How many RNs in a delivery?

[Montessori Mommy]

Can you tell me how many RNs you have in a delivery? How many in a c-section?

I'm a new RN working L & D. The experienced RNs are expected to handle SVDs alone - with a CNM or MD, of course. (Respitory comes in if there is meconium, the neonatologist if there are any complications.)In a c-section, there is only one RN to circulate and care for baby. (Respitory comes in for all sections.) We have been assured that we won't have to manage a delivery alone for at least a year, and that we can always get extra help by calling out to the desk. I was just wondering about the norm for other hospitals.

Thanks!

[imenid37]

1 RN for mom and 1 for baby. NRP says the baby needs his/her own nurse (or other person able to be dedicated to his/her resuscitation). In a C/S, our OR staff does intra-op care, so we have one RN go for baby care and ped comes to all C/S.

[PegRNBSN]

As posted above NRP standards are one RN for mom and one for baby until baby is stabalized. We call for second RN right before vag delivery. The RN is responsible for baby until it is obvious resusitation will not be neededand/or baby is stabalized.

OR standards are that circulator is only responsible for patient and not baby.

We supply the circulator and NICU supplies the nurse for the baby

[33-weeker]

We have OB, scrub tech (usually), L&D nurse and nursery nurse minimum for vag. Anesthesia comes for premies, epidurals, meconium, etc. Neo and second nsy. nurse for significant premie, etc.

(Nurses at deliveries are all RNs at our facility.)

Nursery stays until baby is weighed, wrapped and in mom's or Dad's arms. We computer chart, so nursery is responsible for baby's initial assess and weight,etc, at the delivery. L&D has NRP and can catch in a pinch, but second L&D nurse will come in that event.

For c-sec. - OB, anesthesia, surgical assistant, scrub tech, at least one L&D nurse, and at least one nursery nurse. (more nurses and poss. Neo if problems/premie suspected)

Occasionally when multiple deliveries are happening all at once, precip, or there is a crisis tying up most of the staff, we have delivered with just 2 L&D nurses and one nursery nurse - or OB, L&D & nursery - one of each. This is not ideal, but it happens sometimes.

We have a call bell system that can be answered from any patient room. We also have patient phones in the rooms, and some of us carry spectralink (cell) phones. Usually we can get someone when we need them. We can always call level II nsy. in a pinch. They are right smack in the center of L&D. When someone gives a serious call for help, any free nurse(s) go running, no questions asked.

[NPinWCH]

Like everyone already said: 1 person for mom and 1 for babe. Most days that's what you get...when it's wacky wild, well it may just be you and the delivery doc. Usually, if busy the second nurse "hangs out" until we're pretty sure babe is OK...about 5 minutes.

In OR: Emergency an L&D nurse, RT and peds are present, for routine it used to be the circulators job...now we are supposed to send an L&D nurse over. All RTs, L&D RNs (we don't have techs), OR RNs, RN house supervisors, CRNAs, OBs, Fam Docs and Peds have NRP. That way we can utilize any of them in an emergency.

[cheshirecat]

I worked in a small cottage hospital where I would be the only person with the labouring mum. When she reached second stage we would phone the general practitioner. He/she would be responsible for the baby when it was born.

Many times (about 90%) the general practitioner would not make it for the birth so it was 1 person to deliver the babe, then look after mum and babe until doc arrived. It was done this way because it was a cheaper way then having 2 midwives at every delivery and on every shift.

For our home births, we always had 2 midwives present.

Often the only thing left for the general practitioner to do when he got to the hospital was make a cup of tea for the mum and midwife!!!

[crysobrn]

We always have two nurses present in a vag delivery (unless as said above it is crazy busy). If we are expecting trouble we do call in a third nurse. We don't have a NICU and our RT's aren't even NRP so unless we have to set up a hood or need abg's we don't call RT.

For c/s we go down with mom so one RN for baby along with peds. Again RT may be called if we have to do gases or need an oxyhood setup.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

One nurse, one doc. Both trained in neonatal resuscitation.

We don't have respiratory or peds or NICU . . . . .rural nursing, gotta love it.

steph

[cheshirecat]

Forgive my ignorance (UK nurse here). Do American RNs deliver babies?

To work in a labour ward over here you have to be a Registered Midwife and you would look after the labouring mum and of course deliver her if she went on to have a lady partsl delivery.

Just curious.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Forgive my ignorance (UK nurse here). Do American RNs deliver babies?

To work in a labour ward over here you have to be a Registered Midwife and you would look after the labouring mum and of course deliver her if she went on to have a lady partsl delivery.

Just curious.

Well, no . . . . but if the doc doesn't make it into the room and the baby is coming, we "catch" them.

Fortunately this has not happened to me. Some nurses actually like it.

steph

[eden]

There is 1 RN for a routine, no complications anticipated delivery. Anything out of the ordinary requires more personel. We have a good emergency system that is easily activated should anything expected occur.

[33-weeker]

Forgive my ignorance (UK nurse here). Do American RNs deliver babies?

To work in a labour ward over here you have to be a Registered Midwife and you would look after the labouring mum and of course deliver her if she went on to have a lady partsl delivery.

Just curious.

We can if it is to control a precip/baby delivering and no doc, you get the idea. We do go ahead and tell mom to push if there is a prolonged decel and no doc yet. But as a rule, no. Not unless you are a CNM.