Obstetrical nursing
Encyclopedia
Obstetrical nursing, also called perinatal nursing, is a nursing specialty that works with patients who are attempting to become pregnant, are currently pregnant, or are recently delivered. Obstetrical nurses help provide prenatal care and testing, care of patients experiencing pregnancy complications, care during labor and delivery, and care of patients following delivery. Obstetrical nurses work closely with obstetricians, midwives, and nurse practitioners. They also provide supervision of patient care technicians and surgical technologist
s
Obstetrical nurses perform postoperative care on a surgical unit, stress test evaluations, cardiac monitoring, vascular monitoring, and health assessments. Obstetrical nurses must possess specialized skills including electronic fetal monitoring
, nonstress test
s, and medication
administration by continuous intravenous
drip.
Obstetrical nurses work in many different environments, including , medical offices, prenatal clinics, labor & delivery units, antepartum units, postpartum units, operating theatre
s, and clinical research
.
In the U.S. and Canada, the professional nursing organization for obstetrical nurses is the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN)
.
(NCC) offer certifications for obstetrical nurses. These include RNC-OB (Inpatient Obstetrics), RNC-MNN (Maternal Newborn Nursing), and C-EFM (Electronic Fetal Monitoring).
Surgical technologist
A surgical technologist, also called "scrub tech," "surgical technician," or "operating room technician", is an allied health professional working as a part of the team delivering surgical care in some countries. They possess knowledge and skills in sterile and aseptic techniques...
s
Obstetrical nurses perform postoperative care on a surgical unit, stress test evaluations, cardiac monitoring, vascular monitoring, and health assessments. Obstetrical nurses must possess specialized skills including electronic fetal monitoring
Cardiotocography
In medicine , cardiotocography is a technical means of recording the fetal heartbeat and the uterine contractions during pregnancy, typically in the third trimester...
, nonstress test
Nonstress test
A nonstress test is a screening test used in pregnancy. A cardiotocograph is used to monitor the fetal heart rate.-Premise:The premise of the NST is that a well-oxygenated, non-acidemic fetus will spontaneously have temporary increases in the fetal heart rate...
s, and medication
Medication
A pharmaceutical drug, also referred to as medicine, medication or medicament, can be loosely defined as any chemical substance intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease.- Classification :...
administration by continuous intravenous
Intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
drip.
Obstetrical nurses work in many different environments, including , medical offices, prenatal clinics, labor & delivery units, antepartum units, postpartum units, operating theatre
Operating theatre
An operating theater was a non-sterile, tiered theater or amphitheater in which students and other spectators could watch surgeons perform surgery...
s, and clinical research
Clinical research
Clinical research is a branch of medical science that determines the safety and effectiveness of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use...
.
In the U.S. and Canada, the professional nursing organization for obstetrical nurses is the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN)
Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses is a 5013 nonprofit membership organization. The stated purpose of AWHONN is to promote the health of women and newborns.-History:...
.
Certification for obstetrical nurses
The National Certification CorporationNational Certification Corporation
The National Certification Corporation was established for the development, administration, and evaluation of a program for certification in obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing specialties in the United States...
(NCC) offer certifications for obstetrical nurses. These include RNC-OB (Inpatient Obstetrics), RNC-MNN (Maternal Newborn Nursing), and C-EFM (Electronic Fetal Monitoring).