L&D vs. Postpartum

[laborRn01]

OK, so is it just my L&D unit or do others experience this as well. There always seems to be constant battles with the nurses on postpartum. They feel that we are constantly "dumping" on them. I mean, if L&D is busy, they will in turn be busy. What is the problem! And quite frequently, if we are ready to transfer a patient to PP, we are asked to wait about 15 minutes. For what? I wish L&D nurses could tell their patients "Oh you will have to wait 15 minutes before I can admit you" (as the patient is visibly in active labor). Oh my goodness! I would think that L&D and PP would be two units that would get along and work closely with one another. Why? Because 9 times out of 10, we bring them the patients after they are fully recovered and stable. We won't bring them an unstable patient, for the patient's sake. That would surely send them into a frenzy!! :monkeydance: And how come if there are issues that need to be addressed with the doctors "after" patient has been transferred and report given, do the PP nurses feel the need to call us over on L&D and ask us to take care of things with the doctors. What the heck! :angryfire Anyway, I guess I am done venting. I am curious to hear other nurses' views on this issue. Thanks!

[Jolie, BSN]

This is an age-old problem that has existed in every hospital in which I've worked where L&D and PP were separate units. PP feels dumped upon; L&D feels like PP is trying to get out of something by delaying a patient's transfer. Both sides complain that the other nurses are prima donnas who don't help out. Both sides are right at times, and both are wrong at times. It is similar to the shift to shift complaints that exist on every unit.

Unless there are plans to go to an LDRP setup, something has got to give. I would suggest gathering staff from both units and sitting down to work out a reasonable patient transfer policy, taking into account census, shift change, acuity, pending admits/discharges, chain of command, etc. Hopefully that will result in a workable policy that most, if not all staff members will support.

If that doesn't work, I strongly suggest REQUIRING every staff member to float to the other unit for a minimum of 2 weeks. It will give EVERYONE a fresh perspective on the challenges of working the opposite unit. I did this once when I had a seemingly unsolvable battle between day, evening, and night shift nurses within our Level II nursery. It only took a few weeks and a few staff members rotating for the loudest complainers to see the merits of the other shift's arguments. At that point, we all sat down and drew up a policy that almost everyone agreed upon.

It wasn't perfect, but it went a long way toward eliminating the "turf wars."

Good luck!

[rn/writer, RN]

I strongly suggest REQUIRING every staff member to float to the other unit for a minimum of 2 weeks. It will give EVERYONE a fresh perspective on the challenges of working the opposite unit. I did this once when I had a seemingly unsolvable battle between day, evening, and night shift nurses within our Level II nursery. It only took a few weeks and a few staff members rotating for the loudest complainers to see the merits of the other shift's arguments. At that point, we all sat down and drew up a policy that almost everyone agreed upon.

It wasn't perfect, but it went a long way toward eliminating the "turf wars."

Good luck!

This is an EXCELLENT suggestion. It goes a long way toward reducing the US vs. THEM mentality that leads to further alienation. Nothing like a little change in perspective to let in some fresh air and new ideas. And it tends to give everyone appreciation and respect for the other guy's point of view.

[SmilingBluEyes]

This is exactly why I love LDRP setups.

[ADN 2002]

Actually PP gets TWO patients, the mom and baby!

Back to the original topic, since I have digressed....

Actually, in my facility, PP technically just gets mom - we have a well baby NBN. (Not to say the baby never comes out to the room and we have to handle baby care as well.)