How do you feel about taking pictures with your patients?

33-weeker · Jun 15, 2007

I don't like having my picture taken in general, but I have always assumed being in photos just goes with the territory in the birthing unit. Life in the fish bowl - as we nursery nurses call it. As a scrapbooker, I understand how important it is to some folks to document the event.

I do discourage pictures - esp. videos - during procedures.

Cherybaby · Oct 27, 2007

decline politely and offer to take a picture form them that works for me

:idea:

That's a great one!

I don't mind having my picture taken with my patients. For some reason, I believe if they want me in it, I have touched a part of their lives a bit more profoundly. How many people do you get to do that for and then, have someone remember you years from now via a photograph?

Besides, you get to stand behind the patient so you look a little thinner! :lol2:

MissMonica · Nov 7, 2007

I always oblige, sometimes without being asked, like while a dad is filming or photographing the baby's first bath. If you dont want to, how about turning it on them and saying "How about I take a picture of you all together?"

But, I would just like to say from the pt's perspective...I love the pics I have from my baby's birth with the nurses in them. I think most people will treasure those pics of you involved in the most special experience of their lives.

nurseLDRP · Dec 21, 2007

I normally hate having my picture taken, but when asked by patients, I usually will comply. I just recently had a patient who was there with her mom as her coach. Mom asked me how long I've worked here. When I told her how long she said, I knew it. You were my nurse when I had my daughter. My patient, her daughter says, "I was wondering why you looked familiar, I have pictures of you in my baby album!"

queenjean · Dec 22, 2007

I normally don't want my pic taken either; but I LOVE to have my pic taken with family; I will always comply if they ask, and I always offer to take a pic of the family if I see a camera lying around.

I don't even mind being photographed or filmed during the more intense moments. A family had a friend filming a birth where the head emerged--clear fluid coming out of baby's mouth and nose, I visualized that--but then there was chunky mec that came out when baby rotated. CNM FREAKED out, didn't like the suction set up, wanted to send me running for stuff, meanwhile mom pushes baby out, baby comes out crying and vigorous. CNM wants me to deep suction baby, CNM has absolute terror in her eyes (this was an out of hospital birth and she wasn't used to doing them, I don't know why she even agreed to it). I just kept smiling and saying, "Baby's doing fine, heart rate and lung sounds are great, she's doing great, we dont' need to suction a vigorous baby (trying to remind her of the NRP standards)."

The family later came back and showed me the video. When they were preggo again, they came to our facility again, but used our mw instead of that one. When we saw the video, it was a great lesson to me. No matter what is going on, always wear my game face, always communicate clearly so that everyone knows what is going on, and always stay calm. The mw looked completely out of control of herself. The family told me that was why they came to us; I was so calm, they wanted to be with our group, since we knew what to do in an intense situation.

The video also gave us a means of discussing their birth with them--helping them understand WHY the cnm was freaked (if there would have been mec fluid with the head, she would have been justified in her concern, you know?), and why I wasn't and was just a great tool to discuss their birth with them.

So I dont' mind when people videotape or photograph. From other videos I learned I need to not do busy work--I want to always be busy, so I tend to roam around the room, tidying up, etc. After seeing a couple of pics, videos of myself where I found myself very distracting, I learned to sit quietly. If I feel like I need to do something, I bring my knitting into the room, sit in a corner, and knit while I keep an eye on things and a physical presence.

I'm not a beauty, either; but I know the pics aren't about me. They don't care whether their nurse was drop dead gorgeous or a dog. They just want to preserve the memories of the moment. I feel honored that they want to include me in it.

littlepeach · Jan 2, 2008

Pictures Are A Part Of The Birthing Experience. If You Don't Like It, Choose Another Area Of Nursing. This Is A Special Moment In Their Lives, It's Just Another Day At Work For You. They Want To Document The Occasion.