If you are interested apply online and send your resume to MarisMartinez@mlkch.org

POSITION SUMMARY

The Postpartum Clinical Registered Nurse is able to consistently transfer scientific knowledge from social, biological and physical sciences in applying the nursing process and is responsible for helping people cope with difficulties in daily living that are associated with their actual or potential health or illness problems or the treatment thereof, and that require a substantial amount of scientific knowledge or technical skill. Reporting to the Clinical Unit Supervisor (CUS) of Perinatal Services, the Postpartum Clinical Registered Nurse has 12 hour accountability for the delivery of patient care to a defined group of patients according to the age, population, and social needs of the patient and family. This position requires the full understanding and active participation in fulfilling the Mission and Vision of MLK Community Healthcare (MLKCH), and it is expected that the employee will demonstrate behavior consistent with MLKCH’s Core Values. The employee shall support MLKCH’s strategic plan and the goals of the quality and performance improvement process activities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Demonstrates and maintains the competencies, qualifications, attitudes, behaviors, and skills required of the Postpartum Clinical Registered Nurse.

2. Demonstrates teamwork and collaboration during all interactions.

3. Carries out directives from the CUS, Nurse Manager and Senior Director per the chain of command.

4. Maintains understanding of perinatal evidence-based practices, new knowledge, and follows MLKCH policies and procedures.

5. Performs mother and infant assessments and care, assists with breastfeeding, skin to skin, medications, postpartum couplets, and may attend deliveries and provide immediate postpartum care to the newborn.

6. Develops and maintains a therapeutic nurse/patient relationship throughout the health care continuum. Respects the patient’s rights as an integral part of the nurse/patient relationship as reflected in our values and mission.

7. Utilizes SBAR in communicating all emergencies, endorsements of care, and routine bedside hand-off reports.

8. Recognizes, evaluates, responds, and communicates appropriately during maternal, neonatal emergencies, and/or unusual situations and maintains current position competencies, requirements and qualifications.

9. Adheres to the standards set forth in the Baby-Friendly model of care.

10. Performs documentation of patient care including: assessment, interdisciplinary plan of care (IPOC), implementation, evaluation, education, discharge, and follows unit specific and hospital documentation policies and procedures.

11. Formulates a nursing diagnosis through observation of the client's physical condition and behavior, and through interpretation of information obtained from the client and others, including the health team.

12. Formulates a care plan, in collaboration with the client, which ensures that direct and indirect nursing care services provide for the client's safety, comfort, hygiene, and protection, and for disease prevention and restorative measures.

13. Performs skills essential to the kind of nursing action to be taken, explains the health treatment to the client and family and teaches the client and family how to care for the client's health needs. Provides direct and indirect patient care services, including, but not limited to, the administration of medications and therapeutic agents, necessary to implement a treatment, disease prevention, or rehabilitative regimen ordered by and within the scope of licensure of a physician, dentist, podiatrist, or clinical psychologist.

14. Delegates tasks to subordinates based on the legal scopes of practice of the subordinates and on the preparation and capability needed in the tasks to be delegated, and effectively supervises nursing care being given by subordinates.

15. Evaluates the effectiveness of the care plan through observation of the client's physical condition and behavior, signs and symptoms of illness, and reactions to treatment and through communication with the client and the health team members, and modifies the plan as needed.

16. Observes signs and symptoms of illness, reactions to treatment, general behavior, or general physical condition, and determination of whether the signs, symptoms, reactions, behavior, or general appearance exhibit abnormal characteristics, and implementation, based on observed abnormalities, of appropriate reporting, or referral, or standardized procedures, or changes in treatment regimen in accordance with standardized procedures, or the initiation of emergency procedures.

17. Acts as the client's advocate, as circumstances require by initiating action to improve health care or to change decisions or activities which are against the interests or wishes of the client, and by giving the client the opportunity to make informed decisions about health care before it is provided.

Performs other duties as assigned