Do postpartum nurses assist with circumcision?

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 16, 2009

Yes, at times PP nurses Do assist with circs, but it is becoming less likely and often as most circs are being doing in the office as it's cheaper to do so and most of the time it's done there as insurances are less likely to cover the cost of this procedure now. Often, peds prefer to do this later as well----prefering to to see babies thrive and breast feed well, rather doing this when the babies are several days to a week old rather than just a day or or so (or less) in the hospital like they used to.

Also, PP nurses often have been able to defer and let more willing coworkers allow to assist where I worked, in the past. BUT if you were going to do this, you needed to have discussed this in advance and work it out in advance, having spelled out your reasons why.

Best wishes to you.

pink85 · Jan 16, 2009

At our hospital newborn nursery nurses assist with circs. I would ask upon an interview,

rn/writer, RN · Jan 16, 2009

On our PP unit, we have specially trained PCAs who assist with circs. Nurses, as a rule, do not. Because there is extra training involved, the PCAs have to volunteer. I don't know of anyone philosophically opposed to circumcision who has been made to assist against her will.

If I were having my son circumcised, I would much prefer to have a willing assistant involved over someone who was participating with great reluctance. I would feel the same way if I were the doc.

RNgonewild · Jan 16, 2009

Yes, but rarely. We have OB techs that assist the peds. But I'm sure you can figure out a way to get out of it. What else don't you want to do? There are much more difficult things to do in l&d.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Jan 16, 2009

In my area circumcisions are done in a clinic because it is $100+ more in the hospital. Since it is not paid by Medicaid or insurance most people want to do it where it is least expensive.

Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP · Jan 18, 2009

I want to come work with you all!! Our techs set up the circ room etc. and assist during the procedure but if we have no tech (as occasionally happens), guess who does all that. And I am not okay with assisting. Fortunately, the residents know me and know that, and will set up their own stuff. I will get baby ready, do the circ checks afterward, and am there in case of an emergency or something but I don't assist in the actual procedure.

SmilingBluEyes · Jan 19, 2009

I can't remember the last time I saw a circ done at my hospital. And I am sure glad of it.

moodyred01 · Jan 19, 2009

Yes, but rarely. We have OB techs that assist the peds. But I'm sure you can figure out a way to get out of it. What else don't you want to do? There are much more difficult things to do in l&d.

Well, as long as we're on the subject, I would be uncomfortable being involved in an abortion or medical termination of a pregnancy. I wouldn't be opposed to taking care of someone in postpartum but would not want to have anything to do with the procedure for religious reasons. Circumcision is the only thing other than that that I've come across that I am opposed to and wouldn't want to assist. I've been studying women's health, labor and delivery and postpartum specifically, for quite a few years but there is only so much you can learn through books so I'm sure there are many things I am unaware of that are involved in working on the unit.

I want to make sure I understand the position I am taking. We learned in school that we are allowed to decline assisting any procedure where we aren't comfortable for philisophical reasons but don't want to take a position where this would happen often or interfere with working on the unit.

L&DForMe · Jan 20, 2009

At our facility the CNA's assist the doctors.

They set up and tear down/clean the equiptment. They also bring the baby to the circ room, and back to the parents after its done.

Then the LPN/RN is responsible for doing the checks afterward.

colavadel · Feb 4, 2009

This is great info- thanks for posting the question and thanks to all of you who took the time to answer. It's something that I also have been concerned about.

bestbabynurse · Feb 4, 2009

Every day where I work and where I worked in the past. Some of the OB's complain that they have to do them as well. I would check like suggested, during the interview.