Transition of Care Doula

Hackensack Meridian Health•Edison, NJ

6d•$27

About The Position

The Transition of Care Doula is a trained, non-medical professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a birthing person and their family before, during, and shortly after childbirth. This hybrid role combines traditional doula support with care coordination. Its goal is to help the birthing person have a safe, memorable, and empowering experience through personalized care, advocacy, and evidence-based resources, while nurturing and protecting the client's memory of their birth experience. The role supports patients and families across the prenatal, labor, birth, postpartum, and hospital-discharge periods. It includes coordinating postpartum transition plans, connecting families with community resources, collaborating with clinical teams, and documenting support and referrals. The position requires reliable transportation throughout the service area and 24/7 availability for in-person labor support.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, and/or GED-equivalent program.
At least 1 year of active experience as a certified doula within the last 3 years.
Reliable transportation for travel throughout the service area and 24/7 availability to provide in-person labor support.
Knowledge of 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 empathy and professionalism.
Ability to work in a fast-paced team environment, prioritize tasks, and act professionally under pressure.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency with computers, including Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite.
Certified Labor Support Doula or End-of-Life Doula Professional Certification.
BLS AHA Basic Health Care Life Support HCP Certification.

Nice To Haves

3–5 years of clinical or community-based experience as a practicing doula.
Experience working in a hospital or clinical setting.
Experience with electronic health record systems such as EPIC.
Bilingual skills.
Dual certification as both a Birth and Postpartum Doula.
Additional certifications such as Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), Childbirth Educator (CBE), or perinatal mental health certification.
Professional license in a related field, such as LPN or Social Work.
Interpreter training if bilingual.

Responsibilities

Provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to birthing individuals and their families during the prenatal, labor, birth, and postpartum periods.
Advocate for patient choices and preferences and communicate effectively with registered nurses and other clinical care team members.
Collaborate with the patient's provider, nurses, and hospital staff to support seamless, personalized care.
Provide uninterrupted support during active labor and delivery.
Offer physical support, including suggesting position changes, applying counter-pressure and massage, assisting with hydrotherapy when approved by the healthcare team, and helping ensure the client is hydrated and nourished.
Offer emotional support through a calm, reassuring presence, encouragement, affirmations, and assistance working through fear and anxiety.
Assess post-discharge needs, including social needs, and develop individualized postpartum transition plans.
Facilitate communication between families and the healthcare team to help remove barriers to safe, timely discharge.
Maintain knowledge of community resources and refer families to appropriate services, including healthcare follow-up, lactation and feeding support, behavioral health resources, transportation, and financial assistance.
Provide patient-centered education on postpartum recovery, newborn care, and early parenthood.
Follow HMH policies and guidelines, including infection-control and safety protocols.
Participate in multidisciplinary team rounds to identify and address barriers to discharge and patient well-being.
Document support and resources provided in a timely, professional manner according to department protocols.
Communicate with providers and nurses about modifications to the care plan.
Perform other duties and projects as assigned and adhere to HMH organizational competencies and standards of behavior.