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Northwestern Medicine has an exciting opportunity for Certified RN Midwife to join our inpatient OB Triage / Postpartum / Labor and Delivery departments. We are looking to hire a CNM to join the NMH APP hospitalist team. The team currently consists of CNMs and one APRN who rotate through the OB Triage, Labor and Delivery and Postpartum floors.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Prentice Women’s Hospital are a tertiary care facility and the academic medical center associated with the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the McGaw Medical Center (GME). We work directly with medical students, PA students, OBGYN residents and fellows and our mission focuses on the importance of clinical care, education and research.

Schedule: 12-hour shifts, rotating days/nights/weekends/holidays; no on-call

OB Triage

OB Triage is currently staffed by physicians (MDs and DOs) and advanced practice providers (CNM/APPs). Clinicians care for patients in all trimesters of pregnancy. OB Triage clinician works independently, in-house, at Prentice Women’s Hospital in a dedicated 12-bed Triage space. Rarely, we may need to evaluate a patient in the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Emergency Department. The OB Triage clinician works closely with a three to five nurse team (all of whom have a minimum of 2 years of L&D experience) to care for patients.

In OB Triage, the clinician evaluates patients in all trimesters and is responsible for facilitating care, calling appropriate consultations and evaluating and writing H&Ps and admission orders for patients being admitted to the antepartum service. We see any patient with a confirmed intrauterine pregnancy along with the gamut of pathology that these patients may present with. The range of pathology includes obstetrical problems such as preterm labor and preeclampsia, to non-obstetric complaints such as atypical migraines, asthma exacerbation, etc. The nurses evaluate patients who are 34 weeks and beyond and staff those patients directly with the patient’s on-call provider; the OB Triage clinician is available to assist with care needs as requested.  For patients presenting at <34 weeks gestation, the OB Triage clinician will evaluate the patient, document an H&P in the EMR, perform necessary ultrasounds or other procedures.

There is a steep learning curve while working in OB Triage. The care clinician, while being exposed to a range of pathology that comes with working at a busy academic center, is never without support. All specialty services are available to consult and curbside 24-7. The chief OB resident and OB Unit attending on labor and delivery are also in- house at all times to assist and consult when needed.

Postpartum

The PP APP is first- line to respond to conditions arising in postpartum patients requiring evaluation such as preeclampsia, fever, and hemorrhage. Duties also include postpartum random, Nexplanon insertion and answering pages related to medication clarification. The PP APP functions to back up the L&D residents and APPs on L&D and OBT.

Labor and Delivery

The Labor and Delivery APP is an integral member of the Labor and Delivery team which consists of 1-2 OB Unit Attendings, an OB Chief resident and OB junior residents. The L&D clinician in partnership with the residents is responsible for starting labor inductions and ensuring that labor curves are actively managed. The APP also monitors fetal heart rate tracings and responds to fetal and maternal assessments, which include hemorrhages and prolonged fetal heart rate decelerations. Labor and delivery involves direct collaboration with faculty and private attendings. Once trust is built and relationships are developed, there is abundant opportunity to perform deliveries and guided laceration repairs should the APP choose to participate in these procedures.

It is expected that the APP works closely with the OB nurses, the L&D team (residents, CNMs, nurses), the L&D Unit Attending, and private practice attendings and midwives. We serve as educators for OBGYN residents (12 per class- current total 47), medical students and PA students. Currently, medical students and PA students rotate in OB Triage and Labor and Delivery and teaching responsibilities include incorporating students into clinical care, assisting them in achieving learning objectives and providing timely feedback including completion of directly observed H&Ps.

The APRN Certified Nurse - Midwife reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities:

• Provides direct care to patients which demonstrates clinical expertise and advanced knowledge.
• Diagnoses and manages acute and chronic health problems within specialty area of practice.
• Collaborates and consults with physicians and other health care professionals in area of clinical expertise.
• Develops educational systems and strategies for teaching patients, families and staff on topics related to area of expertise.
• Mentors graduate students in aspects of advanced practice.
• Actively participates in and/or conducts research pertinent to area of expertise.
• Clinical:
  • Conducts comprehensive assessments of patients health status by taking health histories and performing advanced physical examinations in specialty area.
  • Provides direct clinical care to patients.
  • Orders and interprets laboratory and diagnostic tests to establish diagnoses and develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
  • Orders/prescribes medications, therapies, interventions and procedures according to clinical privileges.
  • Documents in the medical record all care provided and/or procedures performed for which the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse is responsible.
  • Collaborates with all members of the multidisciplinary team to develop and direct an individualized and comprehensive treatment plan.
  • Coordinates the discharge planning process with patients, families and all members of the multidisciplinary team.
  • Consults with other specialties and disciplines as appropriate to meet all health care needs of patients.
• Leadership:
  • Participates in unit/departmental/divisional or hospital committees/task forces and professional organizations.
  • Advocates for patients, families, nursing staff and other members of the healthcare community.
  • Assists in the development of policies and procedures in clinical area of expertise to establish standards for clinical practice.
  • Consults with NM leadership in the identification, evaluation and problem solving of clinical system and process issues.
  • Collaborates with NM leadership teams to develop, implement and evaluate strategic plans for quality improvement initiatives, utilizing evidenced based practice guidelines as appropriate.
  • Collaborates with physicians to lead changes in clinical practice.
• Education:
  • Teaches and counsels patients and families in preventive care, medical conditions, plan of care, anticipated outcomes, and the use of prescribed treatments and drugs.
  • Develops and participates in programs to meet educational needs of the clinical team related to area of expertise.
  • Serves as a role model and preceptor for graduate students.
  • Provides formal and informal education to both internal and external groups pertinent to area of expertise.
  • Provides formal and informal educational programs to nursing staff graduate students and other healthcare professionals pertinent to specialty area.
  • Collaborates with academic institutions to provide and promote clinical learning experiences and educational programs for APRNs, physicians in training and all health care professionals.
• Research/Quality/Outcomes:
  • Identifies relevant areas of clinical research and assists with development and coordination of research protocols and quality projects.
  • Participate in/review evidence-based research/guidelines and apply to clinical practice.
  • Collaborates with the multidisciplinary teams to conduct research and participate in clinical trials within area of expertise.
  • Participate in service-line specific quality initiatives and development of outcome metrics.

Required:

• Master's degree from an accredited school/college of midwifery nursing.
• Registered Professional Nurse (IL) license.
• Advance Practice Registered Nurse (IL) license.
• Advanced Practice Registered Nurse certification by a national certifying body as approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
• Successful completion of the certification examination given by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (American Heart Association) certification.
• Neonatal Resuscitation Certification (NRP).
• Controlled substance license and DEA registration required as specified by the department.
• Must be able to obtain limited OB ultrasound privileges within one (1) year of employment

Preferred:

• Two years of clinical experience in nurse midwifery.

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.