Is there any other field of nursing in which medications are administered to patients without a medical indication? I'm thinking, first and foremost, about Pitocin. I know there are situations in which Pitocin should be administered. While on my OB rotation, however, I saw the nurse administer it to patients just to "get things moving."
I am about to start working as a Labor and Delivery nurse myself. It is my goal for my practice to be based on evidence, not on convenience or tradition. Can I refuse to administer a medication without a demonstrated medical benefit to the patient? I feel as if to do otherwise would be to compromise the Hippocratic oath of "first do no harm." It seems that Pitocin increases the chance of operative delivery, so why would you give it to a healthy patient who doesn't have any problems yet?
I would appreciate hearing your thoughts/experiences. Thank you.
Honestly, most interventions in the L&D setting do not have a true medical indication,nor are they evidence-based. You will need to learn to pick your battles or you will get fired quickly. You will be happier in another setting- birth center or possibly postpartum.
CEG
862 Posts
Honestly, most interventions in the L&D setting do not have a true medical indication,nor are they evidence-based. You will need to learn to pick your battles or you will get fired quickly. You will be happier in another setting- birth center or possibly postpartum.