Escorting patients to labor

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

  • Specializes in L&D, Nursery, NICU & Post Partum.

Hi,

I am having an issue with our Admitting Dept. They feel that every labor patient should be greeted and escorted to L&D by a labor nurse. I would like to know if each labor unit sends a nurse to the admitting dept to escort all patients to L&D. This would include scheduled inductions, cesareans, possible ROM, ETC... It does not include active patients.

Thanks,

D

Jolie, BSN

6,375 Posts

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

In the hospitals where I've worked, pre-registered patients came directly to the maternity unit. Those who weren't pre-registered came thru the ER, so no need for any expectant mom to stop in admitting.

klone, MSN, RN

14,790 Posts

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Labor patients generally walk themselves up to the unit on their own unless they're really active, then someone from the ED will wheel them up. That would take a lot of time away from tending to patients, for a labor nurse to have to leave multiple times a day to walk down to admitting to get a pt.

jtpdx

21 Posts

I think that's a little overkill. I used to work in an admitting department and we always took the patients up to the floor, after calling L&D to let them know we were on our way. If they were in active labor, we brought them up in a wheelchair. Personally, I loved taking them up to the floor and never had an incident.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP

4 Articles; 5,259 Posts

Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Where I am now, pt registration brings them up to triage unless the pt looks acts like delivery is imminent, then they will call L&D down to bring them up. Even if they are preregistered (which most are) they go through pt registration.

dcav

18 Posts

Where I work, we have our own admitting office right by triage. So you come in, register, and then go right in. However, where I gave birth, you have to register first in the main admitting office, then go up to L&D. When I came in very active, I went up with a wheelchair. I think it was an escort who pushed the wheelchair, not an L&D nurse. It would have taken too much time to send someone down. Although, where I am now, if someone in that situation would have to wait for escort, she could be in BIG trouble.

shortstuff31117

171 Posts

Specializes in OB.

That's probably overkill. A hospital I used to work at would send a CNA or secretary to get someone from the ER (this was a place that did 300 deliveries a month, so lots of staff).

We require our pts. (except scheduled inductions and sections) to come up in a wheelchair (a family member can push them). We had a sentinal event a couple years ago that possibly could have been prevented by the mom being in a wheelchair, so it's policy that they ride up to us.

cookienay

197 Posts

Specializes in ER, education, mgmt.

Why is an Admitting Department making decisions regarding patient care? Serious question, btw...

nurse12b

158 Posts

Specializes in MED SURG.

well when I was having my baby I was told by my Dr to just call them up first. I did, so they could be ready for me . I walked a few false times and when I did have her the lady at the front desk wheeled me up. I was required to pre registar at 5 mo but that is all I seen of admitting. I dod think it is weird that they would have any say in the matter.

ps. On a side note... I loved my l&d experance so much that when I'm done with nursing school I would like to work there.

nurse12b

158 Posts

Specializes in MED SURG.

well when I was having my baby I was told by my Dr to just call them up first. I did, so they could be ready for me . I walked a few false times and when I did have her the lady at the front desk wheeled me up. I was required to pre registar at 5 mo but that is all I seen of admitting. I dod think it is weird that they would have any say in the matter.

ps. On a side note... I loved my l&d experance so much that when I'm done with nursing school I would like to work there.

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