[KnitRN]

I am enough of a control freak that I have a difficult time switching from caregiver to patient even under the best of circumstances. I really really like knowing the staff nurses and being able to get the inside story about the attending physicians and anesthesiologists.

That said, I think my first birth would have been a lot better if I hadn't been at my workplace. Even when I was unhappy with the situation (epidural crapped out during a cesarean), I was trying too hard to be a good patient because I didn't want to jeopardize my professional relationships.

Then again, when I moved, gave up all my professional contacts and started rebuilding my network, I ended up at the community hospital where I hemorrhaged. If I had been at the old hospital, I would have known how to go over the L&D nurses head to get what I needed.

It's a tradeoff I suppose. I had my first two babies at the hospital I worked at and the second two at the community hospital. I don't think they even knew that I was an RN.

[SmilingBluEyes]

Yes I would. (and I have in the past). Simply because I trust my coworkers to the max (99% of them)...I KNOW them and their capabilities and I believe I would be in GOOD hands there. It is WEIRD to have people you know nursing you, I admit. But I like the security of knowing who they are and how capable they are as well.

[Gator,SN]

I had my youngest son at the hospital where I was employed. It was a wonderful experience and one of the OB nurses who was my friend volunteered to come to the hospital to coach me. She came as soon as I called her and helped to maintain control during delivery. I had people from my department coming up to the LDR room asking to see me and if I'd delivered yet. She just sent them away and I heard about it later. I got a private room this time and that was nice too. When they ordered pizza that night, they invited me out to the desk to eat.
The only draw back that I have ever had is that my instructor for clinical last semester was my PP nurse and I can still remember her checking my sutures. I hope that it's true, they don't really pay attention and want to forget as much I do!
Gator

[Spidey's mom]

I had my 2nd and 3rd child at the hospital where I work now but I wasn't a nurse then. I decided to have my last son at a hospital 70 miles away in the "big city" only because I am very private and wouldn't want to be in the position to have my colleagues (physicians and nurses) checking my "wazooo" for dilation, etc.

Actually I switched gyn docs to someone I didn't work with when I first started working at this hospital.

I trust the care of my colleagues . .. . . just wanted to maintain my privacy.

[Spidey's mom]

p.s. I got a private room at the hospital 70 miles away too . . . being a nurse has it perks!!

[SmilingBluEyes]

ALL our rooms are private. So being a nurse would give no one an unfair advantage at either of the two hospitals at which i work.

[Cheerio]

I delivered both boys where I do most of my doula-ing. I loved knowing the nurses, and the OB's who were on call as well. Plus I knew where everything was kept, and sent DH to get everything for me It was great, and the nurses were extra attentive.

[L&D.RN]

Yes I would, but I would pick and choose my nurses! There are certain personalities and styles that would drive me up a wall and others that would be perfect for me. I feel that they are all, well 98% of them, very competent, so that isn't an issue!

[OBNURSEHEATHER]

I'm torn.

On one hand, my hospital is the ONLY place I'd deliver at. It's the best and the safest.

But on the other hand, I'm just weird like that. Kinda freaky rolling over and hiking a leg for my coworkers.

[SHELLYBELLYRN]

Originally posted by OBNURSEHEATHER

my hospital is the ONLY place I'd deliver at. It's the best and the safest.

Heather............just what I needed to hear today, since I'll be delivering there!!