Doula Trainee - Transitions of Care

Overview

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better.

At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community.

Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Doula Trainee is a developing non-medical professional learning to provide continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a birthing person and their family before, during, and shortly after childbirth. This unique role combines learning traditional doula support with essential care coordination under the guidance of experienced staff. The primary goal of the trainee is to develop the skills needed to help a birthing person have a safe, memorable, and empowering experience by providing personalized care, advocacy, and evidence-based resources.

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Doula Trainee at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

Doula Support & Patient Advocacy

• Under supervision, learn to provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to birthing individuals and their families throughout prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum periods.
• Develop skills to advocate for patient choices and preferences, communicating effectively with the registered nurse and other members of the clinical care team.
• Collaborate with the patient's provider, nurses, and hospital staff to ensure seamless, personalized care.

Labor and Birth Support

• Provide continuous, uninterrupted support throughout active labor and delivery as guided by the care team and senior doulas.
• Learn to provide physical support by suggesting position changes, applying counter-pressure and massage, assisting with hydrotherapy, and ensuring the client is hydrated and nourished.
• Develop skills in providing emotional support through a calm, reassuring presence, offering encouragement and affirmations, and helping the client work through fear and anxiety.

Transition of Care Coordination

• Learn to assess patients' post-discharge needs, considering social needs, to develop an individualized postpartum transition plan.
• Facilitate communication between the family and the healthcare team to remove barriers to a safe and timely discharge.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of community resources and provide families with referrals, including but not limited to:
  • OB-Gyn, pediatrician, or other specialists' follow-up appointments.
  • Lactation support (IBCLCs, CLCs) and feeding clinics.
  • Behavioral health resources, including support groups.
  • Transportation and financial assistance programs.
  • Provide patient-centered education on postpartum recovery, newborn care, and early parenthood.

Professional & Team Responsibilities

• Adhere to all HMH policies and guidelines, including infection control and safety protocols.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team huddles to identify and address potential barriers to discharge and patient well-being.
• Document all support and resources provided in a timely and professional manner in accordance with department protocols.
• Maintain close communication with providers and nurses about any changes to the care plan.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
• Adhere to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.
• Reliable transportation and the ability to be on call.
• Actively participate in regular mentorship meetings with senior doulas to review cases, debrief births, and receive guidance on professional development.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
• A strong and demonstrated interest in maternal-child health and desire to support birthing individuals and their families.
• This regional position requires reliable transportation to travel throughout the service area and 24/7 availability to provide in-person support during labor.
• Willingness to learn about social needs and their impact on maternal and infant outcomes.
• Strong organizational, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to provide culturally competent, patient-centered support with a high degree of empathy and professionalism.
• Accustomed to fast-paced team environments; able to prioritize tasks and act professionally under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• Experience or volunteer work in a healthcare, community health, or social support setting.
• Experience working within a hospital or clinical setting.
• Experience with electronic health record (EHR) systems, such as EPIC.
• Bilingual skills.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) certification.

Licenses and Certifications Preferred:

• Certified by a NJ FamilyCare-approved doula training program.
• Interpreter training (if bilingual).

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!

Starting Minimum Rate

Minimum rate of $24.34 Hourly

Job Posting Disclosure

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package. The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate. The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to: Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness. Experience: Years of relevant work experience. Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training. Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies. Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location. Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization. Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered. Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate. Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts. In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.