2016 awhonn staffing guidelines in L&D

[maxienurse]

Anyone have information on the changes ?

[klone, MSN, RN]

I've heard nothing about it and nothing has been published since their staffing document published in 2010.

[Jesuah, RN]

I am wondering about staffing on L&D. 3 couplets, stable but the newborns need all the 24 hour cares done and there is only 1 nurse on the unit. I do understand that usual staffing is 1:3 but if that one nurse is with one couplet and a light goes on, who responds? Small hospital, 2nd nurse has assigned patients on med/surg.

[klone, MSN, RN]

AWHONN guidelines state that there should always be a minimum of 2 nurses in house, with a third body also there (can be a CNA or unit secretary). Only nurse present, regardless of the patient census, is simply not safe.

[Jesuah, RN]

Thanks for your response. They figure they are covered because they DO have a 2nd nurse inhouse... Just not very readily available. Makes it difficult to even go to the bathroom during my 12 hour shift since I'm worried about a light going on.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Thanks for your response. They figure they are covered because they DO have a 2nd nurse inhouse... Just not very readily available. Makes it difficult to even go to the bathroom during my 12 hour shift since I'm worried about a light going on.

Sorry, I should clarify - there should be a minimum of 2 nurses ON THE UNIT.