[Cheerio]

Do you stay with a laboring pt even if your shift is up? Do you let a nurse take over unless she's close to delivering?

I've seen in most cases that a nurse will stay, or the NM changes her to a 12hr shift so that she can get paid. Do you do unpaid overtime? Most nurses here won't stay unless they get paid.

[SmilingBluEyes]

If delivery is fairly imminent, I will stay. But I already work 12 hours and we are NOT allowed overtime UNLESS it is VERY busy, so unless it is close, I cannot stay. If I have bonded especially well with a laboring family (and often I do) I DO hang around for the birth, whenever possible. Or if it is going to be a while, I do turn over care to the next shift/nurse, reassuring the family they are in good hands. And VERY OFTEN, I call from home to check in to see how things went and to send my best wishes to the new family.

[ShandyLynnRN]

I don't usually stay. We are also not allowed OT unless it is approved by our manager. I also already work 12's. I'd love to be able to stay, but it's usually not possible,

[cindyln]

I don't stay. I too already work 12 hour shifts and that is long enough for me.

[mark_LD_RN]

I almost always stay, I punch out and stay for free if i have to,especially for some patients who insist i stay. I also have a few patients that i promise to be their with them for their labor and delivery. they get my home number and I come in for them even with out pay.

[fergus51]

I stay when delivery is imminent. I will not stay for the primeps who just reached fully though....

[FutureRN~Pookie]

Originally posted by mark_LD_RN
I almost always stay, I punch out and stay for free if i have to,especially for some patients who insist i stay. I also have a few patients that i promise to be their with them for their labor and delivery. they get my home number and I come in for them even with out pay.

You're the kind of nurse I want when I have kids! ~Kacy

[SmilingBluEyes]

I would do that too, Mark, except I have a family waiting for me at home who needs me even more than my patients do. And yanno after reading your post, I felt like crap for just a millisecond.

THEN, I remembered a few things and priorities....I have stayed quite a while after shift more than on one occasion, but I am very cognitive of the needs of my growing kids (who are growing up too damn quickly), and husband and they always will come first.

As it is, The kids' dad is military and, he works late and on weekends oftentimes, not to mention, he is out of town on many occasions. So I am not able to dedicate myself in the way I want to, or the way you do. That is why I work perdiem, too.

Til my dh retires from the USAF, this is the way it will have to be and folks (patients and coworkers) will have to understand. I can only be one place at a time. KIDDOS come first while they are growing up. No compromises here. I guess all the accolades and praise for being a super nurse will have to wait til my kids are grown.

Not to take anything away from you, Mark, but I can't do what you do. Nursing is lucky to have a few like you. I can't be among those esteemed ranks, sadly....I have too much going on at home. My time there is TOO precious to spend it "off the clock" at work. sigh....

[NurseAngie]

Deb,
Ahh...you are a super nurse. You have your priorities right for YOU. It's all that matters.

~Angie

[L&D.RN]

Good response Deb! I also stay over in certain circumstances, such as delivery within the 1/2 hour. I also have kiddies at home that need help getting ready for school etc. I would love to stay lots of times, and the hospital has never said a word when we stay late, but at the point that I'm at in my life, it isn't always feasible for me or for my family. Today I felt bad leaving, and my pt was only 2 cm!! Sometimes it just depends on the patient and the bond you form.