support consistent with Lactation Consultant teaching.

1.Provide support to breastfeeding families.

2.In-service new staff members (RNs, LPNs, NAs and NTs) on the proper breastfeeding techniques in the unit as needed.

C.Participates in the Neonatal Resuscitation Program.

1.Completion of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program is required within 6 (six) months of employment (or as available).

2.Responsible for exhibiting knowledge/skills relevant to the Neonatal Resuscitation Program guidelines in an emergency situation as needed.

IV.Postpartum Care

A.Able to perform a comprehensive assessment of the woman in the immediate postpartum period (recovery care).

B.Able to plan and deliver appropriate care to the normal delivered woman as well as those experiencing complications such as hemorrhage, infection, gestational hypertension, diabetes, and coagulation disorders.

C.Has thorough knowledge of the normal physiologic processes occurring during the postpartum period, and can work on postpartum unit as needed.

D.Supports the breastfeeding mother and family with teaching that is consistent with that of the Lactation Consultants.

E.Provides education to the mother/family regarding the postpartum period and discharge instructions as indicated by their learning needs.

V.Equipment/Supply Use

A.Able to safely use equipment and supplies needed, including fetal monitors, internal scalp electrodes, intrauterine pressure catheters, blood pressure, infusion pumps, PCA and epidural analgesia pumps, radiant warmers and infant resuscitation equipment, electrocautery and breast pumps/supplies.

VI.Education

A.Neonatal Resuscitation Program: Completes the NRP within six months of employment, (or as available).

B.Advanced Cardiac Life Support: Completes ACLS.

C.AWHONN 2- Day Intermediate Course within 6 months of employment (or as available)

D.Fetal monitor test/course:Participate every two years

VII.Other Responsibilities

A.Responsible for direct supervision of the LPNs, OB Technicians, Unit Secretaries, Nurse Techs, and other non-licensed personnel working in the L&D department.

B.Follows North Oaks Health System Compliance Program and Federal and State Regulatory guidelines.

B. Adhere to hospital policy for administering hyperalimentation and chemotherapy.

3. Adhere to policies and procedures.

A. Responsible for adherence to hospital policies and procedures for self and personal under his/her supervision.

B. Adhere to acceptable dress code.

C. Report incidents and injuries.

D. Report medication errors.

E. Demonstrate professional manner.

F. Comply with attendance policy.

G. Knowledgeable of all hospital safety codes, and perform duties during drills and actual emergencies.

H. Report unsafe conditions and incidents.

I. Provide clean environment.

J. Account for narcotics.

4. Assist in operational functions.

A. Assist department manager in maintenance of policies and procedures.

B. Schedule assignments of personnel as applicable.

C. Assist department director in data collection.

D. Monitors equipment function.

5. Maintain satisfactory communication.

A. Promote satisfactory relationships.

B. Share knowledge with others.

6. Participate in professional development activities.

A. Attend committee meetings as designated.

B. Attend in-service programs.

C. Maintain certification in Basic Life Support and/or Advanced Cardiac Life Support as required.

D. Maintains knowledge of computerized systems within the healthcaresystem as needed for job performance.

7. Perform other duties as requested.

8. Follows North Oaks Health System’s Compliance Program and Federal and State Regulatory guidelines

9. Adheres to the Nurse Practice Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing.