Staff Midwife-Tower A-Ground - Labor and Delivery Wing

Role Overview

Staff Midwife-Tower A-Ground - Labor and Delivery Wing at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC).

Role Purpose

The Staff Midwife is accountable for the coordination of nursing care, including direct patient care, patient and family education, and transitions of care. The role provides antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care to childbearing women and their newborns according to the Midwifery Scope of Practice as defined by the regulatory body, supporting professional nursing practice across the continuum of care to meet the needs of patients and families while upholding the mission, vision, and values of SSMC and adhering to the Professional Midwives Code of Conduct for Abu Dhabi and UAE.

Key Responsibilities

Assessment and Diagnosis

• Collect and analyze assessment data to determine diagnosis and clinical issues.
• Assess comprehensive data including physical, psychosocial, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual needs.
• Interpret assessment findings for antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care for normal pregnancy, including risk assessment, recognition of complications, and initiation of appropriate action.
• Use evidence-based assessment techniques and instruments in collecting data.
• Validate diagnosis or issues with the patient, family, and healthcare team members as appropriate.
• Prioritize collected data and information based on the patient's immediate condition or anticipated needs.
• Identify potential risks or barriers to the patient's health or safety.
• Document assessment data and information in compliance with established guidelines and reflective of the patient's needs.

Planning and Outcomes Identification

• Identify expected outcomes and develop a plan that addresses health promotion, health restoration, and health maintenance.
• Involve patient, family, and healthcare team members in formulating a culturally appropriate individualized plan of care.
• Identify expected outcomes based on nursing assessment and diagnosis.
• Identify significant changes in patient conditions, initiate appropriate action, and report to immediate supervisor or physician as appropriate.
• Modify the individualized plan of care according to ongoing assessment of the patient's response, status, and outcome indicators.
• Document expected outcomes as measurable goals and the plan using standardized language or recognized terminology.

Implementation and Coordination of Care Delivery

• Implement the plan of care in partnership with the patient, family, and healthcare team members in a timely manner utilizing evidence-based interventions and treatments specific to patient needs.
• Perform treatments and procedures according to established procedural guidelines and protocols.
• Administer medications according to organization policies and procedures.
• Ensure all components of the individualized plan of care, including modifications, are documented in the patient's health record.
• Communicate relevant information across all levels of care and organizations.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of resource consumption and practices within a cost-effective framework.

Health Teaching and Health Promotion

• Utilize teaching strategies appropriate to the individual patient's condition and learning needs.
• Use health promotion to support patients and families in developing skills that promote, maintain, or restore healthy lifestyles and self-management support.
• Promote breastfeeding and comply with baby friendly organizational initiatives.
• Seek opportunities for feedback and evaluation of the effectiveness of teaching strategies used, including teach-back.
• Facilitate effective communication between the patient, family, and the interdisciplinary healthcare team as required.
• Ensure all components of health education relevant to the clinical condition are documented in the patient health record.
• Assess patient and family education needs, plan for and provide education, and evaluate outcomes.

Evaluation

• Evaluate progress toward attainment of outcomes.
• Evaluate the patient and family's understanding of and response to the plan of care.
• Utilize systematic and ongoing assessment data to revise nursing diagnoses, outcomes, and the plan of care.
• Involve the patient, family, and healthcare team members in the evaluation process.
• Document reassessment of patient status, patient and family participation and understanding, and rationale for any revision in the plan of care.
• Provide a comprehensive clinical handover or report as required to ensure patient safety.
• Attend patient care rounds, communicate, and update the attending healthcare provider on changes in the patient's condition.
• Communicate with the patient care team about ongoing changes in the patient's plan of care and unit activity.

Evidence-Based Practice and Research

• Integrate evidence and research findings into practice.
• Utilize current evidence-based nursing and midwifery knowledge, including research findings, to guide and evaluate practice.
• Participate in evidence-based research activities at various levels appropriate to the midwife's level of education and position.
• Share evidence-based and research findings with healthcare team members.
• Participate in performance improvement projects for the evaluation and improvement of clinical practice.

Leadership

• Demonstrate leadership behaviors in practice settings, across the profession, and in the community.
• Function as a professional role model promoting a positive, team-based, organized, and safe work environment.
• Supervise practical nurses and midwives, junior staff, and student nurses to ensure the provision of safe and effective patient care.
• Demonstrate service excellence and act as a patient advocate to support the patient's rights and dignity at all times.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide patient and family-centered care.
• Coordinate and respond to all levels of emergencies according to the organization's policies and procedures.
• Oversee and respond to all levels of obstetrics emergencies according to the organization's policies and procedures.
• Participate in meetings, rounds, and case conferences.
• Identify, manage, and report incidents to the immediate supervisor and to the physician as required.
• Complete appropriate documentation according to organization policy.

Professional Practice and Accountability

• Analyze complications and risk factors around pregnancy and refer to the appropriate physician.
• Apply the principles of professional codes of ethics that ensure individual rights in all areas of practice.
• Maintain a professional and therapeutic nurse-patient relationship and serve as a patient advocate assisting patients and families in developing skills for self-advocacy.
• Speak up to question healthcare practices as appropriate for safety and quality improvement.
• Disclose any observed illegal or incompetent practices and decisions made by potentially impaired healthcare staff per organizational policy.
• Evaluate own nursing and midwifery practice in relation to professional practice standards and guidelines, rules, and regulations.
• Consider factors related to effectiveness, cost, environmental health, and impact on practice and organization.
• Utilize current resources related to standards of care, policies and procedures, and patient needs.
• Navigate and utilize electronic resources for information retrieval, communication, and documentation.
• Evaluate factors related to patient safety, effectiveness, availability, and cost when determining practice options.
• Promote a practice environment that reduces environmental health risks for staff.
• Communicate environmental health risks and exposure reduction strategies to healthcare consumers, families, colleagues, and communities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and education for self and others.
• Mentor healthcare team members for the advancement of nursing practices, the profession, and quality healthcare.

Qualifications & Experience

Required Experience

• Not less than 2 years' experience as a Midwife in a maternity hospital or appropriate setting.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree in Midwifery or equivalent qualification in Midwifery (minimum three years course duration), OR
• BSc in Nursing or equivalent (minimum three years course duration) and Midwifery Certificate (minimum one year course duration), OR
• Associate degree in Nursing from Canada or USA (minimum two years course duration) and successful completion of the National exam and Midwifery Certificate (minimum one year course duration).
• Valid and current national license.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Desired Education

• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) relevant to the area of specialty.