Staff Nurse - NICU

Purpose and Scope of the Job

The Nursery Staff Nurse provides direct and indirect care for assigned patients in neonatal care setting (normal nursery) per scheduled shifts. The Nursery Staff Nurse is primarily responsible for professional performance and safe patient care. The role encompasses nursing assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, evaluation, and coordination of care for patients across the health care continuum while involving families. It includes but not limited to, providing neonatal specific care and assisting mothers with breastfeeding. The Nursery Staff Nurse is accountable for clinical, educational, quality, and fiscal patient care outcomes, in accordance with established DASH policies, procedures, guidelines, Professional Practice and standards of practice. Participates in PI projects, and collaborates with other professional disciplines to ensure effective and efficient patient care delivery and the achievement of desired outcomes. Utilizes knowledge of neonatal period and cultural diversity into the provision of patient care. Abides by accreditation requirements and international standards. Supports the mission and vision of Dar Al Shifa Hospital (DASH) and the Nursing Department.

Main Duties and Responsibilities/Performance Standards

1

Provide newborn care utilizing the nursing process:

• • • Perform comprehensive newborn assessment.
    • Reviewe prenatal records to identify risks for the newborn
    • Involve the parents and health care providers in the plan of care when appropriate.
    • Collaborate with other disciplines through multidisciplinary meetings and care conferences to facilitate patient care.
    • Analyze the assessment data, derive nursing interventions, set priorities according to newborn needs, formulate a plan of care, implement and evaluate the outcomes.
    • Develops care plan that promote, facilitate and maintain newborn wellness
    • Recognize subtle cues to anticipate potential problems.
    • Assess situations and make critical decisions.
    • Document all relevant data in the medical record according to hospital/ departmental standards.
    • Ensure availability and maintenance of supplies and equipment needed for the unit and newborn care.
    • Accountable for the patient, the organization, the profession and self.
    • Perform clerical duties when needed.
    • Assume responsibility for meeting accreditation required mandatory education, e.g., fire, safety, infection control and others.
    • Ensure quality and patient safety practices are allowed
    • Provide or promotes patient and family – centered care
    • Promotes inclusive health by providing equitable and accessible care to patients and families with special needs
    
    

2

Perform major functions pertinent to a Normal Nursery – Staff Nurse:

• • • Admit newborn to normal / intermediate care nursery.
    • Abide by Standards of care and practice.
    • Respects cultural and religious practices of patients/Parents
    • Ensures all physicians order for newborn are noted and carried out according to hospital standards/policies.
    • Transfer newborns from/to the unit, and NICU.
    • Demonstrate required assessment and therapeutic skills.
    • Provide basic life support when needed.
    • Provide support to parent’s/ care givers as needed.
    • Implement and monitor infection control measures.
    • Administer medications, monitor for any desirable or undesirable effects and intervenes appropriately.
    • Ensure that newborns are provided with appropriate nutrition.
    • Monitors bonding between mother and baby.
    • Assist mothers with breastfeeding techniques and encourage / Assist with breastfeeding or feeding choices
    • Ensure care environments remain safe and baby friendly.
    • Apply safety measures related to patient care.
    • Abide strictly to the procedure of babies’ identification and infant security.
    • Operate all unit required equipment safely.
    • Provide care for babies post circumcision. By provide a complete pre circumcision checklist and post circumcision care.
    • Provide proper education to parents.
    • Assisting physicians during medical examinations and treatment plan of newborns. And Includes reporting on changes in patient condition.
    • Conduct hearing screening test on newborns.
    • Involves and educate family in implementing best practices for newborn care.
    • Completes unit specific competency checklist and competency requirements.
    • Promotes a positive working environment.
    • Participate in quality initiatives and quality improvement activities for improving the unit standards of quality provided
  • Ensures quality and patient safety practices are followed
  • Provides or promotes patient and family- centered care.
  Promotes inclusive health by providing equitable and accessible care to patients and families with special needs.
  

3

Provide family education according to patient education manual by:

• • • Assessing family readiness and identifying learning needs.

• • • Developing and implementing the teaching plan.
    • Leading/ encouraging multidisciplinary approach for patient’s discharge.
    • Evaluating the teaching-learning process.
    • Documenting family education.