What is the meaning of Maternity Nursing?
A maternity nurse is an RN who works in the maternity ward of a hospital. As a maternity nurse, you have special duties to aid mothers in labor or those who have recently given birth.
For many new parents, a Maternity Nurse is the shining light at the end of the tunnel. She is more often qualified but, more importantly, very experienced in caring for postnatal mothers and newborn babies. A maternity Nurse is skilled in supporting, caring for, and teaching new parents how to care for their newborn baby. At the same time, they also allow parents the time to rest and recover from the birth of their baby.
Importance of Maternity Nursing
Maternity nurses tell us that they love the precious moments they spend with a family, watching babies develop, and being able to offer invaluable advice to parents and relatives to help them make the most of their baby experience.
Duties of Maternity Nurses
The major duties of Maternity Nurses include:
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Care for Laboring Mothers
A maternity nurse’s main job is to comfort a mother in labor and assist the doctor in helping the labor and delivery process carry on more smoothly. As a maternity nurse, you will give medications, including IVs, which are needed throughout labor. You will also evaluate pain and check the vitals of both mother and child, and offer advice on pain management techniques such as different positions or breathing.
When it comes time to deliver the baby, your job will be to assist the doctor, handing him or her instruments and possibly instructing the mother on how to push. Maternity nurses may even deliver a baby now and then, though this is not usually planned.
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Care for Mothers Post-Partum
Maternity nurses also care for new mothers as long as they are in the maternity ward post-partum. During this time, you may help her learn to breastfeed her newborn baby, and you will monitor the baby when he or she is with the parents. You will check for signs of bleeding or other complications, which may help with birthing the placenta. You will also check the uterus post-partum to make sure it is working as it should.
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Care for Women Who Lose Children
Part of a maternity nurse’s job may be to care for mothers who lose their children, whether to miscarriage or stillbirth. You may also care for women who have had abortions. Part of this job will also include giving special care to mothers with children in the NICU. Each of these mothers will need a tender bedside manner and comforting presence at this difficult time in their lives.
Carrier growth
Being a maternity nurse can be a rewarding and fulfilling career. If caring for others is in your nature, you may consider becoming a maternity nurse. After completing the course in maternity nursing, you will be able to:
- Help to care for mothers and babies.
- Make routine observations (temperature, pulse, blood pressure, breathing, etc.)
- Update records and other admin tasks.
- Educate parents one-to-one or in groups.
- Take blood samples for testing.
- Preparing equipment.
- Promote breastfeeding.
- Report problems to a registered midwife or nurse
Test Bank Resources
Test banks can give you the tools you need to help you study better. Maternity and Pediatric Nursing 4th Edition Ricci Kyle Carman Test Bank provides learners comprehensive rational rich questions applicable to establish the knowledge base and critical thinking skills students need to ensure safe, effective maternity and pediatric care and guide women and children toward higher levels of wellness throughout the life cycle.
This is a Test Bank to help you study for your Tests. Evidence-based questions are designed to focus on health disorders in women and children with interventions to promote, prevent, diagnose and treat various diseases. You can pass your classes with ease with this great study source.
Conclusion
Maternity nursing encompasses the care of childbearing women and their families through all stages of pregnancy and childbirth and the first 4 weeks after birth. Throughout the prenatal period, nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse-midwives provide care for women in clinics and physicians’ offices and teach classes to help families prepare for childbirth. Nurses care for childbearing families during labor and birth in hospitals, birthing centers, and at home.
Nurses with special training may provide intensive care for high-risk neonates in special care units and high-risk mothers in antepartum units, critical care obstetric units, or in the home. Maternity nurses teach about pregnancy; the process of labor, birth, and recovery; and parenting skills. They provide continuity of care throughout the childbearing cycle.
