Profession maternity support worker

Maternity carers provide direct personal care and assistance with activities of daily living to patients and residents in a variety of health care settings such as hospitals, clinics, and residential nursing care facilities. They provide help and pain relief measures during pregnancy and labour.

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Personality Type

Related professions maternity care

  • Midwifery associate professional
  • Midwifery professional

Knowledge

  • Human anatomy

    The dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and altered anatomy and physiology throughout the human lifespan.

  • Pregnancy

    The process related to conception and development of the fetus in the mother`s womb, the symptoms of pregnancy, risks and complications, diseases and timing of childbirth.

  • Hygiene in a health care setting

    The procedures related to maintaining a hygienic environment within a health care setting such as hospitals and clinics. It can range from hand washing to cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment used and infection control methods.

  • Childbirth

    The process of delivering a baby, the symptoms and signs of labour, the expulsion of the baby and all the related steps and procedures, including the ones related to complications and pre-mature birth.

  • Health education

    The factors affecting health and of the educational approach to assisting people to make healthy life choices.

Skills

  • Advise on family planning

    Provide advice on the use of birth control and methods of contraception available, on sexual education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted diseases, pre-conception counselling and fertility management.

  • Empathise with the healthcare user

    Understand the background of clients` and patients’ symptoms, difficulties and behaviour. Be empathetic about their issues; showing respect and reinforcing their autonomy, self-esteem and independence. Demonstrate a concern for their welfare and handle according to the personal boundaries, sensitivities, cultural differences and preferences of the client and patient in mind.

  • Work with nursing staff

    Work together with nurses and other health professionals in supporting the delivery of basic patient care.

  • Advise on pregnancy

    Counsel patients on normal changes occurring in pregnancy, providing advice on nutrition, drug effects and other lifestyle changes.

  • Comply with quality standards related to healthcare practice

    Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.

  • Provide pre-natal care

    Monitor the normal progression of pregnancy and development of foetus by prescribing regular check-ups for prevention, detection and treatment of health problems throughout the course of the pregnancy.

  • Monitor basic patients signs

    Monitor basic patient vital signs and other signs, taking actions as indicated by the nurse and report to her/him as appropriate.

  • Interact with healthcare users

    Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.

  • Provide postnatal care

    Provide care to the mother and the new-born child following birth, ensuring that the new-born and the mother are healthy and that the mother is capable of taking care of her new-born.

  • Examine the new-born infant

    Perform a neonatal examination to identify any danger signs, to assess the normal adaptations of a newborn after birth and to identify birth defects or birth trauma.

  • Support nurses

    Support nurses with the preparation and delivery of diagnostic and treatment interventions.

  • Advise on control of conception

    Provide advice on the various types of methods used to prevent pregnancy such as contraceptives or condoms.

  • Deal with emergency care situations

    Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.  

  • Follow clinical guidelines

    Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.

  • Work in a multicultural environment in health care

    Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.

  • Advise on pregnancies at risk

    Identify and provide advice on the early signs of risk pregnancies.

  • Contribute to continuity of health care

    Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.

  • Empathise with the woman's family during and after pregnancy

    Demonstrate empathy with women and their families during pregancy, childbirth labour and in the post partum period.

  • Comply with legislation related to health care

    Comply with the regional and national legislation that is relevant to one`s work and apply it in practice.

  • Care for the new-born infant

    Take care of the newly born baby by performing actions such as feeding him/her at regular hours, checking his/her vital signs and changing diapers.

  • Identify abnormalities

    Identify what is normal and abnormal concerning the well-being of patients, through experience and instruction, reporting to the nurses what is abnormal.

  • Provide basic support to patients

    Support patients and citizens with activities of daily living, such as hygiene, comfort, mobilisation and feeding needs.

  • Listen actively

    Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.

  • Assist on pregnancy abnormality

    Support the mother in case of abnormality signs during the pregnancy period and call the doctor in emergency cases.

  • Communicate with nursing staff

    Communicate with nurses and other health professionals ensuring the delivery of quality and safe patient care.

  • Work in multidisciplinary health teams

    Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.

  • Apply health sciences

    Apply a broad range of bio-medical, psycho-social, organisational, educational, and societal aspects of health, disease, and healthcare to improve healthcare services and to improve quality of life.

  • Work under supervision in care

    Work under delegation and supervision of nurses to support nursing care and administration.

  • Ensure safety of healthcare users

    Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.

Optional knowledge and skills

monitor pregnancy provide health education embryology preparation for child delivery apply context specific clinical competences anaesthetics distribute meals to patients sex education microbiology-bacteriology analgesics promote health and safety postpartum period use different communication channels preparation for parenthood have computer literacy neonatology assess the course of breast-feeding period

Source: Sisyphus ODB