What Are the Duties of a Maternity RN?
Maternity RN nurses must have several years of training. Maternity RN nurses help in the pre-delivery, during delivery and post-delivery processes of birth.
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Identification
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A maternity registered nurse assists in the different needs and the nursing process of the labor delivery of the baby and the postpartum care of the mother in the delivery room during labor and afterward.
Before Delivery
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A maternity nurse determines whether or not a patient is experiencing false labor by checking to see how dilated a patient is and counting the contractions. A maternity nurse also checks vitals, helps the mother settle in, administers pain medications and keeps family members informed.
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During Delivery
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A maternity nurse monitors both the baby and the patient and assists doctors or midwifes during the delivery. Maternity RNs monitor the baby using a fetal monitor, an electronic device and keeps the patient's temperature cool while the delivery is in progress.
Post Delivery
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After the delivery, a maternity RN helps the patient hold the baby, weighs and checks the baby, and assigns the apgar score, a test used to evaluate the newborn's physical condition.
More Post-Delivery
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The nurse also helps clean up the mother, checks her fluid intake, fluid output and vitals, and assists her in feeding and changing the baby afterward. Maternity nurses will also tell the mother and family more about caring for the baby after birth.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Meagan J. Wooley
