Program Description:
The Mother/Baby Care Unit staff at Victoria Hospital provides care to women hospitalized during pregnancy as well as postpartum mothers and babies. Total patient care is provided in both antenatal and post-partum stages.
General Information:
Number of beds: 22 combined with antepartum/postpartum
Team Composition: RN’s, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Social Worker, Anesthesia, Medical and Nursing Students, Obstetricians, Physiotherapist, Dieticians, Pediatricians, and Family Medicine Physicians.
Average Length of Stay:
- Antenatal (24 hours to 4-8 weeks)
- Post-partum (24-60 hours)
- C-sections (3-4 days).
Nurse to patient ratio: 1 Nurse to 4 couplets (couplets are mother and baby) or I Nurse to 6-8 Antenatal patients
Hospital Site: Victoria Hospital Level 4
Scheduling Information:
- 4, 8, and 12 hour shifts available
- Shift time: 0700-1900 & 1900-0700
Background Essentials:
- RN with current CNO registration
- Recent Maternal/Newborn Care experience required (min. 1 year preferred)
- Sound knowledge of adult education principles for patient teaching
- Well developed assessment & organizational skills
- Sound maternal child knowledge base
- Effective conflict identification and resolution skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact in a team environment
- Ability to develop therapeutic relationships, and skilled in identification of strengths, coping mechanisms, needs of women and families, along with cultural sensitivity
- Demonstration of self-direction in personal and professional development
- Working knowledge of Family Centred Care Concepts with evidence of application in practice
Professional Assets:
- NRP
- Breast feeding courses
- Perinatal Nursing Certification
- Maternal Newborn Course (Fanshawe College/Perinatal Outreach Program)
- BCLS
- Fetal Health Surveillance courses.
Professional Development:
- Monthly in-service
- NRP education sessions offered yearly
- OB/GYN rounds every Wednesday
- Attendance at workshops is encouraged (time off and sponsorship available)
- Unit leadership classes/courses, participation in rounds and input for accreditation is
encouraged
Student Consolidation:
- 4th year consolidation placements offered
Program Links:
- Perintal program department website
- AWHONN, SOGC, RNAO, CNO, Canadian Pediatric Society websites are helpful
- Certification information available through Canadian Nurses Association
- Perinatal Outreach of Southwestern Ontario
