I continue to have a very hard time in my labor and delivery orientation. It was extended an extra month, which I was happy about-the way the manager explained it, I wasn't being punished, I just needed extra time. Then when I talked to the educator I was told I would be fired at the end of the month if I didn't start to 'get it'. As far as I know this is not true, it's a union hospital and I'd probably be put into the postpartum unit-which is starting to look better every day!
Anyway, my last day at work we had a pt that had thin mec so the NICU team was there for the birth, the baby nurse was also there and my preceptor and I. Since the baby nurse didn't have anything to do she told the doctor she would be his assistant. The birth was quite bloody-shooting across the room with a bad labial tear. After the birth, I gave the doctor sutures, gave the pt an IM injection of pitocin for the bleeding and was getting the baby bands ready, meanwhile the baby nurse was massaging the pt's uterus. I realize that this was my pt but I saw her massaging the uterus-something I hadn't done in that situation before and felt grateful that someone who knew what they were doing was being so helpful. Well, of course, the baby nurse calls me over and says 'what are you doing?! baby bands are your last priority! You should be massaging the uterus!'
I feel like I can't win, would everyone else have known that the baby nurse wasn't there to help at that point? Am I that dense? She immediately told my preceptor and I am sure has also told the educator. How do I handle this? I just don't get the politics or maybe I am just a bad nurse. Any advice for when the educator confronts me?
I agree with the above poster, at least she was able to focus on a task that needed doing rather than freezing up completely. The baby nurse sounds like a drama queen wanting to make herself look important. I've oriented lots of people, hang in there.
I have precepted many new OB nurses throughout the years and have found 1 major theme. It seems anytime you have a unit where other nurses help out and cross roles in deliveries and c-sections, the orientees get confused. If the baby nurse were to help out an experienced nurse with any part of the delivery, it is fine. But, if she crosses roles in the presence of a orientee, then the orientee doesn't learn the skill and rational. Also the orientee then is afraid to take over and step on toes. I always let my fellow staff know to stick to traditional roles when I have an orientee around and if that orientee isn't doing something, we need to tell her or show her, but then let HER do it. In your case, that baby nurse should have told you to do it( not sure in this situation though with a labial tear) and why, but not just have took over and then complained about it later. Not a good role model and not helping you out to learn either.
CMCRN
122 Posts
I agree with the above poster, at least she was able to focus on a task that needed doing rather than freezing up completely. The baby nurse sounds like a drama queen wanting to make herself look important. I've oriented lots of people, hang in there.