I have a question about an incident that happened on Friday. I was caring for a laboring mom that was at term and had gestational thrombocytopenia. She had had a pitocin gtt during day shift but it was ordered stopped after uterus was hyperstimulated. MD then ruptured membranes at 5 pm. I came on at 6:30 pm. Another night nurse had been there a few minutes earlier. We received report and then I took care of the patient. The nurse that had been there before me told me that the MD mentioned if we needed pit orders we could call her. She had also given report to the MD that was on call for the night. I spoke with the covering MD at about 8 pm. I told him that the contractions were more like irregular cramps. The pt had also told me that she would like to speak with her MD in the am. Apparently, her MD told her there is a possibility of a C/S. Pt. was now considering this option as she said she did not want another day of labor without progress. She was 3 cm. I told the covering MD the same. He was at another facility, as is the case for our on calls! I also told him that the platelet counts were due at 9 pm and will occur every 4 hours. I talked to him after each plt count was in (stable at around 100). I also always told him that her contractions were minimal. The covering MD happened to have to come to our hospital at 2 am for a transfer. He looked at her EFM strip and asked if she had decided yet on a c/s. She had not and was actually sleeping. He sent the transfer and left. So she dozed most of the shift.
The attending came in the next morning and blew up that she was undelivered. She told me that I was negligent and that the pit should have been running. She also told me that if the pt. had decided for a c/s, I should have had the covering doc do it when he was in earlier. Our pm c/s are a big deal, as the team is not present in the hospital. The attending then told me(about 4-5 times) loudly that SHE did care for her patients("I care for my patients. I really do care for my patients" to quote her). I was at a loss for words. I told her that I had been in contact with the covering MD every 4 hours and he had even been in. She told me that it was my responsibility to have made sure she had delivered. She said I had wasted 12 hours on doing nothing and I put her in severe danger. I have been a nurse many years and this is a first for me. Was I negligent?
I was completely embarrassed as this all happened in the nursing station in front of everyone. I feel like exiting this hospital right now as I don't know if, even if I was fully wrong, I can work with this MD any longer! Please give me your honest answer and let me know what I should do or should have done! I have worked OB for years but I try and stay away from L&D for this reason!
