Re: Float pay for OB nurses
Our hospital doesn't offer float pay to anyone.
We do get pulled from time to time, and it's been a never-ending battle as to exactly what is appropriate for an OB nurse to tackle. We are now at the point where we will "never be assigned", and carry a beeper. Many of us have worked other areas, but let's face it...if you don't use it, you get rusty pretty darn quick
A big thing we do when we float is admissions (I can't understand why no-one wants to admit their own patients...after all, they will be caring for them...may be good to actually KNOW your patient...UGH, that's another show). What I have done is politely tell the pt's primary nurse that I will ask the questions, and would prefer that she do the physical assessment portion. This way I wouldn't be responsible if an abrupt change in condition would occur, or if the primary nurse would disagree with my assessment. Honestly, if it were my granny or grandpa, I would prefer a nurse more familiar with the area and patient population do the assessments!
Another issue...what about infection control? We change our scrubs if we get called back to the unit, but you know lovely little germs are stowing away anyhow.
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