Improvement Ideas

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Hi everyone :)

During a staff meeting last week, we were all asked to think of ideas on how we could improve the experience for our mothers and fathers especially. Right now we are pretty typical and don't have many "extras". One of the examples was a candlelight dinner for mom and dad before discharge, but what else? I wondered if any of you could offer some suggestions on how we could make our moms and dads stay more satisfying. What do you do at your hospital? Also, how do you include Dad and make him feel special? Labor is usually centered around Mom, but as our Director pointed out, he is also going through one of the biggest moments of his life and should also feel special. Thank you in advance for any ideas that you may share. :) I am new to the OB Unit and am excited to help make the experience better for my patients. :redpinkhe

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Offer one free evening of babysitting by your staff, during the first year and a gift certificate to a movie or restaurant. People don't really like hospitals but they do need to stay connected to each other to be good parents. This might seem like an expensive endeavor but it would be popular. And it would allow an opportunity to see how people are handling new parenthood.

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I think finding a niche is helpful. For instance hospitals that offer midwives and waterbirth will always be busy and popular because they offer something that other places don't.

Some other treats I have seen are manicures, massages, professional photographers who come in and take really fancy newborn pictures, really nice gifts, etc.

As far as the dads, I think nursing is really the one to make or break that. Showing dads how to help mom, educating them, having them give baby's bath, etc. Maybe offering a Dad 101 class or something.

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Offer one free evening of babysitting by your staff, during the first year and a gift certificate to a movie or restaurant. People don't really like hospitals but they do need to stay connected to each other to be good parents. This might seem like an expensive endeavor but it would be popular. And it would allow an opportunity to see how people are handling new parenthood.

really? free evening of babysittting by staff? these are nurses, not babysitters!

i'm not trying to be rude, i'm just a prenursing student and i can't believe the amount of "customer service" that's going on here!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I bet the budget is probably tight. Our NICU unit clerk makes a scrapbook for patients, maybe a mini scrapbook of Baby's Birthday? Could even be a special gift from dad to mom to get them involved.Big brothers/sisters could get into it also. One thing I regret from my deliveries is not taking enough pictures. Especially of our new family! Even one framed picture would be nice. A keepsake to always remember.

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Specializes in student; help!.

I've got a list of DOs and DON'Ts from personal experience, fwiw: offer free doula services (and allow outside doulas to come in, not just staff ones, if you even have them). Treat parents with birth plans like they've actually thought things out and they're planning on things going well; don't pooh-pooh them and imply that everything is going to be thrown out the window. Also, don't make them believe their wishes will be followed if policy is to just railroad them. Don't make fun of or dismiss women who come in wanting a drug-free delivery. It most certainly CAN be done and if you're really there to advocate for and support pts, this is the prime time to do it.

Don't tell women to put sugar syrup on their nipples to get the baby to latch.

Tell ALL parents about home health nurses and the free visits they provide. Not having to pack up a days-old baby for a weight check is a huuuuuuge blessing.

For fathers, ITA completely about breastfeeding support. Yes, you honestly can bond with a baby in other ways than feeding it. Teach them to bathe the baby (MrMonkey hadn't even *held* an infant before ours was born) and suggest that be their special Daddy/baby job.

Maybe offer new parents a $20 certificate to a take-out place, so they can get non-hospital food once during their stay. I bet a lot of places would be willing to at least subsidize that for the word of mouth they would get. Positive feelings make excellent business, both for the facility and the vendor.

I'm sure I have more, but if any of those are helpful, steal 'em!

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Thank you all for your ideas. These are wonderful and I am definitely going to suggest a few of them! :)

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Specializes in student; help!.
I bet the budget is probably tight. Our NICU unit clerk makes a scrapbook for patients, maybe a mini scrapbook of Baby's Birthday? Could even be a special gift from dad to mom to get them involved.Big brothers/sisters could get into it also. One thing I regret from my deliveries is not taking enough pictures. Especially of our new family! Even one framed picture would be nice. A keepsake to always remember.

YES. This. Having someone who would be willing to catch a few snaps of the dad, especially when he's helping coach and can't be bothered to take a picture. Getting pics of him helping the baby into the world would be so wonderful. I wish MrMonkey had some. Just find someone to take a few candids of him, even if he's just watching or even catching a nap or the look on his face when the baby crowns and is born.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
Offer one free evening of babysitting by your staff, during the first year .

How would you handle that, logistically? Would you have staff volunteer to come to their house? Because you couldn't bring an older baby, who has been out in the community and exposed to various crud, into a newborn nursery.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Some things I've seen offered at the various facilities at which I've floated:

Fresh chocolate chip cookies delivered to mom's room

Free massage given to mom

Candlelight dinner for two (baby goes to nursery for 2 hours)

I agree with a previous poster that setting yourself apart from other places by offering free doula services, waterbirth, intrapartum massage therapy, excellent lactation support would be better than the shiny bells and whistles.

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Specializes in PeriOperative.

Is the baby not good enough anymore? You have to throw in extras to sweeten the deal!?!

A candlelit dinner is still going to be hospital food. One hospital in town gives a gift card to Walmart and a congratulations card from the staff. Another gives an invitation to a hospital-sponsored parenting group. The friends that have had babies at these hospitals appreciate it.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Surgery, Post Partum, GYN.

Our L&D suites are huge and have armoires with flat screen televisions and dvd players - dads love this - until they are transferred to the mother/baby side of the unit and we don't have the bells and whistles. We are in the process of purchasing couches that flip into a twin bed - they are very comfortable but very expensive, but the dads that are lucky enough to get the rooms with the couches have really positive feedback, not to mention that they appreciate a comfortable bed instead of a flimsy cot or "dad chair." We also give welcome packets to the new parents - it includes a stainless steel travel coffee mug for dad (with the hospital logo), a lullabye cd, and a Halo sleep sack.

At my previous place of employment, they offered new moms and dads a "celebration dinner." They were able to choose from a variety of entrees, sides, and desserts, and it was delivered on a special table-cloth covered cart with a bouquet of flowers. Yes it was still hospital food, but it happened to be very good, and it made the parents feel special. They also mailed cards to the new family after they were discharged - they were signed by the staff and had sweet little messages in them and also the saying "thank you for choosing _____ hospital."

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