Andrea Rickards
Caloundra
Summary
Compassionate and skilled Clinical Midwife with extensive experience at Qld Health, excelling in high-risk pregnancy care and patient advocacy. Proven ability to enhance patient satisfaction through compassionate support and effective communication. Skilled in advanced fetal monitoring and team collaboration, contributing to quality improvement initiatives and fostering professional growth among peers.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Clinical Midwife
Qld Health
07.2013 - Current
- Provided shift coordination, patient flow, staff support and overseeing patient assignments.
- Provided valuable mentorship to midwives, student midwives and rotating junior medical staff, sharing knowledge and expertise to foster their professional growth.
- Contributed to a positive work environment by fostering collaboration among colleagues to enhance patient care quality.
- Assisted in the successful management of high-risk pregnancies with vigilant monitoring of both maternal and fetal wellbeing.
- Enhanced patient satisfaction by providing compassionate and comprehensive care throughout pregnancy, labor, and postpartum periods.
- Provided culturally sensitive care to diverse populations, ensuring all patients received optimal support throughout their pregnancy journey.
- Supported families during difficult situations such as perinatal loss or complications with empathy, professionalism, and appropriate counseling referrals.
- Actively participated in quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall standard of care provided within the obstetrical unit.
- Safeguarded newborn health by performing routine screenings and administering necessary vaccinations according to established protocols.
- Promoted maternal health education through engaging workshops on prenatal care, breastfeeding support, and postpartum recovery.
- Participated in continuous professional development opportunities to stay current with best practices in midwifery care.
- Advocated for mothers' rights and choices to make informed decisions about care by respecting human autonomy.
- Followed professional standards and guidelines by adhering to ethical and legal guidelines and maintaining continued education certifications.
Registered Midwife/Nurse
Mater Mothers Hospital
01.2008 - 12.2013
- Developed strong rapport with patients through active listening skills that facilitated open communication about concerns or anxieties related to pregnancy or childbirth experience.
- Performed antenatal and postnatal examinations.
- Assisted mothers with breastfeeding, self-care and postpartum healthcare.
- Provided culturally competent care to a diverse patient population, addressing unique needs and respecting cultural practices.
- Maintained accurate documentation of patient encounters, medical histories, assessments, interventions, and outcomes to ensure continuity of care.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to develop evidence-based guidelines for best practice in midwifery care.
- Followed professional standards and guidelines by adhering to ethical and legal guidelines and maintaining continued education certifications.
- Advised patients and caregivers of proper wound management, discharge plan objectives, safe medication use, and disease management.
- Managed patients recovering from medical or surgical procedures across both the Mater Adults Hospital and Mater Mothers Hospital.
Education
Graduate Diploma - Midwifery
Australian Catholic University
Brisbane, QLD12-2009
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, QLD12-2007
Skills
- Antenatal screening
- Obstetric emergency response
- High-risk pregnancy care
- CPR certified
- Neonatal resuscitation
- IV Cannulation/Venepuncture
- Speculum Examination
- Advanced fetal monitoring
- Antenatal, intrapartum & postnatal care
- Lactation support and maternal education
- Team collaboration and multidisciplinary care
- Perinatal mental health
- Electronic medical records
- Health promotion and family planning
- Implanon insertion competent
Timeline
Clinical Midwife
Qld Health
07.2013 - Current
Registered Midwife/Nurse
Mater Mothers Hospital
01.2008 - 12.2013
Graduate Diploma - Midwifery
Australian Catholic University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Queensland University of Technology
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