Labor and Delivery RN
Freeport, Illinois
Mercyhealth FHN Hospital

LDRP RN (Registered Nurse), Nights

Location: Freeport, Illinois Contract Length: 13 weeks Shift: Nights, 12-hour shifts, 36 hours per week

Unit Overview

• Department: Labor and Delivery
• Beds: 7 L&D beds, 2 triage beds, 7 postpartum beds
• OR: 1 OR suite on the unit for C-sections
• Volume: About 255 births annually
• Ratios: Follows AWHONN guidelines
• Common diagnoses: Labor, preeclampsia, hypertension, obesity, gestational diabetes, and preterm labor. Preterm babies at 32 weeks/1500 grams or less are transferred. Babies may be on oxygen for up to 6 hours; those not improving or needing more support are transferred out.
• Clinical duties: The OR circulates and recovers patients, staff stabilize babies, and staff provide couplet care after recovery. The unit also cares for clean gynecology cases such as hysterectomies (vaginal and abdominal).
• Titration: RNs are required to titrate drips, commonly Pitocin and insulin.
• Charge/Support: A rounder/charge nurse takes a full assignment of lower acuity. Two day-shift unit secretaries/CNAs handle clerical work, helping hands on the unit, and phlebotomy.
• Coverage:

  • OB hospitalists are in house 24/7, with all but one staying in house. There is no pediatric/neonatologist coverage. A local OB who lives within 5 minutes of the hospital covers the remaining case.
  • Anesthesia is in house Monday to Friday, day shift. At other times, anesthesia arrives within 30 minutes.
  • Respiratory therapy attends for complications.
  • Tele/remote monitoring: Remote monitor capability is available. A tech from the Tele unit reads the strips, and nurses do not.
• EFM system: OBIX

Required Qualifications

• Current Illinois RN license, required to submit
• BLS, NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program), and AWHONN intermediate or advanced certifications
• L&D experience (must have)
• One year of experience
• Ability to titrate drips

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in both L&D and the OR-related skills described above (ideal)

Schedule and Requirements

• Self-staffed unit: A scheduling committee of unit staff creates the schedule with leadership approval.
• Weekends: Every other to every third weekend
• Holidays: Half of holidays, switching each year
• On-call: Required to cover leaves and vacations, about 1 to 2 twelve-hour shifts per 6-week period. Call can be split into 4-hour blocks, with a 30-minute callback time.
• Floating: Only in a critical need. Would float to MS (Med-Surg) as helping hands or sitter, but would not take a full patient assignment.
• Orientation: Department-specific orientation for up to 3 shifts
• Attire: Hospital-provided scrubs; waterproof non-slip shoes required
• Employment history: Travelers with previous employment at any location in the health system must disclose it on their resume or elsewhere in the submission for a DNU check.