Nurse Midwife at Martha's Vineyard Hospital (MVH) in FALMOUTH, Massachusetts

Job Description:

PURPOSE OF YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Nurse Midwife is responsible for safe and personalized care to patients in the antepartum, intrapartum, postpartum, and routine GYN setting according to MVH Midwifery Guidelines.


DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY:
The nurse midwife reports directly to the Director of Physician Practices.


JOB FUNCTIONS:
Every effort has been made to make your job description as complete as possible. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or is a logical assignment to the position.


Provide and maintain midwifery care, which is effective and responsible to the needs of women from adolescence (13-17 years) through senior adult (55-64 years).
Provide care to all patients desirous of midwifery care and to be responsible to the needs of the community.
Contribute to the development of guidelines for the midwifery service.
Implement the policies and procedures regarding delivery of patient care.
Collaborate with nurses, nurse-midwives, physicians, and other health care professionals to assess and meet the health care needs of the patients.


Meets with the Chief Nurse Midwife to identify, address, and resolve patient care issues.
Participates on committees to formulate clinical improvement initiatives and participates in the QA program.
Initiate and work on research issues which are applicable to clinical practice.
Have admission and discharge responsibilities for the midwifery caseload of patients.
Provide care and management of normal labor patients, including delivery; requiring twenty-four hour midwifery coverage.
Consults with a physician as needed and co-manages certain patients with the physician as defined by the midwifery guidelines.
Provide care and triage of all obstetrical patients both urgent and non-urgent. Consults with the attending MD on duty.
Provide telephone triage services to Nurse Midwife/MD patients during non-office hours.
Engage in patient education at every visit.
Provide routine GYN care to the midwifery patient caseload.


Provide comprehensive care by rounding "socially" on postpartum patients (Nurse Practitioners currently round on both physicians and midwifery patients). Serve as a consult or implement follow-up plans as requested by the Nurse Practitioners rounding on midwifery patients. Ensure that all patients have a two/six-week postpartum follow-up visit. At the six week appointment a postpartum exam will be provided with the option of initiation of contraception management.
Demonstrate and maintain clinical competence.
Identify learning needs and goals, and design a plan to meet them.
Maintain necessary clinical skills through self-directed clinical practice.
Be available as a resource where expertise may be required.


WORKING CONDITIONS:
• Sits, stands, bends, lifts and moves intermittently during working hours
• Is subject to frequent interruptions
• Is involved with patients, residents, staff, government agencies/personnel, etc. under all conditions and circumstances
• Is subject to hostile and emotionally upset patients, family members, etc.
• Communicates with the medical staff and other hospital departments' staff
• Attends and participates in continuing training programs as they relate to the position
• May be exposed to infectious waste and diseases
• Is subject to lifting, carrying and supporting patients
• Must be constantly alert for patient safety


SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak clearly and understand the English language
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action in a timely fashion
• Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with staff, patients, family members, visitors, government agencies/personnel and the general public
• Must possess the willingness to work harmoniously with professional and non-professional personnel and the general public


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the work day
• Must be able to speak and write the English language in an understandable manner
• Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of positions
• Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these to function adequately so that the requirements of this position can be fully met
• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity and the ability to work effectively with the CEO, physicians, department managers and the general public
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability
• Must be able to relate to and work with ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and, at times, hostile people within the facility
• Must be able to assist in the evacuation of patients



Qualifications

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:
• Valid Massachusetts RN licensure in good standing
• Master's Degree required
• Graduation from an educational program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery and Education (ACME)
• Successful completion of the certifying examination given by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB)
• Enrollment in the Certification Maintenance Program by the AMCB


EXPERIENCE:
• Three years experience as a Nurse Midwife preferred
• Skills in interpersonal communication, teamwork, research, and organization required
• Language skills preferred