KAMC Jeddah - Labour and Delivery

No. of Beds:
7 Labour and Delivery Beds
1 currently used as Triage Room
3 Holding Bay Beds
2 Recovery Beds
1 Operating Room

Nurse Patient Ratio: 1 : 1-2

Scope of Service:
The labour and Delivery Unit provides service for an average of 300 admissions and 220 deliveries per month.

Frequent Services/Functions/Procedures

• Patient assessment and evaluation
• Fetal heart and maternal uterine contraction monitoring
• IV starts and maintenance
• Assistance with inductions and augmentations
• Tocolysis of premature labour and magnesium sulphate infusions
• Caesarian sections/scrubbing, circulating and recovering
• Non-stress testing
• Epidural anaesthesia
• Caring for and resuscitation of the newborn baby at delivery
• Pain management

Hours of Operation

24 hours per day 7 days a week.

Criteria for Admission to Service

• All National Guard eligible dependents (Eligibility 2) 22 weeks gestation and above
• Staff Members and eligible dependents (Eligibility 3&4) 22 weeks gestation and above
• Business Centre admissions, 22 weeks gestation and above
• Eligibility 5 admissions (emergencies) in advanced labour

Staffing Plan

Registered Nurses & Midwives

The nursing staff are multinational and all are registered nurses who have had specialized training and experience in the nursing care of women and newborns. There shall be charge nurse delegated for each shift. The charge nurse determines patient assignments based upon patient care requirements and skills mix.

The following factors are utilized in making patient assignments:

• Complexity of patient's condition and required nursing care
• Dynamics of patient's status, including the frequency with which the needs for specific nursing care activities change
• Complexity of assessment required by patient
• Type of technology employed in providing nursing care
• Degree of supervision required by each nursing staff member based on her previously assessed level of experience and competence
• Availability of supervision appropriate to the assessed and current competence of nursing staff member
• Relevant infection control and safety issues
• Patient Care Technicians
      - Preference given to candidates with nursing experience
      - Saudi candidates are encouraged

Method of Adjusting to Staffing Variances

Staff scheduling system allows for additional rest days when staffing levels are optimal and fewer rest days when a staffing requirement exists.

• On call system to cover for emergency Caesarian Sections at night and at weekends; may also be utilized if patient care requirements determine at 100 % occupancy. Overtime is utilized on as needed basis
• Staff Qualifications
• Registered Nurse License or registration from country of origin
• Current BLS
• NRP certificate
• Knowledge of Electronic Fetal Monitoring

Continuing education is offered through formal nursing education programs and at unit level as coordinated by the Nurse Manager of the unit and the Clinical Resource Nurse. Educational needs are identified through mandates, new treatment protocols, new research, new technology, new equipment, new products and as identified by individual need. Completion of competency checklists, continuing education, and current licensure are required for recontracting / annual performance appraisals.

Required Competencies

Generic Competencies

• Unit Specific Competencies
• BLS/NRP
• Arabic Language and Culture Week
• Annual Updates as Indicated

All new staff have 8 supernumerary shifts with a preceptor and a 90 day probationary period.