You Don't Have to Be a Stereotype

[dinah77, ADN]

So, based on some recent discussions, here is

what is knocking around in my head:

I really, really hate that a certain "type" is drawn to certain areas

of nursing

Here's what I mean: I am in OB (finally!) Have always wanted to be here.

Eventually, I would like to be a IBCLC.

Personally, I'm a baby-wearing-co-sleeping still breastfeeding my 3 year old,

attempted to have a natural birth at a birth center (didn't work out, maybe

next time) user of some complementary therapies type of gal.

I am vegetarian who avoids processed foods, soda, etc.

I am also a strong believer in evidence based practice, use of scientific

evidence, pro-vaccine, pro-all types of Western medicine that shows good

outcomes

It drives me absolutely batty that so many anti-vax anti-science types think

they can just come to an area such as OB and be fine. After all, doesn't being

in OB or lactation mean you can just disregard science and evidence based

practices?

NO! NO NO NO!

You can be a multi-faceted person; a nurse who uses science- (that includes

some complementary therapies) AND is open to new ideas. It is not black and

white. You don't have only believe in one or the other.

If a patient has trouble urinating in the immediate post-partum period, I

always try peppermint oil first- wanna know why? There has been a good amount

of science based research showing that it works- and I have seen good outcomes

with it.

I will not, however tell a pt they can fix their hypothyroidism with simple

diet changes and they should ditch that evil pharmaceutical synthroid (not only

is it outside my scope, there is not enough evidence to support this)

Anyone else experience and understand what I am getting at?

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Totally. I like your style.

[phuretrotr]

I agree. I don't think you have to be black and white on what your beliefs are about the use of western medicine or alternative therapies. However, depending on where you are working, I doubt that peppermint oil was ordered by the doctor and/or can be given to a postpartum patient by you, the nurse. Unless you have some type of policy that allows the nurse to use peppermint oil, I wouldn't be giving it to my patients.

Even if it is beneficial to some patients, what if a patient developed an allergic reaction to it and your hospital has no policy indicating that the nurse is able to give patients peppermint oil? What then? Practicing outside your scope? Patient endangerment? Just because you believe it to be beneficial and safe does not mean that the hospital endorses/shares this belief.

Also, I was not entirely familiar with peppermint oil so I did a little research and I found no where where it indicates that it is beneficial to use for problems voiding. However, you did say there is a good amount of research that shows it IS beneficial, could you post please?

And, I did read that breastfeeding mothers should not take peppermint oil because of the unknown effects it has on lactation and breastmilk; being potentially harmful to mother and infant. Any research you have on that?

But the main point is that if you are working for an institution that does not endorse the use of peppermint oil (or anything for that matter) for postpartum and/or breastfeeding mothers, I would not continue giving it.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

I agree. I don't think you have to be black and white on what your beliefs are about the use of western medicine or alternative therapies. However, depending on where you are working, I doubt that peppermint oil was ordered by the doctor and/or can be given to a postpartum patient by you, the nurse. Unless you have some type of policy that allows the nurse to use peppermint oil, I wouldn't be giving it to my patients.

Even if it is beneficial to some patients, what if a patient developed an allergic reaction to it and your hospital has no policy indicating that the nurse is able to give patients peppermint oil? What then? Practicing outside your scope? Patient endangerment? Just because you believe it to be beneficial and safe does not mean that the hospital endorses/shares this belief.

Also, I was not entirely familiar with peppermint oil so I did a little research and I found no where where it indicates that it is beneficial to use for problems voiding. However, you did say there is a good amount of research that shows it IS beneficial, could you post please?

And, I did read that breastfeeding mothers should not take peppermint oil because of the unknown effects it has on lactation and breastmilk; being potentially harmful to mother and infant. Any research you have on that?

But the main point is that if you are working for an institution that does not endorse the use of peppermint oil (or anything for that matter) for postpartum and/or breastfeeding mothers, I would not continue giving it.

You don't give peppermint oil. You mix a little with some water, place it in a nuns cap, they sit on it and it helps them void. We use this too at our facility.

[Libby1987]

I agree with the OP.

Also, I used to work on a gyn post op unit, same floor as OB, we used to have hospital provided peppermint oil on the unit to use in the hat.

[OCNRN63, RN]

You don't give peppermint oil. You mix a little with some water, place it in a nuns cap, they sit on it and it helps them void. We use this too at our facility.

LOL...I have never heard a "hat" being called a "nun's cap," and having gone to a Catholic hospital school of nursing, I was really confused for a few minutes.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

That is fascinating re: peppermint oil and voiding!

[dinah77, ADN]

I agree. I don't think you have to be black and white on what your beliefs are about the use of western medicine or alternative therapies. However, depending on where you are working, I doubt that peppermint oil was ordered by the doctor and/or can be given to a postpartum patient by you, the nurse. Unless you have some type of policy that allows the nurse to use peppermint oil, I wouldn't be giving it to my patients.

