An OB nurse specializes in assisting obstetricians and gynecologists in providing the best care for their patients through knowledge and guidance of women's health. The most common practices include pregnancy and childbirth, in which OB nurses help physicians with pre- and post-delivery procedures.
Assessment Duties
An OB nurse has to perform a variety of procedures to make the mother feel comfortable as she prepares for birth. Duties include admitting patients, reviewing patients' history and baby development, execute vaginal exams, determine fetal heart tones, and duration and intensity of contractions. OB nurses also prepare mothers for Cesarean sections as well as assist doctors with the administration of pitocin or other pain medication. They also assist mother with breathing exercises.
Clinical Duties
Before the mother is admitted into a hospital room, the OB nurse has to prepare the birthing room by sterilizing the entire room, including the bed, equipment and any other materials. Other duties in this area are performing pre- and post-delivery care of mother and infant, applying ID bands on the infant and mother, weighing and measuring the infant, operating OB equipment for nursery care, assisting with feedings, giving baths, taking pictures and performing hearing tests.
Teaching Mothers
To help new mothers and their babies, OB nurses provide essential information that will assist mothers with the new role in their lives. Teaching consists of providing instruction in child care, breast feedings, self care to mothers, encouraging infant and parent bonding, performing discharge procedures for patient and child, and providing phone consultation regarding general advice and concerns for new mothers and soon-to-be mothers.
Administration Duties
Not only do OB nurses display medical skills, but they have to obtain knowledge for office administration as well. Duties include documenting information on chart forms, providing appropriate information on birth certificates and acquiring basic computer abilities to log in charts and notes on each patient under her care.
Dealing with Complications
Complications OB nurses may face with patients include hypertension brought by labor, premature rupture of the membrane, premature labor, women with diabetes, HIV, hemorrhage, blood transfusion, epidural issues, prolapsed cord, vacuum extraction, precipitous delivery and induction of labor.
Tags: Duties include, pre- post-delivery
