POSITION TITLE: Midwife Educator / Lactation Consultant

POSITION SUMMARY:

Demonstrates qualifications as a Lactation Consultant and experience in breastfeeding assistance, education and advice. Liases, assists, and interacts with the Head Nurse/Charge Nurse/Community Liaison in developing and maintaining a safe, baby-friendly environment according to international standards, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) standards and the American Hospital Dubai's policies. Implements an ongoing plan for educational sessions to standardise, optimise, and promote breastfeeding and rooming in of babies according to the Hospital Policy and International Standards. Reports directly to the Nurse Manager.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops and implements guidelines under the supervision and guidance of the Nurse Manager for a baby-friendly environment according to Departmental/Hospital policies, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) standards and the World Health Organization's (WHO) Baby Friendly Initiative. 
• Assesses education needs of patients and staff, and provides effective and appropriate education concerning baby-friendly initiatives.
• Demonstrates continual assessment, coordination and planning of feeding of all babies, implementing a documented feeding plan for each baby. This should include the individualized assessment of risk for breastfeeding difficulties, side effects of medications and contraindications for breastfeeding.
• Collaborates with Paediatricians, Obstetricians, Nursery staff, Obstetrics and Gynecology staff and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to provide optimum newborn care plans that include: feeding, breast care and bonding.
• Participates in staff meetings and unit committees/projects as directed.
• Liaises, informs, discusses, and updates the Nurse Manager on all relevant issues to optimize the continuation of the nursing care process.
• Additional duties as assigned (may include floating to Labour and Delivery or Obstetrics and Gynecology as a midwife when required).
• Updates and revises the scope of service yearly as per best practice guidelines and the needs of the community, the patients and the organization.
• Develops and implements a nursing team approach aimed at providing a baby-friendly environment using the American Hospital Dubai's Policy and the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding as a guideline (WHO/UNICEF Statement 1989).
• Attends Pediatrician rounds and liaises with the multi-disciplinary team regarding feeding plans, interventions and problems. 
• Oversees the care and maintenance of breastfeeding equipment. 
• Maintains competency and ensures all end users are trained and competent in the use of equipment and materials necessary for lactation. 
• Performs nursing interventions/procedures per established standards.
• Assists colleagues with diagnostic therapeutic interventions.
• Performs nursing education per established standards of care and policy and procedures.
• Maintains accurate and thorough documentation following established standards.
• Trains and ensures competence of all Obstetrics and Gynecology, Labour and Delivery, Nursery, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Staff Nurses in Breastfeeding.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

• Bachelor's degree in nursing (minimum of three (3) years full-time course duration) or
• Degree in Nursing (minimum two (2) years course duration) and Registration as a Registered Nurse from Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia
• For UAE nationals graduates of UAE or non-UAE universities are exempted from the experience and clinical training requirements for the applied title. (UAE nationals must submit a copy of their birth certificate and the mother's family book)
• Non-UAE national graduates from UAE universities are required to successfully complete six (6) months of clinical training post-graduation in an APS health facility (except for Registered and assistant Nurse titles)
• Must hold a valid License/Registration to practice in their home country and/or country of last employment (where applicable)
• Must hold a minimum of a valid Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification or others according to the scope of practice
• Certified Lactation Consultant

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of two (2) years of recent post-graduate experience as a Midwife in Obstetrics Unit
• Knowledge of and ability to render care and services based on age, appropriateness, and developmental needs of mother and baby as an individual unit – with special regard for feeding
• Skills in the assessment of patient and family's physical and psychological needs
• Skills in coordination and planning of care and prioritizing care based on individual needs
• Skills in problem-solving/critical thinking ensuring effective functioning of unit routine