Even if it is beneficial to some patients, what if a patient developed an allergic reaction to it and your hospital has no policy indicating that the nurse is able to give patients peppermint oil? What then? Practicing outside your scope? Patient endangerment? Just because you believe it to be beneficial and safe does not mean that the hospital endorses/shares this belief.

Also, I was not entirely familiar with peppermint oil so I did a little research and I found no where where it indicates that it is beneficial to use for problems voiding. However, you did say there is a good amount of research that shows it IS beneficial, could you post please?

And, I did read that breastfeeding mothers should not take peppermint oil because of the unknown effects it has on lactation and breastmilk; being potentially harmful to mother and infant. Any research you have on that?

But the main point is that if you are working for an institution that does not endorse the use of peppermint oil (or anything for that matter) for postpartum and/or breastfeeding mothers, I would not continue giving it.

YEs, as others have already mentioned, we do not give peppermint oil P.O, we put some on a 4X4 and the pt smells it

I'm temporarily retracting my comments on good amount of research as I am having trouble producing it, HOWEVER our hospital stocks peppermint oil along with lavender oil and Mandarin orange oil and the docs sign off on it for each pt as appropriate in their order sets

I did find this intersting study on the benefits of peppermint oil during endoscopy, apparntly it is an anti-spasmodic, so perhaps that is how it helps urinary retention?

To be continued.....

Peppermint oil reduces gastric spasm during upper endoscopy: a rand... - PubMed - NCBI

[Gooselady, BSN, RN]

I get your drift, totally.

I think most people put a lot of importance in having a complete and orderly identity. They have an ideology, and identify WITH this ideology (be it a religious, political or ethnic one).

So when you criticize or question their ideology, they believe their value and worth as a person is being criticized or questioned. You wouldn't think of criticizing them personally, and are confused when your questioning is called 'negativity' and 'hate'.

Anti-vaxxers, anti-modern medicine, people who believe in hanging upside down like a bat in a hyperbaric O2 chamber HAVE unusual and questionable ideas. But they are human persons just like me, and at that level are respectable and valuable as someone with whose ideology I happen to agree with.

If I criticize an anti-vaxxer's ideology against vaccinations, I'm not criticizing their personhood.

I think part of growing up is letting go of needing to identify with this ideology or that. It's an insecurity thing, though so common it might as well be normal. And we all do this, even unknowingly. It feels safer to have everything spelled out and tied in nice bows than it does to feel unsure of things. But being unsure of things is inescapable, really. How could a person KNOW everything? The scientists and researchers do their work from that 'being unsure of things' frame of mind. How else could they do research, if they already knew the outcomes?

I don't believe it is a healthy or rational thing to refrain from questioning ideologies, like religion or political ideas. Even when the person you're talking with is deeply identified with the ideology, to the point they feel personally attacked if you question it. I think our culture (and our media) have gone too far with this false 'respect' for 'belief' or 'faith' as being exempt from questioning (or criticism).

I really dislike engaging in heated conflict, so I don't go around poking ideological people on the fly. But sometimes its not just hurting them, it's hurting all of us. Then it's wrong to not speak up, in the same way it's wrong to chain smoke in the car with your kids in the back seat.

I wish I could somehow communicate to a very identified person that I completely respect THEM as a person, and only wish them well at that level, but their ideology is dangerous (as anti-vax ideology is) and let's all have a discussion/debate and whip out our 'proof' for our positions and see where we are. Proof for the validity of the ideology, NOT proof of validity of the person, that goes without saying! I'll keep trying, though :)

[phuretrotr]

You don't give peppermint oil. You mix a little with some water, place it in a nuns cap, they sit on it and it helps them void. We use this too at our facility.

YEs, as others have already mentioned, we do not give peppermint oil P.O, we put some on a 4X4 and the pt smells it

Wait, so do you sit on it or smell it? Or just different routes? I could understand sitting on it, as it probably induces some type of mechanism to relax the muscles?

It seems like a wide practice I guess since most have agreed that their hospitals supply this, but I never have heard of it at either OB hospitals I have been at. It seems relatively safe so I agree, I don't see a big deal if patients receive it/you encourage the use of it since hospitals are a-okay with it.

Now I wonder why we don't have that! Anything to prevent straight cathing!

[lovinglife2015]

You're right, it is outside your scope if it's something that you choose not to research. I did however "cure" my hyperthyroidism(Graves) by changing to a organic, minimally processed whole foods diet 20 years ago, liquid kelp and yoga practice. Docs wanted to remove part of my thyroid and place me on meds for the rest of my life! Hah! I walked out of the docs office at age 22 and never went back. Thyroid levels have been normal for the past 10 years, no more Graves. I just had a healthy pregnancy in 2013.

There is a place for natural medicine, but if you have no experience you would be best not to comment.

[lovinglife2015]

And, I did read that breastfeeding mothers should not take peppermint oil because of the unknown effects it has on lactation and breastmilk; being potentially harmful to mother and infant. Any research you have on that?

It's not unknown at all. Peppermint oil decreases milk supply and should be avoided if breastfeeding. It's also a toxic nasal and chest irritant to infants.