Circumcision at change of shift?

Some parents seem surprised that the obstetricians do the circs (yes, I'm east of the Mississippi). When we explain why, we use the reason in the above quote. OBs actually have surgical skills and experience. Most peds do not. This must make sense to the parents, as they have all been satisfied with the explanation.

As for the change of shift issue, where is the nursing management's backbone? Something like, Due to shift change, nursing staff may not be available between 645 - 800 AM. Please make every attempt to schedule routine circumcision outside of that time.
If stronger wording is necessary, make it 'will not', and drop the 2nd sentence.
Try to give them a week's notice. Let them know that they may bring their own assistant with them.

Our management has asked the OB docs NOT to do circs at shift change. It interferes with report, causes OT, and is a huge safety risk. When a circ is done at shift change, the nurse who is doing the circ checks is also trying to start her shift, get report, take care of leftover issues, fix new issues that she finds...all sorts of things. We do checks for the first hour. I think that audits would show that circs done at shift change don't get the checks done which leads to a risk for the infant. The OB docs still do it--and probably will until something bad happens.

I think that this elective procedure can wait until the L&D or postpartum staff has time, after they address the priorities. If the MD has to be in his office at a certain time, then come in earlier or after hours. Ever hear of this concept called time management, doc?

After a couple of years experience as a labor and delivery tech, I grew a backbone and I kindly but firmly told a physician who stopped me to ask me to get her baby ready for circ, although she saw me heading to a delivery with my scale and warm towels, that I had to go to a delivery and I will be happy to help her when I am finished if she has not already made alternative arrangements when that time comes.