Sonja Smith RN, MSN, CNM
Hampton,VA
Summary
Patient focused Certified Nurse Midwife for the past 10 years with over 20 years total experience in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Focusing in Women's Health, Obstetrics, Labor and Delivery, Newborn and Postnatal. Experienced in managing high volume Women's Health and OB Clinics. Experience managing and directing labor and delivery practices. Strong ability to assess and direct high-risk and trauma situations. Excellent communicator with proven proficiency in varied styles of medical and communication practice. Well-versed in maintaining detailed medical records to facilitate care plan development.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Certified Nurse Midwife
Sentara Medical Group
01.2023 - Current
- Provided high level of quality care to laboring women.
- Promoted benefits of breastfeeding and offered education on proper positioning, latching and breast care.
- Obtained patient health histories through careful questioning and effective communication.
- Explained preparation and anticipated effects of such procedures as [Type] and [Type] to keep patients educated and informed
- Kept accurate medical records by documenting patient prenatal care, labor and delivery and postpartum care.
- Identified high-risk pregnancies and educated pregnant women on gynecological healthcare.
- Identified complications in pregnant women or laboring mothers and notified medical doctors to obtain speedy and effective care.
Certified Nurse Midwife
Sentara Leigh Hospital
06.2019 - Current
- Established the founding Certified Nurse-Midwife program for Sentara Healthcare at Sentara Leigh Hospital
- Assess and safely manage obstetric triage, intrapartum and postpartum
- Collaborate with other medical providers to accomplish quality patient care of obstetrical and gynecologic patients
- Surgical 1st Assist for emergent cesarean section surgical deliveries
- Observe and interpret fetal heart monitor tracings for high volume Labor and Delivery unit that has grown by approximately 40% in the last year
- Attend vaginal deliveries, perform laceration repairs, and assist for cesarean section deliveries
- Consult and evaluate OB/GYN patients within Emergency Department Utilize appropriate medical software, including Epic, GE Fetal Heart Monitor, and Athena.
Certified Nurse Midwife
Sentara Princess Anne Hospital
06.2017 - 01.2019
- Obstetric Triage and provide care for typical active laboring patients as well as patients with obstetrical complications and high-risk conditions
- Attend vaginal deliveries and perform repairs
- Surgical First Assist for cesarean deliveries
- Observe and interpret electronic fetal heart monitoring.
Certified Nurse Midwife
Art and Science OB/GYN
06.2017 - 01.2019
- Provide well-woman care for all ages
- Contraceptive counseling, prescription, and administer Nexplanon and IUD insertion
- Facilitate safe post-menopausal care and hormone replacement therapy
- Counsel patients regarding preconception, obstetric, and postpartum health
- Educate and support women who breastfeed their infants effectively
- Utilize Athena medical software
- Worked closely with doctors and midwives in coaching pregnant women through childbirth and post-natal recovery.
Certified Nurse Midwife
Central Virginia OBGYN
08.2016 - 06.2017
- Provide well-woman care for all ages
- Contraceptive counseling, prescription, and administer Nexplanon and IUD insertion
- Observe and interpret electronic fetal heart monitoring
- Attend vaginal births, perform appropriate repair
- Counsel patients regarding preconception, obstetric, and postpartum health
- Educate and support women who breastfeed their newborns effectively
- Utilize Greenway and Epic medical software.
Certified Nurse Midwife
Health Resource Network; Portsmouth Naval Medical Center
06.2015 - 08.2016
- Served as CNM contractor to United States Navy to provide primary care for women's healthcare, prenatal visits, antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum for active duty personnel and their dependents
- Performed first trimester ultrasound dating, viability screening and third trimester fetal ultrasound assessment
- Oversaw five-room triage unit, participant in care of OB-ICU, high volume labor unit
- Counseled and educated patients in healthcare and family planning including placement of Nexplanon and IUDs
- Centering Pregnancy Basic Facilitation Leader, educator/resource for medical students, interns, and residents.
Certified Nurse Midwife
Women's Healthcare Associates
01.2012 - 06.2015
- Provided quality care including primary care for women's healthcare, prenatal visits, antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum for over 3,000 patients annually
- Counseled and educated patients in healthcare and family planning including placement of Nexplanon and IUDs
- Served as primary OB provider for 10 bed Labor and Delivery unit
- Managed initial newborn cares in hospital postpartum and lactation support.
Birth Assistant, Registered Nurse Certified Ob/L&D
WomanKind Midwifery
01.2008 - 01.2010
- Performed as Registered Nurse assisting Home Birth/Birth Center Certified Nurse Midwife in WY and SD
- Lobbied state legislation and assisted to establish initial independent Certified Birth Center through American Association of Birth Centers, South Dakota
- Provided quality antenatal care, intrapartum care, initial newborn cares, mother/newborn home visits, and lactation care
- Performed appropriate prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum assessments, intermittent auscultation, and record keeping.
