Lone RN in L&D

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Just curious as to what policies are at other places. Supposedly we are to always have 2 RNs staffed always in L&D but when there is a staffing crisis it seems the 2 RN rule goes out the window. Am I wrong to be totally ticked that every now and then I walk into work with no other RN available? There will be someone oncall but its just stressful and I don't like it. Especially since I have only been doing L&D for just over a year.

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Eeks...

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.

I don't understand why people do these things to our younger nurses. No wonder a lot of them leave....

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Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.
Eeks...
I'll take that Eeeks and raise you a "Yikes!":D Really, tho'....that's so irresponsible of the hospital. Has anyone besides you expressed their discomfort? If so, I'd go en masse to the department head--call a meeting or something--and talk about this situation.
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Specializes in L&D/postpartum.

Even two RNs for L&D is really risky. Do you do your own c-sections? Do you have any ancillary staff working with you so at least you have another body there? Even with a regular delivery you're supposed to have another RN there whose sole responsibility is the baby. And what if another patient walks in while you're pushing with the first one? This doesn't make any sense at all, even with somebody on call.

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Specializes in Public Health, Employee Health, OB.

I am sure AWHONN has staffing recommendations on their website. Show them to you manager and then go up the ladder if you have to. This is unsafe. :redlight: If things don't change- leave and don't look back. Best of luck!

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What's your birth census like?

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I would not be comfortable with that AT ALL. Definitely go to your manager, preferably not alone. Do you have a union, and if so, what do they have to say about it?

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Specializes in Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery.

This is unsafe. It is always a good thing to use the "if your loved one came to the hospital in labor and there was only one nurse to take care of them, how safe would you feel" route. No one would be able to respond to an emergency and call the on call person in at the same time.

If it were me, I would go to risk management.

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Sounds like the hospital I used to work at - emphasis on used to!After complaining up the chain of command with no results and after a very bad day in this situation, I left. Take my unasked for advice and leave before you are caught yourself with a bad day. Although I miss my friends I worked with and it was not the easiest transition to another facility, I am much much less stressed about work these days.

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Specializes in OB, L&D, Nursery, OB Educator,Med.Surg,.

I work in a very small hospital. (100 deleveries/year) Yes I said year. Up until a couple of years ago we staffed with only one RN and called supervisor for delivery!! :omy: (I know, YIKES) Now we have one RN and one LPN for pt in active labor and at least 3cm. If pt not active our scheduled LPN gets pulled to med surg. By law we have to have both nurses in OB continuosly if have mom and babe. This was very hard to get used to as I came form much bigger hospitals. We are able to call on our house supervisor if needed (and available). Oh, I am a noc nurse so of course its always the skeleton crew.We are trying to stop the "pulling" of our LPN's but its such a cultural change for this facility. They still think we could do it with one nurse before we should be able to do it now. Granted we are a low risk level one hospital but we do have our share of scary situations. I will have to say I was surprised at how fast everyone worked together( ER paramedics, supervisor, surgery etc.) So that is what helps me, knowing who my other supports are even if not OB nurses. Also implementing our OB hemorrhage code and involving rest of hospital in that has helped. So I guess I don't feel quite as alone. I also know how long it takes for everyone to get to hospital which is generally 5-8 min. At times we call on non-scheduled OB Rn's to help especially if have more than one labor pt.( Sorry so long of reply, I get kind-of wordie:nuke:)

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Ok, so I am not crazy for being scared to death some nights when I walk into work and I am alone. They will leave me a LVN but that is about it. Its all about $$$$ where I work. Why staff 2 RNs when there is no one in L&D or if someone calls in sick sometimes we are only lucky enough to find someone to be on call. It doesn't happen too often that I am alone but I am scared walking into work most nights. There is no union. The manager and the higher ups are ones that you can complain untill you are blue in the face and no one cares. We average between 75 - 100 births a month. We are fairly busy for a small rural hospital. We don't do our own c/s because we dont have the staff for it. And we only staff 2 RNs at night for L&D because that is all we have staffing wise.

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