Please note: multiple levels of nurse positions available within the department.

Remote Fetal Monitoring Nurse (SCN I & SCN II)

Program: Neonatal Escalation Safety Telemetry (NEST)

I. Role Overview Mutual (SCN I & SCN II)

The NEST program is a 24/7 remote operation staffed with experienced Labor & Delivery RNs who provide continuous remote monitoring of fetal tracings for obstetric patients across UMMS hospitals. Under the direction of the Nurse Manager, the RN collaborates with bedside teams across all UMMS L&D units to support early identification, communication, and escalation of concerning fetal heart rate and uterine activity tracings.

Both levels function as professional nurses within the obstetric service line, advancing evidence-based practice, supporting patient-centered care, enhancing patient safety, and contributing to quality, service, and operational outcomes.

II. Core Responsibilities Mutual (SCN I & SCN II)

Clinical Practice / Care Delivery

• Monitor fetal tracings for physiological abnormalities.
• Assess fetal monitoring tracings and review documentation of interventions performed by the bedside care team.
• Communicate concerning fetal heart rate and uterine activity findings, poor signal quality, and other issues to the primary RN or charge nurse.
• Follow established chain-of-command for escalation of concerning tracings.
• Utilize the Electronic Medical Record to validate and support findings from the remote monitoring station.
• Serve as a clinical and professional resource to Labor & Delivery nurses.
• Utilize NICHD fetal monitoring terminology consistently and accurately in interpretation and communication.
• Role model patient-centered care and effective interdisciplinary communication.

Service Quality / Safety

• Model customer service behaviors and service recovery skills.
• Monitor patient safety standards and contribute to development and implementation of improvement plans.
• Participate in performance improvement and quality initiatives.
• Participate in research activities as applicable.
• Ensure patient safety through reporting of adverse events, near misses, and identification of risks.

Unit / Program Operations

• Perform charge nurse role as scheduled.
• Serve as a liaison to L&D units.
• Role model and hold peers accountable to AACN Healthy Work Environment standards.
• Support orientation and transition of newly hired RNs.

Working Conditions (Both Levels)

• Weekend, shift work, holiday, on-call, and overtime may be required.
• Work requires prolonged sitting or standing at a workstation and repetitive hand use.

III. SCN I Level-Specific Expectations

Role Focus:

Clinical and professional leadership primarily at the unit/program level.

Professional Development & Leadership

• Serves as preceptor, coach, and mentor to new nurses and students.
• Actively engages in advancing own clinical practice.
• Mentors peers to achieve and maintain required competencies.
• Contributes to unit-based peer review processes.
• Leads unit-based professional development governance activities.
• Coordinates unit-level education and competency validation.
• Oversees unit orientation processes.
• Participates in community health-related activities (e.g., health fairs).

Quality, Safety, and Operations

• Leads unit-based Nursing Sensitive Quality Indicator (NSQI) improvement initiatives.
• Leads unit-based performance improvement initiatives.
• Trends quality data and addresses unit-level deficiencies.
• Assists with regulatory readiness (Joint Commission and other surveys).
• Leads unit-based governance, Healthy Work Environment initiatives, and reward/recognition activities.
• Supports unit-based operational efforts (equipment, scheduling, supply utilization).
• Leads unit-based peer review processes.

IV. SCN II Level-Specific Expectations

Role Focus:

Advanced clinical expertise and leadership at the unit, program, and organizational level.

Professional Development & Leadership

• Demonstrates expert clinical and professional practice.
• Serves as expert preceptor and mentors others in the preceptor role.
• Plans and evaluates clinical orientation experiences.
• Mentors nurses and other disciplines, including those in leadership roles.
• Leads and evaluates professional development governance activities.
• Leads planning, delivery, and evaluation of unit-level education.
• Leads program-based competency validation processes.
• Develops and evaluates unit orientation programs.
• Demonstrates active involvement in professional nursing beyond the unit and/or organization.
• Participates in and/or leads organizational initiatives.

Quality, Safety, and Operations

• Leads and evaluates NSQI initiatives and performance improvement activities.
• Leads dissemination of performance improvement results.
• Oversees regulatory readiness and site visits.
• Leads and evaluates governance initiatives.
• Leads NEST-wide operational efforts (equipment, scheduling, supply utilization).
• Leads NEST-based peer review processes.
• Leads and evaluates evidence-based practice initiatives.

Education & Experience SCN I

• BSN required
• RN licensure in Maryland or Compact State eligibility
• Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification
• Minimum 5 years Labor & Delivery experience
• Maintenance of 20 CE hours / 24 months
• Demonstrated professional growth through certification, education, teaching, professional leadership, or scholarly activity (as defined in JD)

Education & Experience SCN II

• RN licensure in Maryland or Compact State eligibility
• Electronic Fetal Monitoring Certification
• Minimum 5 years Labor & Delivery experience
• Member of a professional organization
• Maintenance of 30 contact hours of education per year
• Demonstrated professional growth through certification, education, teaching, professional leadership, or scholarly activity (as defined in JD)
• Demonstrated expertise in area of specialization

V. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Mutual (with depth by level)

• Clinical leadership and effectiveness as a multidisciplinary team member
• Advanced fetal monitoring interpretation skills
• Proficiency with electronic medical record systems
• Knowledge of growth and development principles across the lifespan
• Highly effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• (SCN II demonstrates deeper expertise and broader influence)