First Birth...the doc tried to run us out of there...

beanie29 · Jun 22, 2007

I'm sorry you had to deal with that resident!

But that's so neat that you were able to witness a birth and that the family wanted you there :)

Logos · Jun 24, 2007

If I was that mom I would be pissed!

justme1972 · Jun 24, 2007

I look at this differently...I wouldn't have got into a "urinating" contest with the resident with the family present.

Yes, you had permission, yes, you had a right to be there...but if the body language of the resident tells you that the he wants you gone, I probably would have left and talked to your clinical instructor, explained the situation and asked what to do, and let them handle it.

You were determined to witness the birth regardless of what was happening around you....great for your instruction, but what about the patient? Should the family have witnessed what appeared to be an argument between healthcare personnel?

Just my .02

Lovely_RN, MSN · Jun 25, 2007

My instructor was fully aware of the situation because she was standing directly outside of the door.

I didn't state this in my first post but another resident exchanged words with the clinical instuctor earlier so she knew what was going on. If my clinical instructor felt that we were being innappropriate she would have made us leave.

As far as what was said in the delivery room...it was not in any way a screaming match and the attending never asked me or my classmate to leave.

I flat out asked him if he wanted us to leave and he didn't respond.

I didn't ask him with a hand on one hip while rolling my eyes and neck. I simply asked him a direct question and if for whatever reason he couldn't open his mouth and say "Yes I want you to leave" then that isn't my problem.

Clinical experiences are limited...who is to say the attending would be more welcoming the next time I saw him?

The thing that I am learning about clinicals in general is that you must be proactive and develop a thick skin. Now don't get me wrong, I am not disrespectful or a know it all. I don't jump in and try to do anything that I have not been directed to do so when I say proactive I mean it in the sense of seeking experiences despite the attitude of some of the staff. Sometimes they do not want to be bothered with the students at all.

I understand where they are coming from because who wants to be bothered if they don't have to be. At the same time though I came to learn and if I am not learning something then there is no point in my being there. So sometimes despite the rudeness and cold shoulders of some of the staff I have got to keep asking questions and asking to be allowed to participate wherever I can. You only have so much time as a student to absorb as much as you can.

I do not allow myself to be pushed to the side and I follow the direction of my clinical instructor at all times. Just wait until you are at a clinical site and your instructor gives you your agenda for the day. Go back to her/him and tell him that you left/didn't accomplish what you were told to accomplish because so and so gave you a vibe or said to someone else that they didn't want you there and see what happens next.

Guaranteed you will be told to get back in there and do what you were told to do or it's going to be your b*tt.

Just a heads up for nursing school.

I look at this differently...I wouldn't have got into a "urinating" contest with the resident with the family present.
Yes, you had permission, yes, you had a right to be there...but if the body language of the resident tells you that the he wants you gone, I probably would have left and talked to your clinical instructor, explained the situation and asked what to do, and let them handle it.
You were determined to witness the birth regardless of what was happening around you....great for your instruction, but what about the patient? Should the family have witnessed what appeared to be an argument between healthcare personnel?
Just my .02

tntrn, ASN, RN · Jun 25, 2007

I've got 31 years of experience as a Labor Nurse and in that time have had many students follow me around.

First and foremost, the patient (not her family) is the one who needs to be okay with anybody other than essential staff being there. This includes students, friends, family (even if they've traveled hundreds of miles ) and all the rest. And she's allowed to change her mind whenever she wants.

However, the doctor can override that for any reason he/she so pleases. Sometimes there's a real necessity for a room to be cleared.

As a student, you probably make more points if you quietly go and later try to get a debrief from the physician as to why he/she made that decision. Or perhaps it's something your clinical instructor might help you with.

Remember you are guest at that facility and not part of essential staff. Yes you are there to learn, but part of your education there will be to learn how to interface with a lot of different personalities. Standing your ground like you did (as a student) may not be the wisest thing. Sometimes it's just not going to happen and you have to live with that.

Lovely_RN, MSN · Jun 25, 2007

I've got 31 years of experience as a Labor Nurse and in that time have had many students follow me around.
First and foremost, the patient (not her family) is the one who needs to be okay with anybody other than essential staff being there. This includes students, friends, family (even if they've traveled hundreds of miles ) and all the rest. And she's allowed to change her mind whenever she wants.
I did have permission from the family to be there. It was the attending who did not ask permission for all of the residents to come into the room....there were no less than 7 and they did not come in until the head crowned.
However, the doctor can override that for any reason he/she so pleases. Sometimes there's a real necessity for a room to be cleared.
The doctor NEVER directly asked me or my classmate to LEAVE...instead he spoke in Spanish to the family (which he thought we wouldn't understand. I ASKED if he wanted us to leave and he did not respond.
As a student, you probably make more points if you quietly go and later try to get a debrief from the physician as to why he/she made that decision. Or perhaps it's something your clinical instructor might help you with.
Again, my clinical instructor was aware of the situation and was standing directly outside of the room. If she wanted us out of there she would have told us to come immediately.
Remember you are guest at that facility and not part of essential staff. Yes you are there to learn, but part of your education there will be to learn how to interface with a lot of different personalities.
Please do not take this comment the wrong way but while I am a student nurse I have been working for years in other jobs and I had a career before I decided to return to nursing school. I'm youthful but I am not a "young girl" by any means... nursing is going to be my second career and I guess at this point in my life I have an idea of how to interface with other people.
Standing your ground like you did (as a student) may not be the wisest thing. Sometimes it's just not going to happen and you have to live with that.

You are possibly correct it may have not been the wiset thing to do I guess I will find out if it comes back to bite me in the rear in the future.

That said I do thank you for the advice it is something to ponder for this weeks upcoming clincals.

MarySunshine · Jul 6, 2007

Congratulations on getting to see your first birth! That sounds like a tough situation. Honestly, I think your assessment was right -- he just wanted the room for his dozen doctors-in-training and he thought that nursing students weren't important. I'm glad it all worked out okay.