Midwife

QUALIFICATIONS
* Graduate of an educational program approved by the College of Midwives of Manitoba (CMM)
* Active/eligible registration with the College of Midwives of Manitoba
* Experience as a Registered Midwife as asset
* Eligible for liability insurance coverage specified by PMH
* Current Basic Life Support (BLS) within the past twelve (12) months
* Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) certification with intubation
* Province of Manitoba Class 5 Drivers License, and access to a personal vehicle to provide service within Prairie Mountain Health
* Physical, mental and emotional ability to perform duties related to the position on a daily basis, including assisting clients with physical and mental challenges during clinic visits, lifting a variety of clinic equipment and teaching materials
* Ability to incorporate Harm Reduction Principles in Practice
* Experience with Windows based programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
* Demonstrated leadership
* Advanced written and oral communication skills
* Ability to work independently and interdependently within a team setting
* Ability to work flexible hours scheduled according to client/program needs
* Strong organizational, decision making and problem solving skills
* Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships
* Ability to establish relationships based on mutual respect and trust and cultural safety
* Ability to respect and promote confidentiality

POSITION SUMMARY The role of the midwife is to be the primary care provider to women and their newborns during the childbearing year. The Midwife works collaboratively with other professionals and functions as a member of an inter-disciplinary health care team to provide effective comprehensive service to childbearing women and their families. The Midwife is an autonomous primary health care provider who provides midwifery service to women in a variety of settings such as in the client’s home, in community clinics, and in hospitals. The midwife may facilitate continuity of care beyond the childbearing year, through communication with other health care providers or services. All midwifery services are delivered in accordance with the policies and procedures of Prairie Mountain Health (PMH), the Midwifery Model of Practice, and the Standards of the College of Midwives of Manitoba (CMM).

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Overview:
Assessment and Care
Provides prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum care and newborn care up to 6 weeks according to CMM standards. A Minimum caseload of 30-40 women/year for a FT Midwife as per the Manitoba Health and Healthy Living and Seniors Standards.
Provides 24-hour on-call coverage within a group practice.
Provides back-up services for other midwives - second on call.
Adheres to Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) specific policies procedures and protocols as relevant to the responsibilities of the position.
Maintains confidential client health records according to regional policies and procedures.
Provides supplementary client services such as preconception education and support, prenatal education and well-woman care.
Respects and responds appropriately to clients of diverse backgrounds.
Performs advanced comprehensive and focused health assessments.
Communicates with clients about assessment findings, discusses outcomes and prognosis.
Continually monitors, with client, response to chosen treatment plan and makes adjustments as indicated.
Adopts a family-centered approach as the means to ensuring continuity of care throughout the child bearing year.
Encourages maximum independence and accountability for self-care according to the client’s capacity.
Applies principles of harm reduction.

Consultation and Collaborative Practice
Participates in dialogue with other obstetrical and Maternal Child Health (MCH) care providers to provide women with a comprehensive, seamless delivery of care. (ie. physician, OBGYN, facility nurse, Public Health Nurse, etc.).
Provides a shared-care model within the practice.
Provides appropriate prenatal and postpartum referral to ensure optimal continuity of care and access to a full range of hospital and community based health and family services.
Participates in case conferences and team meetings as a member of the inter-disciplinary team.
Completes Families First screen on all clients, according to Healthy Child Manitoba standards; consults and refers to Public Health Nurse as appropriate.
Maintains effective working relationships with clients, colleagues, supervisor and the community at large.
Acts as a clinical expert/resource to empower the client as well as establishing and maintaining appropriate care delivery.
Demonstrates consultation and collaboration with all disciplines, health care professionals, clients and their families.
Refers clients to appropriate programs and services.

Prescribing Drugs
Applies principles of pharmacology in selecting and prescribing drugs as part of the treatment plan as per CMM standards.
Monitors and discusses with client their response and adherence to drug therapy and makes changes as necessary to achieve desired effect.
Applies health teaching principles when prescribing, educating, and supporting client in recommended drug use.

Screening and Diagnostic Tests
Orders investigative procedures such as ultrasounds, lab tests consistent with CMM standards and PMH policies.
Orders appropriate screening and diagnostic investigation and interprets reports of these investigation based on sound clinical reasoning, scientific evidence, and critical thinking.
Consults with specialists for clarification of diagnostic interpretation when necessary. Follows up with the client or alternate decision maker regarding the test results and develop plan of care accordingly.

Injury/Illness Prevention
Provides education and counseling to families based on a population health approach.
Provides counselling and education to clients and their families.
Identifies the need for health promotion, primary and secondary prevention strategies for individuals, families and groups and collaborates with other service providers.
Focuses on preventing illness and/or disability, minimizing complications, maintaining optimal physical and emotional well-being, and promoting self-determination/management by the individual client.
Conducts risk assessments related to the prevention of injury and/or disability and develops appropriate plans to reduce/prevent risk, in collaboration with the client and other service providers.

Professional Responsibilities/Accountability
Documents clinical care in a timely, accurate, and relevant manner in accordance with Prairie Mountain Health documentation practices and policies.
Completes statistical data and reports as required.
Demonstrates cultural competence.
Participates in and contributes to research relevant to practice
Utilizes research findings in clinical practice.
Provides clinical supervision, education, and mentoring for Midwifery students and other health care professionals.
Explains and promotes the role of the Midwife to clients, the public, and other health care professionals.
Develops and implements an education plan to maintain clinical competency.
Commits to professional self-development on an ongoing basis through continuing education programs, literature/journal reviews, lectures, conferences, and/or committee work.
Proposes, maintains, and updates policies and procedures relevant to this position in consultation with Manager.
Sundry duties as assigned.