Registered Nurse - Labor and Delivery Triage

PRN - Triage

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Provides care to assigned patient population in accordance with established protocols and multidisciplinary plan of care utilizing independent, dependent, and interdependent interventions to restore stability, prevent complications, and achieve and maintain optimal patient responses for all patients through patient centered/patient valued care.

MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS

Education

• Must be a graduate from an accredited school of nursing.

Experience

• If less than 9 months experience, a Nurse residency is required. LVN experience does not waive this requirement.
• Must have a minimum of two (2) years Labor & Delivery experience.

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must have current RN license or valid temporary permit with the Texas Board of Nursing or valid Compact RN license.              
• Must have current healthcare provider BLS for Healthcare Providers certification from one of the following:       
  • American Heart Association       
  • American Red Cross       
  • Military Training Network       
• Must have current Advanced Life Support (ALS) or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification on hire or placement in the role. Certification must be from one of the following:       
  • American Heart Association       
  • American Red Cross       
  • Military Training Network       
• Must have current Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification on hire or placement in the role.
• May be required to have additional specialty certifications.
• Must have one of the following, upon hire or transition into the role.       
  • AWHONN (Association for Women's Health, Obstetrics Neonatal Nurses) Intermediate Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certificate OR,       
  • AWHONN (Association for Women's Health, Obstetrics Neonatal Nurses)       
  • Advanced Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certificate, OR,       
  • National Corporation Certification (NCC) Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification.
• Must retake every two years from completion date of previous certificate.       
  • AWHONN (Association for Women's Health, Obstetrics Neonatal Nurses)        - Intermediate Electronic Fetal Monitoring, OR,       
  • AWONN (Association for Women's Health, Obstetrics Neonatal Nurses)      
  • Advanced Electronic Fetal Monitoring, OR,
  • National Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification must be renewed every three years.

Skills or Special Abilities

• Must be able to provide continuous assessment, consults with other team members as required and provides nursing care which demonstrates patient centered/patient valued care.
• Must exercise independent judgment in providing nursing care.- Must be able to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and possess good oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, and hospital staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• May be required to communicate effectively, via the overhead paging system.
• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to provide direction to non-nursing staff, serve as a preceptor, and serve on rotation as a Charge Nurse.
• Must be able to prepare and conduct in-service educational programs.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors.
• As applicable, will be required to demonstrate acceptable knowledge of nursing standards of care for specialty care area.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a patient advocate, by focusing on patient needs, patient rights, confidentiality, and religious and cultural preferences. Maintains positive working relationships with all Parkland internal and external customers, employees, etc. Serves as a resource for patients and other healthcare team members. Utilizes effective verbal and non-verbal communication to facilitate development of a therapeutic relationship and environment that promotes wellness. Serves as a resource for specific clinical patient care issues. Provides patient care educational information and training to patient and family members. May participate in community outreach activities (such as health fairs, community collaborations or outreach clinics) as assigned.
• Performs appropriate patient assessments including continuous surveillance. Recognizes changes in a patient's condition and provides appropriate interventions as necessary. Consults with other team members as required, notifies providers to report changes in patient condition and implements orders in a timely manner. Exercises independent judgment in providing safe nursing care to the critically ill/stable, stable neonate, recovering, ECU and postpartum patient.
• Provides care to high-risk OB adult patients in the antepartum, postpartum, and perioperative phases. Performs appropriate duties during cesarean delivery and immediate postpartum period. Supports breastfeeding and provides patient education related to newborn. Must be able to manage an adult OB patient with neurological, pulmonary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, genitourinary disorders/conditions. Must provide safe medical administration using the patient's six (6) rights, provide maintenance and management of IV access, must be able to perform POC monitoring and demonstrate safe infection control practices. Supports appropriate positioning, assessment and management of pain and provides emergency resuscitation care to the neonate and patient in the Labor and Delivery area.
• Completes appropriate documentation. Maintains accurate and timely entries and notations in patient care records and hospital documents. Ensures that all records and documents meet the standards, goals, and objectives of the assigned department and Parkland.
• Works with other staff in providing direction to non-nursing staff. Participates in information exchanges with nursing and other Parkland staff that support the standards, missions, goals and objectives of the department and Parkland. Provides appropriate hand off any time care is relinquished. Seeks and utilizes direction from more experience staff and team members as needed. Serves as Charge Nurse on rotation as necessary.
• Serves as a preceptor or trainer to newer nursing staff members.
• Prepares and conducts an in-service educational program for the assigned department, at least once per year.
• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the department and Parkland.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.
• Any duties deemed competent.