Doula

About This Role

This role involves providing emotional support and physical comfort during childbirth as a labor doula, or offering emotional and educational care to mothers and families during the postpartum period as a postpartum doula. The position requires a compassionate individual dedicated to supporting families through significant life transitions.

Responsibilities

• Perform assigned labor support tasks under the direction and supervision of a designated Associate Registered Nurse after completing a labor support training seminar
• Demonstrate competence to provide developmentally appropriate care/treatment for infant, child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient populations
• Recognize the need for safety measures and take appropriate action to prevent injury
• Organize the patient's environment and assist with personal hygiene
• Assist patients in ambulation and position patients for comfort
• Assist patient and/or family in using non-pharmacological measures for pain management
• Provide labor support in a non-judgmental manner
• Respect patient/family wishes for their childbirth experience
• Perform follow-up visits with patients
• Make home visits as requested by patients
• Offer education, companionship, and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum period
• Assist with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation, and light household tidying
• Offer evidence-based information on infant feedings, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing, and coping skills for new parents, and make appropriate referrals when necessary
• Demonstrate behaviors, philosophies, and values that uphold the ideals and enhance the image of Lexington Medical Center
• Maintain confidentiality of patients, personnel, and system information
• Maintain and respect patients' privacy
• Respect patient "Bill of Rights"
• Function as a patient advocate
• Maintain a courteous and professional manner in dealing with patients, visitors, medical staff, and fellow employees
• Present a professional appearance in dress and grooming, adhering to the Dress Code and maintaining personal hygiene and cleanliness appropriate to contact with patients, visitors, and co-workers
• Participate in peer review
• Demonstrate responsibility for sharing constructive feedback with peers regarding their practice
• Attend and participate in 50% of doula meetings
• Demonstrate initiative in getting information regarding content of missed meetings, such as reading minutes
• Demonstrate receptiveness to change and maintain a positive attitude through the change process
• Work in a cooperative manner that fosters favorable relations between employees and patients, patients’ families, visitors, fellow employees, and the medical staff
• Accept chain of command, supervision, and constructive criticism
• Exhibit commitment and pride through personal example by speaking positively about LMC, the department, employees, and guests
• Contribute to teamwork and create harmonious, effective, and positive working relationships with others by responding to requests cooperatively, speaking respectfully to other employees and guests, assuming responsibility, and offering assistance
• Respect, understand, and respond with sensitivity to employees and guests by treating others as one would wish to be treated
• Resolve conflicts and problem-solve by remaining calm, listening carefully, acknowledging the problem's validity, attempting to identify solutions, and attempting to deliver more than expected
• Exhibit telephone courtesy by answering promptly with proper name and department, speaking with a pleasant tone, transferring calls correctly, and attending to calls on hold in a timely manner
• Maintain confidentiality by discouraging gossip and using discretion when discussing patient, work, or LMC related information with others
• Utilize the service recovery process to resolve complaints (GIFT)
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the patient care team through the timely completion of assignments
• Demonstrate ability to utilize time effectively
• Provide ongoing reports of patient progress and status in completion of work assignment to Associate Care Manager/Registered Nurse
• Demonstrate initiative in completing unassigned tasks beneficial to units
• Contribute to recruitment and retention of Doulas
• Conservatively utilize and appropriately account for supplies and equipment
• Participate in maintaining a safe and clean environment
• Demonstrate knowledge of use and care of equipment
• Display appropriate skills in the use and maintenance of assigned equipment
• Recognize and report malfunctioning or unsafe equipment to appropriate persons
• Follow through with appropriate disposition of used equipment
• Communicate effectively with health care team members and patients, families, and visitors
• Report pertinent data to the Associate Care Manager/Registered Nurse
• Communicate effectively with hospital personnel
• Report observations relevant to patient needs to Associate Care Manager/Registered Nurse
• Utilize channels of communication according to hospital policy and direct questions and problems to the appropriate persons at the appropriate time
• Share information regarding supplies, equipment, and unit problems or accomplishments
• Communicate effectively with other health care team members by being able to use system supports for conveying information, such as computer and tube system
• Participate in care conferences with other health care team members
• Communicate with peers to share knowledge and skills
• Complete birth records in a timely manner
• Participate and contribute to the departmental and organizational PI process
• Participate in Performance Improvement activities
• Identify ineffective routines, interventions, systems, etc., which do not contribute to desired or identifiable outcomes and take action to change these practices
• Participate in interdisciplinary monitoring and evaluation of patient needs
• Contribute to the development and revision of standards as needs are identified
• Identify and utilize information from monitors and research to effect changes in practice
• Facilitate change in a positive manner
• Contribute and participate in the evaluation of new systems

Requirements

• High School Diploma or Equivalent (may be considered if currently enrolled in GED classes)
• Completion of Certified Doula Training workshop

Benefits

• Day ONE medical, dental, and life insurance benefits
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Enrollment into the 403(b) match plan day one, with LHI matching dollar for dollar up to 6%
• Employer-paid life insurance equal to 1x salary
• Employee may elect supplemental life insurance with low-cost premiums up to 3x salary
• Adoption assistance
• Employer-paid short-term disability and long-term disability coverage after 90 days of eligible employment for full-time employees
• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan forgiveness

Important Details

• Schedule: PRN (as needed)

About the Company

Lexington Health is a comprehensive network of care that includes six community medical and urgent care centers, nearly 80 physician practices, more than 9,000 health care professionals, and Lexington Medical Center, a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It was selected by Modern Healthcare as one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare and was first in the state to achieve Magnet with Distinction status for excellence in nursing care. Consistently ranked as best in the Columbia Metro area by U.S. News & World Report, Lexington Health delivers more than 4,000 babies each year, performs more than 34,000 surgeries annually, and is the region's third largest employer. Lexington Health also includes an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence, the state’s first HeartCARE Center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, and an Alzheimer’s care center. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies, as well as an informatics fellowship.