Hello from St. Joe

Welcome. There is an OB forum on this website that I would ask your question. There are a lot of nurses there who can help you. Good luck.

welcome to allnurses.com! i moved your post to the ob forum so you can get more responses.

enjoy the site!

suebird

Hi there.

Couplet care is WONDERFUL----but cross-training everyone not so wonderful. It will take time and the learning curve can be steep for some. It sounds as if you have a very busy unit----one perhaps a bit busier than most couplet care units (LDRP) usually are. I have some questions you all might consider as this big project is being considered and started:

*Is there a time frame in which this is to be completed and everyone cross-trained?

*Are most of you onboard---or is there a LOT of resistance? Attitude is EVERYthing in this.

*Have you and the nurse management been in contact with units that made this transition to see what works and what does not, when converting like this?

It can be a huge undertaking, but in the end, well worth it. But attitudes need to be positive and people need to be ready and willing to learn "other" areas.

*And most crucial, how will staffing be? Make sure you are all aware of AWHONN patient-nurse ratios, in varying stages (labor, immediate recovery, stable couplet---- as well as special situations like Mag Sulfate, high risk pregnancy complications, etc) and keep to them. Staffing will make or break any unit, and this is particularly true in LDRP situations, where everyone can become scattered when the "labor bus" pulls up.

Being organized is crucial, as well! You can go from caring for stable couplets to dealing with a high risk labor patient, to the OR----all on a dime. You know how fast things can change in LDRP nursing. It happens all the time. All staff must be flexible and willing to change assignments as unit census needs reflect and change rapidly. That is why I say "attitude is everything". When all are trained and up and ready, it flows amazingly well, like on my unit. When not, it can be a disaster.

A couple suggestions:

I would recommend you all get a hold of AWHONN's

Single Room Maternity Care for the 21st Century linked below:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=0781722330&itm=1

And also, contact AWHONN and get a copy of their standards for nurse-patient ratios.

http://www.awhonn.org

Other than that, I wish you the best. It will be a tough transition, but with proper planning, staffing, consistent and thorough training/orientation and the right attitudes, it CAN be done!!!!! I personally LOVE doing "it all" (I also do GYN patients and level 2 nursery care). I am NEVER bored.

Anyhow, you are understandably nervous. I hope it does go well. Good luck.