Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
Ob-Gyn Nursing /

Has H1N1 had any impact on your maternity units?



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,586 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.

Aug 19, 2009 04:52 AM

Has H1N1 had any impact on your maternity units?


I am really curious to hear what other hospitals are doing when faced with swine flu. A few months back we had an outbreak of swine flu that was pretty rampant but quickly contained. It involved staff more then patients so it was easy to contain by having them stay home for a week. It ran its course quickly and was done. In the early stages, our NICU changed its visitation policies to only allow parents/grandparents and no children at all in an attempt to hold off any NICU cases. Things were going smoothly until recently. There have been several pt's who developed symptoms after delivery which resulted in the NICU being compromised and throwing a fit (rightfully so). We have also had several support people to the patients who appeared fine and told us later that they were sick (after exposing a LOT of people) that ended up having swine flu. This all resulted in the NICU demanding stricter visiting policies (we basically have an all open door policy). Here is the gist of what they have done:

Everyone entering the maternity center is screened at the front desk and given a sticker saying they answered our questions (although we all know they really COULD be lying) and don't have anything concerning to us. If they are a patient, who have any symptoms, they are, of course, put on contact precautions. If they are a visitor, they are turned away. If they are a "support person" (which is classified as the person who will be wearing the second baby band, could be FOB or any other person the mom wants) they are allowed to still come in but are instructed to wear a mask and asked to remain in the patients room while they are visiting. I have my own concerns about this (which I get slack if I share, lol) so I am curious what you all think/do in your hospitals?


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Reply
3 Comments
No. 1
from Elvish
Old Aug 19, 2009, 04:10 PM

Default Re: Has H1N1 had any impact on your maternity units?
Our NICU only allows parents and grandparents right now, no exceptions. If it's a baby that comfort care only, they will try to move them out of the NICU and into a mother/baby room that is close by.

We do try to screen our visitors, and our employees are not allowed to come to work if they have any sx. We have so far been very fortunate (knock on wood).
Top
 
No. 2
from bmcm2girls
Old Aug 19, 2009, 05:16 PM

Default Re: Has H1N1 had any impact on your maternity units?
So, if a visitor or support person shows up with s/s, would they be allowed in to the unit? Would it matter if it is the fob or not?
Top
 
No. 3
from Elvish
Old Aug 19, 2009, 09:20 PM

Default Re: Has H1N1 had any impact on your maternity units?
If it's FOB/support person with the bracelet, then yes. Not ideal but since the bracelets aren't transferable, it's kind of a catch-22. We encourage masks but don't/can't force them on anyone.
Top
 
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
361 members
3,435 guests
3,796

13

lawsuit - But don't most RN's work through breaks/lunch...

0

Patient Evaluation of Retail Clinic Care

1

The hard to reach on-call doctor, and its effects on...

5

Woman charged with passing off prescription drug as...

13

Man in "Vegetative State" was conscious for 23...

2

Interesting article on ThedaCare's Collaborative Care Model

12

Possible breakthrough regarding MS

63

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

10

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts

10

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't






Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: