RN - Birth Center Registered Nurse

Position Title

RN - Birth Center Registered Nurse

Trinity Health, Mercy One Dubuque Medical Center

PRN, Full‑time position in the Birth Center; primarily night position; required to work every third weekend and every third holiday.

Part‑time

Rotating shift; primarily night; required to work every third weekend and every third holiday.

Care for laboring patients in addition to postpartum couples and surgical patients. Will be cross‑trained to assist in pediatrics during times of high census. Must become Electronic Fetal Monitor certified within the first year, in addition to ACLS and NRP. Mandatory Reporter and BLS also required.

Provides and directs safe, effective, and culturally competent care for women, newborns, and pediatric patients. Utilizes evidence‑based practice and critical thinking to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate outcome‑based care. Manages a diverse patient population across labor and delivery, postpartum, newborn nursery, pediatrics, and/or pediatric intensive care, with varying levels of acuity. Supervises and coordinates care provided by LPNs, Patient Care Technicians/Assistants, and other team members, while ensuring clear communication with physicians, families, and the interdisciplinary team.

Adheres to Mercy One’s performance expectations and upholds the Mission, Vision, and Values of Mercy One.

• Associate degree in nursing required
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred
• Current Iowa RN license (current Illinois license if working in IL) required
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) required
• Proof of completion of Mandatory Reporter – Child and/or Dependent Adult Abuse training within three (3) months of hire
• High language, intermediate to high math, high critical thinking ability
• Basic computer skills required

• Conducts an initial assessment to gather data.
• Makes an initial assessment of new admissions within 30 minutes of the patient’s arrival to the unit.
• Completes all areas of the admission assessment database within 24 hours of admission.
• Identifies patient problems and develops them into an outcome/goal‑based plan of care.
• Initiates the patient problem list and incorporates relevant obstetric, neonatal, or pediatric history into the plan of care.
• Analyzes and interprets assessment data to identify desired outcomes/goals for mother and child.
• Determines nursing interventions to achieve those outcomes/goals.
• Prioritizes care needs for both mother and infant.
• Identifies and makes appropriate referrals (e.g., Lactation Consultant, Social Services, Nutritional Services, Spiritual Care).
• Implements the outcome/goal‑based plan of care.
• Assigns and coordinates patient care based on acuity and team member competencies.
• Organizes and prioritizes care for mothers, newborns, and pediatric patients.
• Delegates tasks appropriately to other team members.
• Implements the plan of care including procedures, treatments, physician orders, nursing orders, education plans, and medications.
• Coordinates implementation with Case Manager, Social Worker, and other disciplines.
• Assists in discharge planning, ensuring families have resources for newborn care, breastfeeding support, and pediatric follow‑up.
• Uses nursing judgment to determine frequency and components of reassessment.
• Reassesses at regular intervals to monitor maternal recovery and newborn/pediatric progress.
• Documents discharge instructions for mother, infant, and/or caregiver.
• Evaluates patient progress and revises the plan as needed.
• Evaluates maternal and pediatric response(s) to interventions.
• Updates the plan of care based on ongoing reassessments.
• Revises problem list and outcomes/goals as conditions change.
• Evaluates patient progress and revises the outcome/goal‑based plan as needed.
• Evaluates patient response(s) to interventions.
• Review/modifies/revises the outcome‑based plan of care based on ongoing reassessments.
• Updates the problem list and outcomes/goals.
• Communicates relevant clinical information to optimize outcomes.
• Communicates maternal and pediatric status to physicians and team members.
• Reports progress toward…