Labor and Delivery / Level 2 Nursery RNC, CLC
Campbell County Memorial Hospital
01.2003 - 03.2008
- Cross trained to antepartum, labor and delivery, Level 1 & Level 2 nursery, postpartum
- Responded to emergency situations such as pre-eclampsia, early labor and fetal distress
- Supported physicians in both planned and emergency cesarean section procedures
- OB community education; Breastfeeding classes, Prenatal Preparation classes, Siblings class
- Certified Lactation Coach: Teach community lactation classes, assisted new mothers with breastfeeding techniques, postpartum self-care and infant care to promote easier transition into motherhood
- Level 2 Nursery Nurse: Assessed infant health directly after birth; APGAR, vital signs, vaccinations and monitored health
- Cared for pre-term infants in Level 2 neonatal intensive care unit, stabilize for life-flight to Denver, CO or Rapid City, SD.
Education
Masters in Science in Nursing -
Frontier Nursing University
Hyden, KY11.2011
Associates of Science in Nursing -
Northern Wyoming Community College
Gillette, Wyoming12.2003
Licensed Practical Nurse Certification -
Northern Wyoming Community College
Gillette, WY12.2002
Associate of Arts & Sciences -
Pierce College
Puyallup, WA12.2000
Skills
- Women's Health Care, Family planning, Prenatal Care
- Antepartum and intrapartum management, labor delivery
- Screening tests, high-risk pregnancy identification, comprehensive patient care, emergency procedures
- Written and computer proficiency: Epic, Greenway, Athena, Advanced EFM
- Strong clinical judgment and activation of clinical skills
- Patient consultation and collaboration, critical thinking, multitasking abilities
- Self-motivated professional who excels in unit training, team development, overall teamwork, conflict resolution
Professional Development Skills
- AWHONN Advanced Fetal Heart Monitoring Training.
- Crisis OB Training: OB Documentation, PPROM, Assessment in Labor, and Post-Partum
- Prior Certification in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing via National Certification Cooperation
- Prior Certified Lactation Counselor via Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice
- S.T.A.B.L.E. Education; Pre-Transport/Post-resuscitation Stabilization Care of Newborns and Infants.
- Early Pregnancy Educator, Prenatal Class Educator, Lactation Educator for community & hospital staff
- Initiated and Coordinated Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep for fetal demise patients
- Telemedicine and high-volume triage experience. Diversity in Advanced Practice Nursing
Certification
- Certified Nurse-Midwife via American Midwifery Certification Board
- Licensed to Practice as Nurse Practitioner, State of Virginia
- Licensed Registered Nurse, State of Virginia
- Registered Practitioner with Drug Enforcement Administration
- Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Certified via American Academy of Family Physicians
- Neonatal Resuscitation Provider Certified via American Academy of Pediatrics
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certified via American Heart Association
- Basic Life Support Provider Certified via American Heart Association
- ACNM Surgical 1st Assist Certification via American College of Nurse-Midwives
- First Trimester and Third Trimester Ultrasound; Portsmouth Naval Base Training.
- Nexplanon Merck Clinical Training Certificate
Professional Associations Committees
- American College of Nurse Midwives
- American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- American Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses
- American Certification of Midwifery Board
- Sentara Health Women's Health and High-Performance Team
- Sentara Leigh OB Observation Committee Sentara Leigh
- Certified Nurse Midwife Committee
- Sentara Leigh Family Maternity Center OB Committee
- Sentara Leigh Labor and Delivery Committee
Timeline
Certified Nurse Midwife
Sentara Medical Group
01.2023 - Current
Certified Nurse Midwife
Sentara Leigh Hospital
06.2019 - Current
Certified Nurse Midwife
Sentara Princess Anne Hospital
06.2017 - 01.2019
Certified Nurse Midwife
Art and Science OB/GYN
06.2017 - 01.2019
Certified Nurse Midwife
Central Virginia OBGYN
08.2016 - 06.2017
Certified Nurse Midwife
Health Resource Network; Portsmouth Naval Medical Center
06.2015 - 08.2016
Certified Nurse Midwife
Women's Healthcare Associates
01.2012 - 06.2015
Birth Assistant, Registered Nurse Certified Ob/L&D
WomanKind Midwifery
01.2008 - 01.2010
Labor and Delivery / Level 2 Nursery RNC, CLC
Campbell County Memorial Hospital
01.2003 - 03.2008
Masters in Science in Nursing -
Frontier Nursing University
Associates of Science in Nursing -
Northern Wyoming Community College
Licensed Practical Nurse Certification -
Northern Wyoming Community College
Associate of Arts & Sciences -
Pierce College
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