number of nurses in delivery room

elleRN · Mar 12, 2003

i frequently do a svd on my own as an rn, if it isn't too busy on the unit, a second rn usually comes in to help out that first few mintues. otherwise it is really hectic running back and forth from the baby to the mom. the ob is attending to the mom, repairing epis etc, while i am tending to the baby, then i run to hang the pit and get sutures in between. it is essential to have everything prepared and within arm's reach before the actual delivery. plus we always hit the call bell if we need help and another rn will then come in to see what is needed. so far it all works out well. if there are forseen problems with delivery, peds team is always called to be present for delivery, whether it be mec or vaccum assisted etc. as for c sections, there is the scrub nurse and the circulator, in addition all c sections require the peds team to be present. they tend to the baby. depending on situation, peds team has either a mother baby rn or a nicu rn, a peds resident, and either a neonatal np or pa. that system works out great.

mark_LD_RN · Mar 12, 2003

we always have 2 nurses in c/s and delivery.would never be only nurse in delivery. really do not think and lpn can or should be the only nurse present. I think awohnn guidelines state 2 nurses per delivery unless it changed since last i looked.

RMH · Mar 14, 2003

We always have 2 RN's for C/S, 1 for OR stuff and 1 for BABY. WE use to have resp. involved but found that the RN was better trained for NR. For lady partsl deliveries, it is nice to have 2 nurses in the room, and we do if there if obvious problems, otherwise 1 RN in the room..If problems come up help, from the house supervisor, is a page away. We are lucky that the majority of our MD's(all are Family practice) stay in the room,( and even help clean up) until the baby is stable.

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2003

They help you clean up??? WOW!!!

AlaskaKat · Mar 14, 2003

We always have two RNs for vag & CS deliveries. When it is really busy, the second RN may only stay until all is clear and leave after 10-15 minutes.

anitame · Mar 14, 2003

We always have 2 RNs for lady partsl deliveries as per the NRP guidelines. The 2nd RN stays until things are stable and the primary RN is able to assume care of both mom and babe. For C/S the OR crew is there for mom and one of the LDRP nurses and the ped are there for the baby.

labornurse · Mar 15, 2003

Our unit has always had 2 nurses at vag delivery. Baby's nurse may be an LPN. One RN or LPN and one RT at C/S I agree that staffing less than this is very risky especially in such a litigation ridden area. Our unit follows awohnn and nrp guidelines.

Cheerio · Mar 16, 2003

Normally, there supposed to be two, but usually when I am in with a client, only one RN comes in. :rolleyes:

NurseyNursey · Mar 21, 2003

Originally posted by Jolie
NurseyNursey,

Do I understand correctly that a single LPN attends to both mother and baby at deliveries in your hospital? I hope I'm not stepping on any toes here. It is not my intention to degrade the knowledge or abilities of any LPN, but I don't understand, from a practical perspective, how that could be.

I know laws vary from state to state, and policies vary widely from one hospital to the next, but in my experience, LPNs are usually not allowed to start IVs, hang new IV fluids, program IV pumps, give IV push meds, take verbal orders from physicians, complete nursing assessments of patients, etc. How in the world are they able to independently care for laboring patients and newly-delivered infants?

I can only assume that they are "teamed up" with an RN who must be "over-seeing" the care of a whole bunch of patients. How scary! Please tell me I've got it all wrong!

Yes, very often a single LPN will be the only nursing attendant in the room. Our "normal" scheduling has one RN and one LPN on per shift. Our LPNs are able to do everything in your second paragraph except give IV push medications. I am at a very small rural community hospital. We did just over 300 deliveries last year.

I wish that you had gotten it wrong. Our OB nurse manger is very good, but the DON rarely steps into our unit and is essentially useless to us. :rolleyes:

ShandyLynnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 21, 2003

That is definitely scary! Not that you are an LPN alone at delivery, but a nurse alone at delivery!!! I still stand on my belief, and with the current OB standards, that two NRP certified people need to be present at delivery! Even if, as previous posters have mentioned, the second nurse only stays for a few minutes to be sure baby is stable, there still need to be two.

mark_LD_RN · Mar 21, 2003

no way would i be the only nurse in a delivery. it is below standard of car. and would never fly if you had to go to court

kids · Mar 21, 2003

L & D is not my thing (I like my kiddos after they are clean and dry) but I have had a *few* babies of my own and attended a couple more deliveries (all vag)...always 2 nurses going back to '80 when my daughter was born and as recent as January. One Nurse for the Mommy and a Nursery Nurse for the baby (I can't begin to imagine my grandson's outcome if there hadn't been 2 nurses).

Wow...if me or mine were having a baby at a hospital that only staffed 1 nurse at the delivery I think I would kind of insist on being there for the blessed event...I may not know NRP but I at least know infant CPR, how to suction and how to work the equipment. At the very least I could work at calming the parents down so the nurse could work on the baby (we had to hold my daughter down in the bed for the Doc to finish the delivery & repair while the 2 nurses resusitated my grandson 3 feet from her).