[Gompers]

Originally Posted by pediatriclpn

Alot of his hospital nurses joined our agency so that they could still care for him, but still keep the nurse/patient relationship, not the babysitter type of relationship. And the nurses had backup thru the agency.

We've had this happen as well, and that's a totally different (and very legally responsible) way to approach this kind of thing.

[Natalieboo]

As long as no medical procedures need to be done to the babies at home, I would recommend a Postpartum Doula to them.

They work for about $20 an hour and do exactly what the parents sound like they are looking for. Some PP Doulas will work out an overnight package, some will come during the day and even help with light housework and preparing meals. And postpartum doulas don't have liability insurance for providing services like this, so I'm not sure why a nurse would especially if she is not performing clinical stuff and only acting as a helper. Always make the parents sign something.

I'd say nurses who are interested in helping parents like this out of the hospital should absolutely take a postpartum doula course! They'll teach you about the "legal perspective" of it too.

Hope that was helpful in some way.

[BittyBabyGrower]

Even with a course like that, if you had a professional relationship with these kids, the parents would blame you for anything that happened. Maybe it is different in Canada, but here, heck they'd likely sue you if baby got a hangnail. I hate to be like that, but better safe than sorry. Also, a PP Doula would be for a regular infant, most likely not a medically fragile one.

[kitty29]

I know we are no longer allowed to give any medical advice to former pts and families should they call in, we are to fill out a form and transfer them to the ER or tell them to call their pediatritian.

If I were asked to care for an x-pt in the NICU, I would not unless it was through an agency. I would worry about my liscence.

If I were family that would be another ball of wax.

[JVanRN]

Like everyone else has said, the fact that a relationship has already been established with that parents as a professional nurse who cared for the babies were in the hospital makes it a no no. Even if it seems the parents just merely want a baby sitter, they are probably expecting you to function as a nurse. They may look at it as hiring a private duty nurse, not merely a babysitter. You will be held to the standards of a nurse no matter what.