What are the responsibilities and job description for the Birth Assistant / Nurse position at Pcc Community Wellness Center?
Job Summary: In order to maximize safety as well as satisfaction for childbearing families laboring and birthing in Center, birth assistant function are as follows. 1) Directly assist the CNM in caring for the family during labor. 2) Act as an additional pair of hands during births and or emergencies. 3) Directly assist the family immediately following birth and during the postpartum period.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Birth Assistant will be expected to read and understand the Center's policies and procedures manual.
- It will be the Birth Assistant's responsibility to keep the answering service informed as to how she can be reached. The Birth Assistant, once called by the CNM, needs to arrive to the Birth Center within one hour of being called.
- Intrapartum care. Once called to the Center, the Birth Assistant will, at the direction of the CNM, provide or conduct:
- Labor support (i.e., fluids, positioning, tub bath, sibling support).
- Supplies and/or equipment as needed to complete the set-up of the room for birth.
- Monitoring of vital signs and fetal heart tones.
- Delivery assistance as needed.
- Assist with resuscitation if needed.
- Assist with third stage or other maternal emergency as needed (fundal massage, administration of oxytoxic, prepare IV therapy, call physician or ambulance).
- Birth Assistant may care for client in early labor at the Center under the direction of the CNM.
- Immediate postpartum care:
- Vital signs.
- Ongoing assessment of fundus and bleeding.
- Assist mother with comfort measures.
- Assist mother and newborn with establishing breastfeeding.
- Cord blood to lab if indicated.
- Postpartum period until discharge:
- Ongoing assessment of mother: bleeding, voiding, fluids and eating, mothering adjustment, physical needs.
- Ongoing assessment of newborn: respiratory status, color, temperature, neurological status, feeding, activity.
- Discharge:
- Review early home care instructions.
- Assist family in preparations for going home.
- Schedule home visit.
- Accompany family to car and assist with proper installation of infant car seat.
- Terminal cleaning and restocking of birth room. This must be done before birth assistant leaves the Center.
- Ongoing postpartum follow-up:
- Perform home visits as needed.
- Consultation with CNM for problems.
- Continuing competency:
- Maintains current certification in CPR and neonatal resuscitation.
- Attendance at Center staff in-service programs and emergency drills.
- Birth Assistant will be expected to participate in transfer review meetings and to assist in providing in-service programs to the staff.
- CQI: The Birth Assistant will be responsible for continuous quality improvement activities as assigned by the Director.
- Schedule: The Birth Assistant schedule includes 11 (24 hour) calls per month. Eight hours of administrative duties per week including stocking, Birth Center upkeep, or any other duties as assigned by the Clinical Director or the Director of Midwifery, is also expected.
- Staff Meetings: The Birth Assistant will attend regularly scheduled staff meetings.
Basic Qualifications:
Experience/Training:
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
- Constantly communicates with patients, families, and other healthcare providers. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
- 2 3 years clinical experience preferred.
- 2 - 3 years EMR experience preferred.
- Proficient in MS Office Business Applications to include: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
Certifications/Licenses:
- Current and valid State of Illinois nurses license.
- Current and valid CPR card.
Physical Demands:
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
- Must be able to move around the clinic site 50% of the time.
- Constantly operates a computer, computer printer, copy machine, and telephone.
- Occasionally positions self to maintain exertion of physical strength to move objects of 10 pounds from one level to another.
- Ability to move as needed to perform necessary nursing skills such as wound care, injections, and other procedures.
- Must be able to transport from one site to another.
- Must be able to cover other shifts as necessary.
Other Skills:
- Ability to read and write proficiently using the English language
- Constantly communicates with other healthcare providers. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
- Follow through responsibility and use good judgment.
- Maintain professionalism under stressful situations
- Self-motivated ad directed with the ability to prioritize and work efficiently under pressure.
- Ability to understand and follow verbal and written communication.
- Detailed oriented with the ability to work with minimal/ no supervision.
- Willingness to be part of a team-unit and cooperate in the accomplishment of departmental goals and objectives.
- Effective and creative problem solving
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed, as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. They are representative to the knowledge, skills, and abilities that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