• Demonstrates problem solving/critical thinking skills ensuring effective functioning of the unit routine.
• Demonstrate current Midwifery/Obstetric nursing knowledge with ability to recognize and apply basic pathophysiology in the nursing process.
• Demonstrate competent technical nursing skills; medications are administered safely and according to policies and procedures, physicians are assisted with patient examinations and specialized procedures, proficiency in continual assessment of antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum women and her baby’s physical and psychological needs under the guidance of JCIA.
• Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required in recognizing potential emergency situations; codes and other emergency situations are managed completely.
• Actively participate in mock codes.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the use of medical equipment available on the unit and maintain competency in the use of equipment and material necessary for the resuscitation and stabilization of the woman and the neonate.
• Offers advice and safe, effective midwifery care that respects the cultural and social needs of each woman and her family during the antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum period.
• Demonstrates competency in the skills needed to assist and support the woman before, during and after childbirth and provide safe and effective care of the newborn.
• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team members to assist with diagnostic therapeutic interventions and to improve the delivery of services to women and their families.
• Set priorities and plans implementation of patient care; implementation of care is completed in a timely, organized manner and follows the AHD nursing standards and policy and procedure.
• Demonstrates attention to discharge planning; discharge planning is addressed on admission, on-going and as care plans are modified. Discharge and transfer procedures are completed in a timely and complete manner.
• Provides accurate, complete and prompt reports on patient care conditions and response to treatment utilizing the standardized SBAR. Collaborates effectively as a multidisciplinary team member.
• Nursing documentation is individualized, informative, complete accurate, concise and legible. Documentation follows AHD and JCI standards and reflects the nursing process from assessment, evaluation and re-assessment.
• Works in other areas within the hospital when assigned, within the scope of practice.
• Maintains clinical and professional competency based on the latest research and established standards of practice. Complete all core competencies for nursing as well as application unit specific competencies within prescribed timelines.
• Demonstrates awareness and knowledge of Infection Control, Pain Management and Wound Care practices and standards. Reports and documents as directed in the relevant policies and procedures.
• Understands the responsibilities of safe handling and administration of Medication/Narcotic/Controlled Drugs according to hospital policy during pregnancy, birth and lactations; and documents as directed by Hospital policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates support of leadership. Encourages team decisions, cooperation within and across departments and assist in resolving differences of opinion.
• Demonstrates an understanding of cultural difference among customers and colleagues, demonstrates sensitivity and tolerance to cultural differences.
• Involves patient significant others and healthcare provider in patient’s plan of care and education.
• Performs special procedures (antenatal, intra-partum and postpartum women and her baby’s physical and psychological needs etc.) in accordance to procedures and guidelines, following orders and appropriate monitoring.
• Demonstrates knowledge of, and ability to, render care based on age, appropriateness and development needs of patients.
• Demonstrates understanding and familiarity with Facility Management and Safety Plan.
• Demonstrates competency and skills to receive the baby during a Caesarean Section.
• Assess, develop, implement and evaluate programs for each woman, newborn and family care needs.
• Initiates and supports uninterrupted (exclusive) breastfeeding and provides support for women who make an informed decision not to breastfeed.
• Promote breastfeeding and rooming in.
• The Midwife will supervise and oversee the care provided by the registered nurse working alongside her on the shift.
• Liaises with and updates the Nurse Manager/Admin Supervisor/Bed Coordinator about the following:
• Significant changes inpatient status
• Admissions, discharges, transfers, out on pass and deaths
• Staffing issues
• Administrative issues.
• Orientates and assists floating staff as needed. Follow up on Float Response form.
• Completes team leader orientation and meets the criteria indicators for the team leader role on the unit
• Facilitates units’ workflow, assignments of tasks and follows up on staffing issues
• Completes all specific unit duties as per the Allocation book.
• Complete the Preceptor workshop and meets the criteria indicators for the preceptor role on the unit.
• Demonstrates ability to impart knowledge in critical thinking to new employees and colleagues.
• Plans, implements and evaluates the individualized competency-based orientation in collaboration with orientee, nurse manager, clinical resource nurse.
• Provides appropriate feedback in a timely manner to orientees and Nurse Manager.
• Provides objective documentation to nurse manager utilizing AHD orientation package.
• Ability to anticipate problems, emergencies and take appropriate actions.

• 3-4 years General Nursing Diploma/Degree plus Midwifery certificate or diploma of not less than 12 months or
• Direct entry midwifery degree of not less than 3 years .