9 months to plan this...buy a camera!

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

OK, patients are pregnant for 9 months. they know that this baby will eventually be born. They know the approximate month the baby will be born. Plenty of time to plan ahead for such event.

So, why, do people not buy cameras? Disposable cameras can be bought for less than 10 bucks.

We actually have people come in, who are here for hours (ie-time for someone to leave and go get a camera), and then at the end, ask us to get our unit camera (that we have specifically to take pictures of fetal demises for their parents) and take pictures for them.

obviously, preterm labor, some sort of emergency, etc that precludes thinking about bringing a camera is different. but ya know, an induction, your water breaks, you get to the hospital you're 2cm, you have time to get a camera.

Does this happen on your unit as well? What do you do? We take pics for them, and put them on a CD to give to parents.

[bargainhound, RN]

It has been such an expected thing over the years

that the hospital will provide pictures of every

newborn, that people probably do not realize

that policies have changed/or that they are

imposing on you.

[flashpoint]

It's reasonable for parents to expect pictures liek FirstFoto or whatever to be taken, but a lot want candids, pictures of the baby being weighed, etc. That is above and beyond.

People should buy car seats too...I'm just amazed when people haven't even thought about that one!

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

Well, we do use the FirstFoto. They wanted the pics of delivery, pics in delivery room, etc.

[SmilingBluEyes]

These types of pics will have to be of their accord. I encourage family/friends to get a camera at the local Walgreens or Target while Mom is in early labor. It's easily-overlooked in the excitement for some. Not necessarily poor planning at all.

But it's not to me to provide the photography.

[S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN]

Ever thought of getting the unit/hospital to put in little vending machine for disposable cameras? I've seen them at several theme parks. Heck, a camera company might even pay for it, and give your unit a % of the profits (like Coke/Pepsi did in the school system).

Send parents down the hall to the vending machine to buy the camera. Parents can take as many pics as they want (on their own dime), and your staff has no responsibility for taking photos or watching hospital digital cameras. Your unit might actually be able to make some profit & buy some new gadgety thing to use!

Digital Camera by Vending Machine

One Company's Vending Camera Machines

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I dont know how big your unit is but is there any reason your facility cant buy a case of disposables and have them available when these things arise. The patient can be charged a fee before the camera is given to them. If they want the pictures they buy the camera they just dont have to run to the other side of town to get it. Just a thought.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

People should buy car seats too...I'm just amazed when people haven't even thought about that one!

I think that annoys me more than the camera thing (we get to deal with that in C-sections). I've passed families on post-partum saying "well no we don't have a car seat, no one bought one for us..."

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

It's one thing to expect the hospital to do the classic newborn photo with the pastel background - though some of our babies' families are very upset when they find out that they have to PAY for those photos themselves, that they're not tacked onto the baby's medical bill.

It's another to expect us to photo document everything else!

And yes, if no one buys you a corificeat, you SHOULD buy one yourself before the baby is born, or send dad out the day of discharge at least to buy one from Walmart for $40. Why some families expect us to GIVE them baby gear is beyond me...

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

It's one thing to expect the hospital to do the classic newborn photo with the pastel background - though some of our babies' families are very upset when they find out that they have to PAY for those photos themselves, that they're not tacked onto the baby's medical bill.

It's another to expect us to photo document everything else!

And yes, if no one buys you a corificeat, you SHOULD buy one yourself before the baby is born, or send dad out the day of discharge at least to buy one from Walmart for $40. Why some families expect us to GIVE them baby gear is beyond me...

Well, one reason some families in my area expect it is that they get it. Someone puts in a call to a church, boom, free brand new car seat.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

My mom bought us a corificeat at Walmart after the birth. Thing is, we don't own a car, so corificeat was bought only for the purpose of transporting baby home. It did come in handy for other purposes around the house though, and we do pull it out on the odd occasion that we rent a car to drive somewhere.

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

Having a vending machine with cameras kind of sounds like a good idea. I can see why a hospital wouldn't want them though.

There are many other areas in the hospital and it makes risk management types super nervous when families start snapping pictures of patients in other areas of the hospital. I would think they wouldn't want families getting ideas while they go to get a candy bar.

I was thinking it might be cool to have the disposables in the pyxis but I think it would annoy me to be handing those out knowing that it would simply be another expense the hospital would have to try (any in many cases fail) to collect on.

I like the previous poster's suggestion that when women come in with early labor the nurse suggest this might be a good time to run to Wal-Mart; pick up a car seat while you're there.